London with Teenagers: 14+ Fun & Teen-Approved Things to Do

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Planning a trip to London with teens and wondering what will actually keep them interested (and off their phones for a while)? The good news is that London has a lot to offer for everyone! From royal landmarks and world-class museums to trendy markets, street art, and unique city views, this city will impress even the hardest-to-please teenagers.

In this guide, I share a mix of classic attractions and cool, hands-on experiences that our family enjoyed the most during our recent trip to London with three teens. These are not your typical “kids’ activities,” but things that both parents and teenagers will genuinely enjoy together.

Good to know: The list includes a bit of everything – some of the must-see sights, cultural experiences, quirky attractions, local food, and even a few hidden gems. I strongly believe that variety is key when traveling with teens, and London makes it easy to combine a wide variety of experiences in one trip.

If you’re visiting from abroad, as we, you probably don’t want to spend time on things you could do at home, like bowling or go-karting. So this guide focuses on activities that are teen-approved and uniquely London – experiences that will make your family trip to the UK’s capital truly memorable.

READ ALSO: Where to Stay in London

In random order, here are some of the best things we recommend in London with teenagers:

1. Fun & Unusual Attractions

Let’s start with some of the most exciting and unique experiences in London that teenagers will actually love.

London has plenty of fun attractions to break up the sightseeing, but which ones are worth booking depends more on your teens’ interests than their age. These attractions can quickly add up for a family, so let your kids help you choose and only do these if they’re genuinely interested.

Here are a few options to consider:

• O2 Arena Rooftop Climbing Experience. Best for active tweens and teens who enjoy a challenge. Climbing over the roof of the O2 makes the views part of an adventure, rather than just another sightseeing stop. Consider whether everyone is comfortable with heights before booking. Minimum age: 8 years; minimum height: 1.2 m (about 4 ft).

• Harry Potter Studio Tour. Best for Harry Potter fans of any age. You can explore the actual sets, props, and costumes used in the films, so knowing the story makes this much more interesting. This is a behind-the-scenes studio visit, with plenty to look at and read about. Book well in advance and keep in mind that you’ll need most of a day.

• Frameless Immersive Art Experience. Best for creative teens and families looking for a relaxed indoor activity. Huge moving projections and music bring paintings by artists such as Van Gogh and Monet to life. It’s great for photos and your teens’ socials.

• Madame Tussauds. Best for teens interested in celebrities, music, movies, or sports. From Taylor Swift to Lando Norris, they’ll find plenty of familiar faces to pose with. There’s also much more than wax figures, including the Spirit of London taxi ride and a Jumanji 4D experience. We’ve been a few times, and the whole family always enjoys it.

• Paradox Museum London. Best for tweens and teens who enjoy optical illusions and funny photos. It’s quite expensive for what it is (also because the main draw- the Zero Gravity Room – costs extra), so I’d only do this if your teens are particularly interested.

• Silent Disco Adventure. Best for outgoing teens and families happy to be a little silly together. This musical walking tour gets you dancing through London’s streets with headphones on. The real question is whether your teens would find dancing in public fun or painfully embarrassing. Let them make the call on this one!

• Sandbox VR Immersive Gaming Experiences. Best for gamers and teens who enjoy team challenges. You play together inside a virtual world, making this a great option for siblings who want something more active than sightseeing. Our boys love this.

TIP: These are just a few examples of the many cool things to do in London with teens. Ask each teen to pick one attraction they would most like to do. Their choices may surprise you, and having something they chose themselves to look forward to can make the sightseeing in between easier too.

2. Musicals & Shows

Seeing a musical or show is one of our favorite things to do in London with teenagers. We’ve taken our kids to quite a few shows in both London and New York, and they’ve enjoyed every one, including shows like ABBA Voyage and Tina that we chose for ourselves.

So don’t feel you have to stick to “kids’ shows” or something your teens would pick. It’s your trip too! We tell ours what to expect, but we’ve found that being open to each other’s choices is part of the fun.

