Historical

Churchill War Rooms

Suitable for older kids and teens (although probably not the biggest hit on your itinerary), a must for WWII history buffs
 Churchill’s War Rooms are the underground bunker from which Churchill and his inner circle orchestrated WWII. It was turned into a museum and opened to the public in 1984. You can see Churchill’s meeting rooms, accommodations, etc., and there are many videos and interactive elements. I’ve never sent anyone here who didn’t think it was worthwhile. Adults 22 pounds at the time of this writing, kids 11 pounds. There are also family package options. You could incorporate this stop into the Introduction to London itinerary.

Tower of London

If you’re not familiar, The Tower of London is a 1,000 year old castle that was used as a prison from 1100 to 1952 (yes…for that long). Many famous executions (and very many not so famous ones) took place here, including Anne Boleyn, Thomas More, and Thomas Cromwell to name just a few. In my opinion, you must do a tour here. The lives ones done by Beefeaters are preferred, but an audio tour will suffice if necessary. Otherwise, you have no context for the amazing history around you, and it will just seem like a series of old walls. The Crown Jewels are also kept here and are totally worth waiting to see if you must. If visiting at a busy time, I highly recommend buying a skip the line ticket.

Houses of Parliment
 Take the Tube to the Westminster stop (Circle, District, and Jubilee Lines). When you come out of the main exit, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben will be directly in front of you (due to a renovation, Big Ben will be shrouded until roughly 2021). As you look to your left, you’ll see Westminster Bridge, which is a nice spot to take some pictures. If you continue across the Bridge, you’ll come to the London Eye. We did this once; and while expensive, we all loved it. Worth doing if you can make a reservation and/or don’t have to wait a long time.

Note: If you visit in summer, Houses of Parliament is open for tours. I’ve done this twice (once with the kids) and highly recommend it. If it’s your first visit, however, I’d focus on seeing more initially and doing the tour another time. You need to book in advance.