Top attractions for teenagers and family over summer

Schools out! With a few weeks left of summer, what better time to squeeze in some extra fun, mischief, and mayhem! We've put together a guide with all the top attractions for teenagers and families this summer, so you don't have to.

Family Friendly attractions:

• SEA LIFE London Aquarium

Dive into a summer of fun at SEA LIFE London Aquarium and enjoy endless entertainment for the family. This summer join the turtle rescue mission to help our turtles under threat. Find out why and how you can help save these beautiful creatures! There’s lots of fun activities to enjoy with the whole family, grab a turtle patrol book, pick your turtle breed and log all your turtle details as you move through all the rescue stages!

 

• Shrek's Adventure! London 

Deep in the depths of a magical land called Far Far Away lies a friendly green Orge with a cheeky Donkey Pal who loves a bit of mischief! This summer enjoy a brilliantly bonkers immersive experience and journey through 9 live interactive shows with Shrek and his DreamWorks friends! Start off on the magical 4D flying bus before meeting Cinderella, the Muffin Man, and Rumpelstiltskin’s Fortune Teller to name a few. If you are looking for interactive attractions for kids – this is one not to be missed!

 

• KidZania

Combining educational activities with a dose of fun can be tricky, but KidZania London offers fun for families in a unique experience filled with role-play activities which mirror real-life careers. The aim is to boost confidence and independence whilst expanding young minds and allowing kids to unleash their inner explorers!

 

• London Zoo

Embark on the journey of a lifetime and discover amazing wildlife with over 650 species at the London Zoo this summer. With several London attractions for kids to choose from London Zoo is ranked as one of the top zoos and wildlife parks in London. London Zoo offers loads of cool and exciting events, with lots of fun for families – this summer they’re showcasing captivating wild games and giant attractions including England’s largest penguin pool and London’s largest living rainforest with loads of other astonishing animals and habitats to enjoy!

 

• The London Eye

See the sights of London 135metres above the River Thames and hop onto the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel – one of the most popular attractions in central London! Enjoy the sights showcasing up to 40 kilometres from the London Eye including St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Shard and Tate Modern!

 

 

Historical attractions:

• British Museum

Struggling to keep the little ones entertained this summer? The British Museum offers a diverse range of cool activities and fun for the whole family. An educational day out doesn’t have to be boring, discover China’s hidden century in The Citi exhibition and find out loads of cool facts or explore 'desire and identity' and on their LGBTQ museum tour. With up to 95 galleries to explore ranging from Egyptians sculptures to Ancient Cyprus, there’s a huge variety on offer.

 

• The Tower of London

We know how hard it can be to keep teens entertained - located in the heart of central London, the Tower of London offers a uniquely thrilling experience for teenagers at the Tower of London Dungeon also known as the basement of the White Tower. Offering a good dose of scary history, it’s believed that several famous prisoners were tortured here. Many teens are also interested in the range of activities including gruesome storytelling, historical facts, and lots of cool objects like an axe and executioners block – these were all used to carry out executions in the past!

 

• Imperial War Museum 

Displayed across six majestic floors the Imperial War Museum showcases a beautiful array of objects from photographs to films, weapons, uniforms, aircrafts, ships and much more. The world’s leading museum of war offers the perfect entertaining historical experience for kids, teens, and the whole family.

The exhibits illustrate everything from the First and Second World War to 9/11, the Korean War and the Falklands War to name a few. There is also a range of free talks and interactive displays for kids with virtual books, videos, and games!

 

• Buckingham Palace 

With so much Royal Pageantry happening in 2023, a visit to Buckingham Palace has never been more fitting. The palace is recognised as the Monarch’s official residency and is one of the most well-known attractions in London, across the globe. Discover traditional British history and catch the changing of the guards in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. You can also stop by the Queen Gallery and enjoy her private art collection that King Charles III has now inherited. There’s over 7000 paintings from the world’s finest art collection giving Europe’s most established art galleries a run for their money!

 

 

Scary attractions:

 

• The London Dungeon

Discover 1000 years of gruesome history at the home of scary history, with a twist! The London Dungeon boasts 12 interactive live shows with an array of actors and 2 chilling rides. Begin your journey on the boats to traitor’s gate on the Tyrant Boat Ride before coming face-to-face with several other well known London characters including Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett.

Don’t forget to check out the brand-new show ROTTEN ROYALS. This summer, royal history is on show – see the flip side of history they don’t want you to know!

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• Jack the Ripper Ghost Walks

On the topic of scary history, if you and the family were captivated by the Jack the Ripper show at the London Dungeon, you will love the Jack the Ripper walking tour. This chilling tour commences at Tower Hill and is one of the top-rated Jack the Ripper tours in London! Here you will learn about some of the victims, their families and real-life crime scenes including the famous Ten Bells Pub.

Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

 

 

• Hampton Court Palace

Hampton court palace was built around 500 years ago and used to be home to Henry VIII and his six wives. Here you can experience the majestic Tudor palace along with a range of other activities including the famous haunted gallery. Rumour has it, King Henry VIII’s fifth wife Catherine Howard haunts the halls. 

 

 

Escape Rooms: 

• The London Dungeon Guy Fawkes Escape Room

You’ve been found guilty of conspiring against the King with Guy Fawkes – your punishment awaits at the Tower of London… Lucky for you, Guy Fawkes has left clues behind to assist your escape. Can you escape the hangman’s noose?

The London Dungeon escape room is a logic-based puzzle sure to put your team work skills to the test - scary history has never been more fun! Ideal for 2-6 players per room, this ticket does not include entry to the London Dungeon Tour. You have 60 minutes to escape... got what it takes?

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• The Wren Code 

Escape rooms are a brilliant source of fun for families and offer a more unique experience as these interactive attractions require teamwork, communication, and team-bonding. In the Wren Code escape room, guests will be part of an exclusive team of agents who are working for His Majesty’s secret service.

A well-known criminal organisation are about to conduct the biggest heist in the city’s history and it’s up to you to stop them. Are you ready?

From £29 per person, this escape room has reviewed excellent reviews. One guest was left astonished - “Whoa. An escape game played in the streets. Real city objects instead of props for puzzles. Really cool.”

 

 

• clueQuest - The Live Escape Room Game

Perfect for families and friends – clueQuest – The Live Escape Room Game offers a fun team-bonding experience. You and your team must use teamwork and logic to complete Mr Q’s missions before the time runs out – sounds simple right? There are 4 different immersive activities to choose from including Revenge of the Sheep, cQ ORIGENES, PLAN52 and Operation BlackSheep. Large groups of up to 66 players are also able to book! What are you waiting for?