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  • Best Free London Museums For Kids

    Best Free London Museums For Kids

    London may not be known as a budget city for travelers but offers seemingly infinite free attractions.  In addition to iconic landmarks like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Nelson’s Column, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace, there are many free museums, including four that are among the world’s top ten most visited museums each year.  Exhibits in these museums include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon frieze, Apollo 10, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Darwin’s specimens, the world’s largest portrait collection and the remains of the London Wall from about 200 A.D. With so much variety, there really are free museums in London for everyone.  Our family barely scratched the surface of London’s museums during our three trips there with kids but have been lucky to visit a few of London’s amazing museums as a family without paying any admissions fees.  To round out our list, we asked some fellow travel bloggers for recommendations for the best free London museums for kids:

    Free Museums in South Kensington

    #1:  London’s Natural History Museum 

    My kids really enjoy natural history and have visited natural history museums in Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.  London’s Natural History Museum definitely did not disappoint.  The cathedral-like building in South Kensington is stunning, and we were greeted by Dippy, a diplodocus skeleton featured in Hitze Hall, the main hall of the museum.  This dinosaur reminded us of Sue, the T-Rex featured in the Field Museum’s main hall.  We were excited to learn that the cast of Dippy was a gift from Andrew Carnegie at the request of Edward VII.  Since our visit to London, we’ve seen the original skeleton on display at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

    Replacing iconic main hall dinosaurs seems to be a recent trend in natural history museums.  Just as Sue was replaced at the Field Museum with a cast of Maximo, a titanosaur, and the world’s largest dinosaur skeleton in 2018, Dippy was replaced with Hope, a blue whale’s skeleton in 2017.   While Dippy was quite a centerpiece, one of the biggest takeaways from our trip to London’s Natural History Museum was that the blue whale is the world’s largest animal.  So, my boys would probably approve of the change.  Admittedly, it must be easier to photograph Hope, who is suspended from the ceiling, without getting scores of other visitors in the shot as we found when trying to photograph Dilly.  We can’t wait to see Hope, whose installation is shown on this time-lapse video.

    The Dinosaur Gallery one-ups the other dinosaur exhibits we have visited by adding animatronics.  The enormous animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex is the highlight of the exhibit.  Visitors stand in a line (which is known as a queue in London) that eventually inches past the T-Rex.

    The Natural History Museum was originally designed to house the British Museum’s natural history collection, particularly Charles Darwin’s samples, so there are plenty of animal specimens.  My younger son got up close and personal with the lion exhibit.  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and highly recommend London’s Natural History Museum for kids of all ages.

    • London’s Natural History Museum Admission:  There is no general admission to visit London’s Natural History Museum, but some temporary exhibits do require an admission fee.
    • London’s Natural History Museum Hours:  London’s Natural History Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.
    • Closest Underground Stop to London’s Natural History Museum:  South Kensington

     

    #2:  London’s Science Museum

    Kids who have a passing interest in space travel, experiments, technology or transport would love London’s Science Museum. It’s the best London museum for kids, and visitors can explore free exhibits including some of the most iconic objects created over the past 250 years – from Apollo 10 to the first Apple computer as well as the first submarine.   While the Museum is free, visitors can also purchase tickets for the WonderLab to take part in live experiments at the Chemistry Bar or watch 3D IMAX movie features on space travel and natural phenomena. The Science Museum is a great place to visit on a cold and rainy day thanks to the play area for smaller kids on the lower level. 

    • London’s Science Museum Admission:  There is no general admission to visit London’s Science Museum, but donations are welcome, and tickets are required for special exhibits and the IMAX cinema.
    • London’s Science Museum Hours:  The Science Museum is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and closed December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stop to London’s Science Museum:  South Kensington

    Recommended by Katy Clarke from Untold Morsels.  Find out more from Katy about 3 days in London.

