Hi there,
We have 12 days in the UK with two teenage boys who are used to wake boarding, golfing, rugby etc. They'll do a few churches, castles and galleries but like a fun mix. Any ideas?
I'm thinking...
3 nights in London Should we stay longer or add more nights before returning home.
Maybe get Britrail passes and jump on and off the train to Edinburgh. York... ????
Maybe golf or tour at Saint Andrews.
Thanks for the tips.
Posted by
Walnut Creek, CA
545 posts
I really like punting on the River Cam in Cambridge, but you can do that on the river in Oxford too. I think your teenagers will love that! My teenagers also liked the night life at Covent Gardens and seeing SpamAlot at the Palace theatre.
My teenagers also liked the visit to Eton to see the boarding school. Even if they are a little older, they might like to see Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross station for a touristy photo. My teenage male liked the War Museum and actively searched for the bullet in the bible exhibit that they saw in a Green Day video. We found it.
Make them climb to the top of St. Paul's Cathredral or hike them from Greenwich pier to the Observatory to see the Prime Meridian. My teenagers loved the Beatles store near the Sherlock Holmes museum on Baker street. They wanted to find Abbey Road where the picture was taken for the Beatles album but we didn't have time. There were lots of physical activities in Kensington Park. These are all things my teenagers still talk about.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
Are they 18 year old teenagers or 13 year old teenagers?
I have one at each end of the spectrum. Before I took them to Europe, I asked what they wanted to see. They both responded, "Castles." I asked whether they preferred restored castles or ruins, "Ruins." (As you know, teenage boys have perfected the art of speaking in one syllable sentences. LOL)
They seem to enjoy exploring castle ruins, anything to do with water or animals and museums with arms, armour or medieval punishment. They like hiking through forests, along streams or on the beach. They don't complain much when I drag them through most museums or churches but they get tired of art pretty quickly.
Visiting some of the castles in Wales may be a good idea.
York has some great medieval sites and they might like the Jorvick Viking exhibit.
Edinburgh has some great haunted history walks (a wide range from children to adult oriented, make sure to get one that is right for them). A daytrip to St. Andrews could include both golf and a ruin.
In London, they would probably like the Tower of London and British Museum (at least the mummies). There are a wide variety of guided walks in London, show them the list and let them choose the one or two they like most.
If they're on the younger side, the Harry Potter sites in London and Oxford might interest them.