For a first West End musical experience, I recommend The Lion King for its staging and costumes, Mamma Mia! for the upbeat music and humor, or Les Misérables for its powerful songs and emotional story. We’ve seen all of these, and kids enjoyed them all.

On one occasion, our 15-year-old went to see Mamma Mia! on a school trip as well. He said all the girls loved it, and by the end, most of the boys were dancing too. Music from well before their time clearly wasn’t a problem!

We try to see at least one show whenever we visit London, sometimes two if our schedule and budget allow. If your teens have never seen a big theater production, I’d really recommend including at least one in your trip – even if they aren’t particularly enthusiastic beforehand.

TIP: Check the most popular musicals currently running in London and let your teens help choose. For the best choice of seats together, book well ahead.

3. Tower of London & Tower Bridge

No trip to London would be complete without visiting some of its most famous landmarks. On this trip, we decided that the kids were old enough for an introduction to the rich but also dark history of the Tower of London.

A visit here truly takes you back in time. In its 1000 (!) years the Tower served as a fortress, royal palace, and prison. You can see the old execution site, explore the Bloody Tower, the Torture Chamber, and many others. The Crown Jewels are not to be missed and even the most skeptical teenagers will be impressed by the world’s largest diamond and the stunning crowns of Britain’s monarchs.

Our experience: Since the Tower of London is one of the most visited tourist attractions and the crowds are insane, we opted for this early-access tour. It brings you inside before it opens to the public. An additional perk was meeting some of the Beefeater guards, watching an Opening Ceremony, and seeing the Crown Jewels without any wait. The same tour company also has an amazing VIP after-hours tour, but our evenings were already filled with shows and musicals…

TIP: If you decide to visit the Tower of London on your own, reserve tickets online (and well in advance!). If you can get your teens out of bed early in the morning, opt for the earliest time slot and head straight to the Crown Jewels. Later in the day, the wait time to see them can easily be an hour or even longer.

Afterward, visit the iconic Tower Bridge, which offers plenty of photo opportunities for your teen’s social media. You can also get a ticket and go inside, where you can see the Victorian engine rooms and walk across the glass walkway.

4. London Eye

The London Eye is one attraction we keep coming back to every time we visit London. We’ve been taking our kids since they were little, and they still enjoy it just as much as teenagers. It’s also one of our top picks in our guide to London with kids.

For me, these are some of the best views in London. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are just across the river, and you can spot Buckingham Palace and other familiar landmarks as you slowly rise above the city. Even after several visits, it never gets boring.

A full rotation takes about 30 minutes, so there’s plenty of time to take photos and enjoy the views. If you can, choose a day with good visibility. Being able to see across London makes a big difference.

TIP: Book London Eye tickets on the official site in advance to save money and skip the ticket-office line. You’ll still need to line up to board, and your booked time is when you join that line. If you’re visiting during school vacations or on a busy weekend, consider fast-track tickets to reduce that wait too.

5. Street Art

If you are looking for something different (and free) to do with teens in London, get a bit off the beaten path and discover the vibrant street art scene.

There are quite a few places where you will find interesting street art in London. One of the most impressive locations – The Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel, aka The Vaults – is very easy to add to any London Itinerary. You can find this colorful graffiti tunnel just 5 minutes walk from the London Eye.

The tunnel was ‘founded’ by Banksy and the ‘exposition’ here changes all the time. You can often see some artists at work too. Our teens loved this short detour and I’m sure your kids will be impressed as well.

If you have more time, head to London’s East End to see the street art around Shoreditch and Brick Lane. Exploring the colorful murals and stopping for photos can be a fun change from sightseeing, especially if your teens are interested in art or photography. Our teens appreciate this just as much as the main tourist sights.

TIP: If you don’t know where to start and don’t feel like aimlessly wandering around London looking for a few random murals, book one of the popular street art tours. There are walking tours and bike tours, and some of them even include a ‘workshop’ where your teens can create their own piece of art.