     

    #3:  Victoria and Albert Museum

    The Victoria and Albert Museum, one of South Kensington’s Big Three free museums, is purely dedicated to art and design. It’s not as immediately child-friendly as its neighbors, the Natural History Museum and Science Museum.  There are no dinosaurs or flight simulators here, but it does have daily free activities and events for children.  Kids age 5 to 12 can borrow a backpack of activities to help them explore the Museum’s while paper trails and hands-on discovery areas help to bring the exhibits to life. Pop-up performances and making sessions appear on weekends and school holidays, too.  But another important feature is the John Madejski Garden, an outdoor courtyard in the heart of the Museum. On sunny days, families gather around the pond to eat packed lunches and relax or purchase ice-cream and refreshments in the Garden Café.  If it’s a less sunny day, the V&A’s main café is a historic work of art in its own right!

    Photo Credit Mummy Travels

    • Victoria and Albert Museum Admission:  There is no general admission to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum, but there is a separate admission charge for some exhibitions and events, which may require advance booking.
    • Victoria and Albert Museum Hours:  The Victoria & Albert Museum is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays.  The Victoria & Albert is closed December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stop to the Victoria and Albert Museum:  South Kensington
    Recommended by Nancy from Map and Family.  Find out more from Nancy about the things to do with teens in London.

     

    Free Museums in Trafalgar Square

    #4:  London’s National Gallery

    London’s National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square and houses a relatively small collection of about 2,300 paintings, almost all are world-famous and on permanent display.  The National Gallery is the fourth most visited art museum in the world with over six million visitors annually.  The Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum are the only more popular art museums.

    The Gallery’s entrances are located off of Trafalgar Square.  We used the side entrance, which is more stroller friendly than the beautiful main entrance.  Our focus was the Impressionist Gallery that holds some of the world’s most famous paintings by Claude Monet, Pierre Renoir and Vincent Van Gogh.  Monet’s paintings on exhibit here include Gare St. Lazare and The Water-Lily Pond.  Van Gogh’s Sunflowers is one of the most recognizable paintings on exhibit.  Van Gogh only created about 800 oil paintings in his life, including several variations of these sunflowers.  Similar versions are displayed in the Van Gogh Museum and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Museum of Art, which purchased Still Life: Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers for about $40 million in 1987, which was a record at the time.  When considering those amounts, it’s hard to believe that Van Gogh relied on his brother for financial support during his lifetime.

    Our budding artist was very interested in Van Gogh's Sunflowers
    Our budding artist was very interested in Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

    Our boys were particularly fascinated by Georges Seurat’s massive Bathers at Asnières.  Seurat masterfully uses pointillism, a painting technique that uses small, distinct dots of varying colors to form an image.  It’s much harder to see how the patterns of dots form an image when observing the painting up close, and the boys learned to step back to see the image more clearly.  While we were not able to explore the entire National Gallery, this is definitely a museum that we could visit again and again.

    • London’s National Gallery Admission:  There is no general admission to visit the National Gallery, but some temporary exhibits do require an admissions fee.
    • London’s National Gallery Hours:  London’s National Gallery is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays.  The National Gallery is closed on January 1 and December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stops to London’s National Gallery:  Charing Cross and Leicester Square

     

    #5:  London’s National Portrait Gallery

    When London’s National Portrait Gallery opened in 1856, it was the world’s first portrait gallery.  The National Portrait Gallery now contains the world’s most extensive portrait collection with approximately 200,000 works.  The collection most notably includes portraits of important, famous and royal Brits, including members of the royal family, celebrities, politicians, artists and writers.  Visitors have the chance to view history through portraits, photographs and sculptures arranged chronologically from 1500s to modern-day.

    King Henry VIII is one of the most infamous Brits and is featured in the center of the bottom row below.  After their visit to the Tower of London, our boys were particularly excited to check out this royal portrait wall.

    We loved learning about history and art at London’s National Portrait Gallery and recommend it for all family travelers.

