Mother & Son Trip … London vs Paris?

We were just in both cities and I would choose London. In fact we were talking about taking our two grandsons when they are a little older. London just seemed a little bit better geared towards boys - the Tower of London, London bridge, Harry Potter (if a fan), legoland, the London Eye, etc.

I think London is great and though it may seem possibly less interesting because people speak English? However there's a lot of great things to do and see! There's a lot of interesting food and it's not just English food.
I was recently there and did a tour of the globe Theater which I think my 12 year old son would have liked. Also London walks has really cool walking tours with different themes- maybe he would like a ghost walk? You could take an early morning tour out to Stonehenge? The Tower of London is a classic that kids usually love too.

Good luck!

Ask your son what kind of things he wants to see and research together each city. When I think of London, I think of historical museums and sites. Paris I think of art, entertainment and food. Enjoy your trip.

......the train to Paris is less than 2 hours..... Actually a little longer than that but the whole process of getting to and from the stations, trains, check-in, etc. is more like six hours or at least a good half day. Because of security and immigration you required to check-in at least an hour prior to departure.

If money is a factor, then Paris should be seriously considered due to the free museum pass for your son. There are so many different types of museums to pick from that might interest him. Having said that, London is awesome too and if money is not a factor and all other things being equal, would be a great choice too.

thank you all- this is SO helpful! Think i’m definitely leaning towards London after everyone’s comments!

In London my sons found it "wicked cool" that everyone around them had British accents! I second the idea of enlisting his help in planning adventures. If he likes boats, take a Thames cruise downriver to see the Cutty Sark. Here's a link from six years ago about a Mother & Sons trip to give you some ideas https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/10-days-in-london-with-tween-boys.

all the big hitter museums in London are free (they will accept a donation if you want) to all children and all adults. British Museum - 12 year old would love, as would adults, Natural History Museum - there too, Science Museum, depending on his interests but everything's there, virtually all the art museums, medical museums (several) swords and armour and incredible art at The Wallace Collection, everything weird and wonderful at Sir John Soane's Museum, and oh so much more. All free.

If you're flying into London, why not just stay in London? Much easier than going to Paris, even with the fast train (which takes well over two hours as noted above). I don't know your son but others have suggested lots of things that might interest him in London. And it might be easier to ease into the long trip in an English-speaking place.

You said "everything is set in stone," but it isn't clear whether that applies to your travel to Berlin. There would be plenty of flights from either London or Paris, so that shouldn't be a factor. I'd decide where to spend those early days based on minimizing transportation, which seems to point to London if that's where you're first landing.

London.

Research London Walks. www.walks.com
Enjoy a meal at a pub. Yes alcohol is served but you’ll see families, dogs and, occasionally a cat.
Go to theatre.
Visit Spitalfields, Borough Market, Carnaby Street, Portobello Road Market.
Check the Tower Bridge website to see if it might be raised during you stay.
Walk along the Thames River path.
Walk across Millennium bridge.

Watch the Changing of the Royal Horse Guards
Take a speed boat ride on the Thames.
Is the 12year old adventuresome? If yes climb the 02.
Visit the Science Museum
Check to see if the dinosaur skeleton has returned to the Natural History Museum
If there in the Summer months use a paddle boat in Regents Park
Attend a play at the Globe
Shoreditch Wall Murals
Leake Graffiti Tunnel

All sorts of restaurants and cafes to enjoy.

Museums are free.

We took our daughters tomLondonnand Paris on a spring break trip, when they were 11 and 14. Both were taking French at school, so we thought Paris might be fun for them. They were so much happier in London we questioned why we even thought Paris would be a good idea.

We went to London and Paris last month with 3 kids, ages 7, 8, and 11. I think they may have liked Paris a little more, but they liked London too. I find London easier to get around in, I don't know if it's because I'd been to London several times before and only been to Paris once, but I find the Tube a lot easier to navigate than the Paris Metro. I don't think you can go wrong with either place, but just staying in London would probably be easier since you're already there. We didn't hit up many museums on this trip, but I've been to the Natural History museum before (a friend was an entomologist there) and it was great. The kids loved the London Transport Museum too.

Our daughters loved London when 12 and 15. Since you will already be there it’s the best choice. If you were flying into Paris then Paris would be the best choice. Both are great.

London. Getting to Paris via Eurostar is a 6 hour endeavor when you add in going from your hotel to St. Pancreas, checking in / clearing border control 90 minutes, 2.5 hours etc. Your son will enjoy London.