READ ALSO: Best FREE Things to Do in London for Families

6. Sky Garden & Other Skyscrapers

Unless you live in a city full of high-rise buildings, visiting some of London’s impressive skyscrapers can be a fun activity with teens. No matter which building you choose, it will give you a chance to see a different side of the city and provide a great contrast to its historic landmarks.

For city views in a more unusual setting, we highly recommend Sky Garden at the top of the Walkie Talkie Building. With an indoor garden and views across London, it’s a great place to look around and take photos. It’s located about a 10-minute walk from the Tower of London, so it’s easy to combine the two.

Sky Garden is free to visit, but the toughest part is securing tickets. Free timed-entry tickets are released on their website on Monday mornings up to three weeks in advance. Try to book as soon as your dates become available.

Our experience: We came here for lunch at Darwin Brasserie after our morning tour of the Tower of London. The restaurant is on the 36th floor, at the upper level of the indoor garden. The food is not cheap, but it’s very good, and they have some family-friendly options. Our teens were impressed. A restaurant reservation includes access to Sky Garden, so this is also a good option if you can’t get free tickets.

TIP: You can also book Sky Garden entry with a pastry and a hot drink. This could be a nice way to start your sightseeing day, but keep in mind that the outdoor terrace is closed during this experience.

Alternatively, visit London’s tallest building, The Shard. Its viewing galleries offer 360-degree views, with an open-air viewing area on the 72nd floor. The Shard is on the other side of the river, about a 15-minute walk from Tower Bridge. You will need to book timed-entry tickets here as well, and these are not free.

For more free views of London, consider Horizon 22 on Bishopsgate or The Garden at 120 on Fenchurch Street. Horizon 22 has an indoor viewing platform on the 58th floor and requires a free ticket reservation. The Garden at 120 is a free outdoor rooftop garden with no advance booking required, which can be a nice option if you want to keep your plans flexible.

READ ALSO: Best Views in London

7. London Dungeon

If you are looking for some fun attractions for teens in London, check out the London Dungeon.

This immersive experience introduces you to the darker side of London’s history and brings the city’s gruesome past to life. From Jack the Ripper to the Great Fire of London, your teenagers will be thrilled by the interactive exhibits, live actors, and spine-tingling special effects that recreate the macabre events of centuries past.

Our experience: I wasn’t sure what to expect from the London Dungeon, but I kept seeing it recommended as one of the best attractions for teenagers. Since it’s right next to the London Eye, we decided to give it a try. The actors were amazing, and all three of our teens thoroughly enjoyed it and said it was well worth it. Personally, I found it a bit expensive for what it is, so I’d recommend getting a multi-attraction ticket if you’re also planning to visit the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, or other included attractions. The combined price makes it much better value than booking separately.

One of our teens later went back with his school friends and enjoyed it even more, partly thanks to all the girls screaming!

Good to know: London Dungeon is best suited for teens, according to the official site from 12+. While it’s not nearly as scary as we expected, some younger kids might find it a bit too much. That said, younger kids are allowed and it really depends on the child. When we visited, our group had a few children of about 7-8 years old and they were having the best time.

Also here, it’s highly recommended to book your tickets in advance (it’s cheaper too). You need to foresee about 1.5 hours for a visit. Please also note that photos are not allowed inside so put your phone and your camera away and let this experience transport you to the dark past of London.

8. Windsor Castle & Royal Guard

Every trip to London should include a visit to at least one Royal site. While you can see Crown Jewels at the earlier-mentioned Tower of London, it’s not exactly the royal palace your teenagers might have expected of the British Monarchy.

So if you want to visit a real royal castle in the UK that is used by the Kings and Queens of current generations, we highly recommend venturing beyond the city limits and visiting the famous Windsor Castle.

The oldest and largest inhabited castle, Windsor Castle is the best place to get acquainted with Britain’s Monarchy. You will likely recognize it from countless TV series and films, and of course, Royal weddings and funerals.

You can visit the beautiful St George’s Chapel, the lavish State Apartments, and see Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. Inside the chapel, you can also see the tombs of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Philip, among many other monarchs. In addition, Windsor is a great place to see the iconic Changing of the Guard ceremony.