    • London’s National Portrait Gallery Admission:  There is no general admission fee to visit London’s National Portrait Gallery, but some temporary exhibits do require an admissions fee.
    • London’s National Portrait Gallery Hours:  London’s National Portrait Gallery is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays.  The National Gallery is closed on December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stops to London’s National Portrait Gallery:  Charing Cross and Leicester Square

     

    Free Museums in Bloomsbury

    #6:  British Museum

    The British Museum allows visitors to journey through time and around the world, without leaving London. While most people visit for the Ancient Egyptian exhibit and to see the Rosetta stone, there’s much more. Visitors can use the regular audio-guide for a more formal experience or the interactive family guide to play games throughout the Museum. With either guide, everyone will love learning about the burial rituals of Egypt, seeing hundreds of natural history specimens in the library and looking up at the Maori from the mysterious Easter Island. This is a museum where visitors could spend days properly discovering it all or skim the surface in only a few hours.

    Parthenon frieze

    Image by Tasos Lekkas from Pixabay.

    • British Museum Admission:  There is no admission charge for the British Museum.
    • British Museum Hours:  The British Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.  The British Museum is closed on January 1 and December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stations to the British Museum:  Barbican and St. Paul’s

    Recommended by Kyla from Where Is The World.

     

    #7:  Museum of London

    The Museum of London is a fascinating and beautifully presented introduction to the city itself.  It is located north of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and its permanent galleries describe a timeline from prehistory to the present day, and special temporary exhibitions take angles – recent and current examples range from the story of London’s secret rivers to the impact that animals from lions to bees have had in the city’s story.  We learned that London was the richest and most populous city in the world one century ago.  

    My kids were of course fascinated by the disgusting “Fatberg!” story of London’s sewer blockage, and my husband loves the Museum mostly because it is in the Barbican, which is either a wonderful icon of architectural history or the most repugnant set of concrete tower-blocks on the planet, depending on the viewer.  

    • Museum of London Admission:  There is no admission charge for the Museum of London.
    • Museum of London Hours:  The Museum of London is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    • Closest Underground Stations to the Museum of London:  Barbican and St. Paul’s

    Recommended by Ania from The Travelling Twins.

    Free Museums in the South Bank

     

    #8:  Tate Modern

    The Tate Modern is the sixth most visited art museum in the world and houses modern and contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries in a former power station.  Unlike most art museums, which are presented chronologically, the Tate Modern is organized by themes.  We last visited in 2015, and a 10-story addition opened two years later in 2017.

    Displays change frequently, and many exhibits come from the Tate Collection, which includes the United Kingdom’s national collection of British Art.  The expansive Turbine Hall can showcase large-scale work.  London’s Tate Modern is an extremely kid-friendly art museum.  The website has a special page dedicated to visiting families that explicitly states that women are welcome to nurse wherever they feel comfortable – which is exactly what I did while the boys explored the interactive building area.

    Amazing interactive building exhibit

    The view of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Thames and the Millennium Bridge from the balcony should not be missed.  The Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that was completed in 2000 to connect the Tate Modern to St. Paul’s Cathedral, but an unexpected sway required it to close almost as soon as it was opened and undergo almost two more years of additional modifications.

    • Tate Modern Admission:  There is no general admission to the Tate Modern, but donations are welcome.
    • Tate Modern Hours:  The Tate Modern is generally open Sundays through Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
    • Closest Underground Stop to the Tate Modern: Southwark and St Paul’s
    Free Museum in Forest City
    #9:  Horniman Museum and Gardens

    Opened in 1901, the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Southeast London is a brilliant free and child-friendly museum. The Horniman houses artifacts procured by Frederick John Horniman on his world travels in the 19th century. Aside from the aquarium and special exhibitions, all galleries and parks are free to enter.

    Toddlers will love the music room where they can beat African drums and experiment with unusual Asian instruments. The main gallery contains hundreds of taxidermy animals from across the world. Children especially adore the famous gigantic stuffed walrus. It’s an amazing place to learn about other cultures and to inspire a love of nature.

