This feels like a topic that must come up loads, but I'm not getting far with the search.
Tyred family have a couple of days in London early next week - trying to work out a bit of an itinerary, mainly for the 'kids' (17 and 20) who'll have a day to themselves but not too much cash to spend. They've never really spent much time there but will be fine with getting around.
Keen for a few interesting/unusual/niche suggestions beyond Camden, Southbank and the more obvious museums. They're into music, being annoying, clothes, leaving lights on, history, mocking unsuspecting other people, that type of thing.
Hit me up!
Into music? Have you taught them well, or is it all new stuff
https://everyrecordtellsastory.com/rock-n-roll-london-tour/
If you google you can find plenty of free self guided walking tours.
Ha ha, they're doing OK!
Cheers jv, exactly the sort of thing I was after.
Check what's on at the theatres.. You can get some great cheap gigs if you're into comedy, stand up and music.
For example, this (not really cheap I guess) has to be worth a punt for £25 per ticket: https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/22396-back-to-the-future-the-musical-tickets
If either of them play then Denmark St / Tin Pan Alley is worth a browse / gawp. Often someone's vintage guitar in the window at price of a family car levels.
Arches underneath Waterloo to see the street art is worth a visit.
I'll give a 2nd vote for the Leak Street arches under Waterloo.
The Wellcome Collection (by Euston Station) is free and interesting. Also free is the Hunterian museum short walk across the river from Waterloo.
My 17 year old boy likes the Brick Lane Markets in the east end, and my 15 year old girl like Portobello Road & market at west london.
My 17 year old boy likes the Brick Lane Markets in the east end
Be warned that Brick Lane doesn't really warm up/really open for business until the latter part of the week.
If you want something different try these museum choices - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/articles/Londons-most-unusual-museums-50-of-the-best-part-one/
Check what's on at the theatres.
Is what I was going to say – there is a ticket booth for last-minute cheap same-day tickets in Leicester Square.
If they like recent history / musicals / comedy, my wife and kids highly recommend Operation Mincemeat
It's quite expensive but Frameless in Marble Arch is fantastic, IMO a real "something for everyone" thing, it can look a wee bit "serious arty" when you look at the website but it's not. Loved it.
Slightly obvious choice but I went back to St Paul's earlier this year and it's probably the only place I've ever been where the annoying audioguide things really added a lot to it. I'm too scared to go up to the top gallery but even so we spent most of a day in it, and that's despite me having been before, absolutely fantastic. It helps that the different areas are such different experiences, it's not just "stare at a church" like it can seem.
For museums, Grenwich makes a really good day. You've got a market, nice streets, a different feel to the area, a couple of really good museums and a park, plus a boat ride to give it more difference. Thames boat trips are generally worth it just for the different view of the city but they're also a decent way to get around.
The postal museum itself is a wee bit crap imo but the postal tunnels stuff is fantastic, proper weird time capsule stuff. AND you get to go on a little train.
:theotherjonv, denmark street is a ghost of its former self now 🙁 Still worth the visit for gearheads but nothing like it was.
See what’s on at the Royal Albert Hall, it’s an amazing place.
If you are in brick Lane area call into gilbert and george exhibition, they live nearby so you may see them in person. It's probably not to everyone's taste though.
I always take visitors to brick Lane beigel bakery, at night it's a complete cross section of society in there.