London for 2 nights

Best bet is to scan back through this forum to see what folks have said in reply to similar questions. If you have little luggage, like one bag each, think of getting into town from Heathrow via the Tube's Piccadilly Line. Takes an hour or so and makes a lot of stops, but it is the cheapest. If you have a lot of luggage, taking one of the trains [INVALID] Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect [INVALID] that run to Paddington station is probably a better notion. You can also take a cab or arrange for a car and driver to meet you. When you fly out, allow at least one hour to get to Heathrow, regardless of your mode of transportation.

It would be a shame to miss London Towers,, the Beefeaters Tour is included and wonderful,, even kept my 14 yr son interested. It doesn't take too long and then you can whiz about and see other areas at your own pace, the boys may enjoy seeing the armour and weapons, and you may enjoy seeing the Crown Jewels there. Seems like a shame to miss seeing anything becuase you are rushing about,, I would choose two or three good sites and make them a priority.

I would recommend taking one of the many London Walks. The tours are excellent and you see and learn a lot. I think your teens would find several they would really enjoy.

Can't go wrong with a Thames boat ride. There is one that goes from the Tower to Greenwich or vice vera. The Tower is great...lots of armor and swords, etc.; and Crown Jewels for you. Greenwich so you can stand on both sides of the world at the Observatory. If you get Oyster passes, you can ride tube or buses. Go to Big Ben's Tower to hear Chimes. Go to Buckingham Pace to see Changing of Guard. Go to Imperial War Museum for Battle Britian experience. Go to Globe for Shakespeare. Go to British Museum...because it is has cool ancient stuff and it's free. Go to Covent Garden for shopping and street performers. Go to street markets if you can get up early. You don't need to take formal tour, just get a map of London with the tube stations on it and go.

Changing of Guard at Horse Guards is much more colorful, less crowded and the uniforms and horses are better

The Tower Bridge Tour, Cabinet War Rooms, The Imperial War Museum.

If you are flying a redeye to London from Canada, I would advise against the theater on your first night. The difference in time zones is just too harsh [I speak from experience, having dozed through much of Ian Holm as King Lear at the RSC a few years ago...] Save the theater for your second night. Check the TKTS website to see what shows are coming up at a discount, and if there are several that appeal then you can just show up at the TKTS booth in Leicester Sq on your second morning. Another option is the Theatremonkey website; it has tons of useful information about plays, seats in each theater, etc, as well as links to some good discounts for some of the shows. We've had great luck with all the Original London Walks tours we have done over several years and trips. Stay in central London so you don't waste time getting back and forth; there are a couple of B&B networks where we have found great lodging at reasonable prices: London Home to Home, and At Home in London. Both offer some triple rooms for 103 - 125 GBP per night, including breakfast. PM me for more information if you'd like. And have a great time!

I would suggest not going to the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, it's to time comsuming and you are able to see that well. You would have to be there at least an hour before it started to get a spot for a good view. As someone also mention the Horse Guards at Whitehall is better, it takes at 11am Monday-Saturday, 10am on Sundays. Also, you would have time to send for tickets to the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, takes place at 9:55pm everynight of the year. When you write you need to give them your name, date (give two your first choice then your second choice), number of people in your group, a self address envelope and 2 international reply coupons (gotten from your post office)send to H.M. Tower of London, Tower Hill, The City EC2 England. I would suggest going to the theatre one night.

Agree about not wasting time waiting for the Changing of the Guard. I second the Tower of London (the Beefeater's Tour is a must - I don't know anyone who hasn't enjoyed it), Covent Garden (shopping, market, people watching), London Walks, the British Museum. I think the Museum offers guided tours for specific collections and if your sons are interested in a particular era/ collection they might like that. Check the Museum's website for times of tours and other visitor information. Stay in a central location: Bayswater and around Victoria Station are popular with tourists, well-connected by the Tube, and full of reasonably-priced small hotels. And don't forget to take photos to show the folks at home: at Westminster Bridge with Big Ben/ Houses of Parliament in the background, on the other side of the bridge with the London Eye in the background, and quite a ways further along the river, Tower Bridge. O yes, and if you like food, there's Harrods Food Hall!