Are you worried that your teenager will get bored in London? We found some sightseeing activities in London that teens will actually get excited to do.
Parents are often worried that their teens will get bored in London, and that’s a legitimate concern when you’re taking the family to a city so rich in culture, art, and history. While some teens can spend days walking through museums and enjoying educational events in complete happiness, others would meet such a day with sarcasm and nonstop yawns – dare we say eye rolls?
Top Sightseeing Activities in London for Teens
The good news is that there are ways to turn education events into so much fun that teens don’t realize they’re supposed to be bored. There are also some events and sightseeing activities in London that just are tons of fun, so don’t ditch London for just another trip to the beach just yet. We have some ideas that will keep them engaged while seeing the beauty in London.
1. The World’s Largest Tunnel Slide
Head to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and slide through the world’s largest recreational tunnel. The park is free to enter, and you can enjoy a variety of landscapes from wetlands and meadows to peaceful waterways. There’s a lot of open green space for kids of all ages to run, and then there’s an adrenaline rush for those who want to drop down a massive tunnel slide.
2. Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
Slip into the eastside of London to walk the path that Jack the Ripper might have taken back in the 1800s. Jack the Ripper is one of the most well-known serial killers, so the information shared throughout this two-hour tour may not suit younger children. It may not suit some teenagers and adults, but others will find the tour tons of fun because it includes a tour of London with some unusual information.
3. The London Eye River Cruise
Cruise the River Thames and rise to the top of the London Eye to take in amazing views of the city. The cruise lasts for about 40 minutes, and then you’ll spend at least another hour exploring the London Eye. The activities are scheduled individually, so you will get access to both adventures, but they may not occur together at the same time.
Think of it as bundling two big sightseeing activities in London for an affordable price and more fun.
4. Ghosts, Ghouls, and Gallows Walking Tour with Boat Ride
Are you always up for a spooky adventure? This walking tour and boat ride will do the trick. It allows you to explore London in the dark with a knowledgeable tour guide. You’ll walk through the city’s parks and some of the biggest landmarks and then slip onto the River Thames for an evening cruise. While it has a spooky feel, it isn’t so dark that most teenagers will get scared.
Make sure this activity is suitable for the whole family if you have younger children. This is something one parent may want to do with the teen alone.
5. Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise
Get off your feet and out of the subway to enjoy a relaxing cruise along the River Thames. You’ll go from Westminster to Greenwich, so you can consider this an activity as well as a form of transportation that gets you from one part of the city to another for other activities.
Slip into the Dungeon of London to see the city’s historical roots in an unusual manner. There are two rides once you get inside, and you’ll have the option to view a variety of live shows that keep the tension at an all-time high. This is definitely an event best left to older teenagers and adults.
You can save a bit of money by planning a day of excitement for your teen by combining tickets to the London Dungeon and the London Eye.
Selecting Tours and Events for Your Teen in London
The first thing to consider when planning a family trip to London is the personality of your teen. What are they interested in learning more about? What grabs their attention in daily life? Those are clues as to what they may enjoy while in London. You can play off their interests and the knowledge base they already have to find sightseeing activities in London that they will enjoy personally.
What works for one family may not work at all for yours. Keep in mind the physical abilities of each member of your family because some tours of London are heavy on walking. You can choose boat tours, bus tours, or private driving tours if you have teenagers or younger kid who can’t walk for two to three hours continuously.
There’s a lot to see and do in London, and your teens don’t have to yawn their way through it or tune it all out and escape into their phones. When you fill your trip with kid-approved acitivites and sightseeing activities in London, the fun factor goes way up for every member of the family.