Our teenagers were impressed with the guards and the castle, but even more so by a royal helicopter that took off in front of our eyes.

How to visit: Windsor Castle can be reached by a direct train from London Waterloo, and the journey takes about one hour. Train tickets can be bought at the station, but make sure to book timed entry tickets for the castle in advance!

Alternatively, you can book tickets with transport included or visit Windsor Castle on a guided tour. For example, this popular tour combines Windsor with Stonehenge and Bath – a good way to make the most of your day.

READ ALSO: Best Day Trips from London

Alternative: If your time in London is limited, you can also see Buckingham Palace in the city center. However, the State Rooms are only open to the public for a few months a year, usually from mid-July through September (see here for opening dates and tickets). For the rest of the year, you can only see the palace from the outside, witness the Change of the Guard ceremony, or visit the Royal Mews.

9. Traditional Pubs & Food Markets

Trying different food is part of the fun of visiting London with teenagers. Ours enjoyed everything from traditional pubs to fancy restaurants and afternoon tea, but a food tour was a particular highlight.

British pubs are a good option for a filling meal with ever-hungry teens. You’ll find English pubs all over the city; simply open Google Maps and search for pubs nearby. However, if you want to have dinner at a popular pub, it’s best to do some research and reserve a table in advance.

Food markets are also great, especially if you want to try (a bit of) something different. Some of our favorites include Borough Market, Camden Market, Spitalfields Market, and Greenwich Market. Pick one that fits your sightseeing plans:

• Borough Market is easy to combine with the Tower Bridge area, Sky Garden, or a walk along the South Bank.
• Greenwich Market is a good lunch stop when visiting the Greenwich attractions.
• Spitalfields Market can be combined with exploring the street art around Shoreditch and Brick Lane.
• Camden Market is worth a separate trip, with plenty of food stalls and unusual shops to explore in Camden Town.

Our recommendation: On our recent visit to London with teens, we took this Borough Market food tour, and everyone loved it. Between tastings, we explored London’s past, from an old prison to a Harry Potter filming location. The sausage rolls and apple crumble were the best we’ve ever had, and there was more than enough food to keep our teenagers happy. They even tried oysters, something they would never eat at home! That’s one of the reasons we love food tours: our teens are much more willing to try something new when a guide introduces it!

READ ALSO: British Food: Best Traditional Dishes to Try in the UK

10. Cool Neighborhoods

Beyond the main sights, leave some time to explore London’s neighborhoods with your teens. Browsing shops, stopping at a cafe, and looking for street art can be just as much fun as visiting another attraction.

Pick an area that matches their interests rather than trying to visit them all. Notting Hill has colorful streets, small boutiques, and Portobello Road, while Soho is good for shopping, record stores, and places to eat. Camden Town is worth considering for teens who enjoy alternative fashion, unusual shops, and the food stalls at Camden Market.

Shoreditch, in London’s East End, is a good choice for street art and a more local atmosphere. Covent Garden, in the West End, is much more touristy, but its central location, street performers, shops, and restaurants make it an easy stop between sightseeing.

For a more modern side of London, consider Canary Wharf. Its skyscrapers, waterfront paths, and public art are very different from the historic sights. You could also combine a visit here with the O2 Arena climb, just one Tube stop away on the Jubilee line.

TIP: Do some research on things you can do in the specific area before deciding where to visit. As already said, taking a guided tour can be a great way to discover more of the local neighborhoods. But if you spend some time mapping out some cool attractions, shops, or cafes, you can easily explore on your own.

Our teens’ favorites include Camden Town, Covent Garden, and Shoreditch.

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Camden Town & Best Things to Do in Canary Wharf

11. River Cruises & Boat Trips

A boat trip on the River Thames is a good way to take a break from walking and see more of the city from a different perspective. On the way, you will pass many iconic landmarks like the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, HMS Belfast, and Tower Bridge, to mention just a few.

There are many different boat trips to choose from: sightseeing river cruises to hop-on hop-off boats, speedboat tours, afternoon tea or dinner cruises, etc.

The most popular are hop-on hop-off sightseeing river cruises that run between Westminster Bridge (London Eye, Big Ben, etc.), Tower Bridge, and Greenwich. Depending on the ticket you choose, you can hop on/off at any of these locations, so it’s also a very convenient mode of transportation between some of the main tourist hotspots.

We often use river cruises to cover longer distances in London. Our kids always appreciate a break!

TIP: If you are looking for something fun and a bit unusual to do in London with teens, consider a speedboat tour. It’s so much fun! Also here, you can choose from several different options and starting locations. We loved this speedboat tour with a comedian guide. A touch of British humor makes this exhilarating experience even more fun for the whole family.

12. Best Museums

If you’re looking for more traditional attractions to visit in London with your teens, you’re spoiled for choice. London has some of the world’s best museums – many of them FREE to visit – and several are particularly engaging for families with older kids.

One of the top museums for families is the Natural History Museum. From towering dinosaur skeletons to fascinating exhibits about space, volcanoes, and the oceans, it offers a mix of education and entertainment that appeals to all ages.

If your teens are into art, don’t miss the Tate Modern on the South Bank. Its bold modern and contemporary collections, combined with large-scale installations and riverside views, make it one of the coolest art museums in London. Alternatively, the National Gallery and/or National Portrait Gallery at Trafalgar Square showcase timeless masterpieces — and both have free permanent collections.

If your teens are interested in ancient civilizations, the British Museum is also well worth a visit. It houses world-famous artifacts like the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies, and it’s free to enter. While some exhibits can feel a bit traditional, focusing on highlights or taking a themed guided tour can make it much more engaging for teenagers.

For something more interactive, the London Transport Museum near Covent Garden is a hit with kids and teens alike. They can see old trains, double-decker buses, and taxis, while learning how London’s transport evolved through the centuries.

History lovers will appreciate the Churchill War Rooms — the underground headquarters where Winston Churchill directed Britain’s WWII operations. It’s atmospheric, immersive, and particularly interesting for teens who enjoy history or politics.

Our teens’ top pick: For modern and street art fans, the Moco Museum London offers a fresh and colorful alternative to the big traditional galleries. With works by Banksy, Kusama, Basquiat, and more, it’s compact, vibrant, and perfect for teens who prefer something different.

13. Hidden Gems

In addition to world-famous museums and major landmarks, London has countless cool spots and lesser-known gems that most tourists completely overlook.

We already mentioned street art and several hip areas, but there are so many hidden gems to be found all over the city. From tucked-away gardens and town squares to quirky museums, your teens will love discovering the lesser-known treasures of London.

Even if you add just a few of these unusual places to your itinerary, it will make your trip so much more special and memorable for everyone in your family!

For inspiration on where exactly to go, check out our detailed guide to some of the best hidden gems of London!

14. Cool Shops

Whether your teens love shopping or just enjoy exploring unique places, make sure to include a few of London’s coolest shops and boutiques in your itinerary.

From flagship stores on Oxford Street and Leicester Square to vintage finds in Covent Garden and the quirky, colorful shops of Camden Town, there’s something for every taste and budget. You’ll also find plenty of fun markets and independent stores where you can pick up truly unique souvenirs.

When we visited London with the kids when they were little, some of their favorite stops were the M&M’s World Store on Leicester Square, Harrods, and Hamleys Toy Store on Regent Street – all London icons that never get old, no matter your age. They loved visiting them again this time as teenagers, but now they also appreciated the smaller, quirkier boutiques just as much.

So, this is our guide to London for families with teens. We hope that it helps you plan a truly fun and memorable trip!

For practical information and good-to-knows, make sure to read our tips for visiting London for the first time. If you are wondering where to stay, check out our guide to the best areas to stay in London.

Looking for more ideas on where to take your teens? Check out our guide to some of the best places to visit with teenagers. It features our teens’ top 10 destinations worldwide.

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