    Every day, free workshops for children are offered to those who register at the front desk. The attached Horniman Gardens are beautiful with views over London, farm animals, a music laboratory for children and a stunning conservatory. In the summer, it’s easy to spend a whole day in the museum and gardens.

    • Horniman Museum and Gardens Admission:  There is no admission charge for the Horniman Museum and Gardens.
    • Horniman Museum and Gardens Hours:  The Horniman Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed December 24-26.  The Horniman Garden closing times vary by season.

    Recommended by Kirsty from World for a Girl.

     

    Free Museums in Chelsea

    #10:  Saatchi Gallery

    My favorite place to visit whenever we’re in London is the Saatchi Gallery on King’s Road. This area is great with its many restaurants and upscale shopping, and it’s the perfect place to house a contemporary art gallery.  I find that modern art is easier to keep the kids’ attention than the more traditional galleries, it’s bigger, brighter and sometimes they can touch it! My daughter loves visiting the Saatchi as much as I do to see its ever-changing exhibits.

     The Saatchi sometimes holds child friendly workshops and talks, their ethos is to make modern art accessible to all so children are very welcome.  Previous exhibits have included Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, and the Saatchi in constantly showcasing, new, little known artists. Just think, it’s possible to introduce kids to the next big thing in the art world! Some exhibits are not so child friendly so I would check the website before visiting and avoid these areas.   Most exhibits are not roped off so keep an eye on young children to ensure they’re not touching the artwork although some pieces are interactive such as the multimedia installations.

    Because the rooms are spacious and clean, it’s easy to get around the Saatchi with a stroller. There’s also a lovely open space at the front of the Gallery for the kids to burn off some energy either before or after a visit.

    • Saatchi Gallery Admission:  There is no general admission to the Tate Modern, but donations are welcome.
    • Saatchi Gallery Hours:  Generally open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Closest Underground Stop to the Saatchi Gallery: Sloan Square

    Recommended by Karen from Are We There Yet Kids.

     

    So Many Amazing Free London Museums for Kids

    When considering a family trip to London, remember that many of the most popular attractions are free to visit, including London’s museums of art, science and history.  This London museums list can create the perfect family itinerary for London.  Also check out our posts on Planning a Trip to London With Kids, the Best Places to Visit in England With Kids, Top Attractions in London for Families, Best London Parks With Kids and the Tower of London with Kids.

  • Best Places to Visit in England With Kids

    Best Places to Visit in England With Kids

    England is a great country to visit with kids.  It’s particularly near and dear to our family’s hearts as my husband and I both lived there.  His family moved to London before he started high school, and England was his home until he finished college.  I studied abroad at the University of York for a semester of my junior year.  We’ve visited five times as a couple, and three times with kids.  Because we have family and friends in London and a connection to York, we tend to stick to these two cities during our return trips to England.  However, with its beautiful beaches, idyllic country side, stunning Gothic cathedrals and world-renowned landmarks, England really has something to offer visitors of any age.  England might be known for its frequent rain, but the weather is all part of its charm.  We asked some of our favorite family travel bloggers for suggestions on locations for fun family weekend getaways and now want to hop the next plane to start checking out more of these best places to visit in England with kids.

    Best Places to Visit in England With Kids

    Bath With Kids

    Bath is a fantastic city in England to visit, and it’s perfect for a weekend getaway, as just one day isn’t really enough.  The entire city center is a World Heritage Site, and its Georgian architecture is worth exploring.  Visitors can take a free walking tour from outside the cathedral.  Those who explore on their own should make sure to visit the Royal Crescent and the Circus.   Bath was once a Roman city called Aquae Sulis due to its hot spring (the hottest in the UK).  The Romans built a public bath and temple to the goddess Minerva.  The baths are still here, and they still work, so a highlight of going to Bath is looking around the fantastic museum.  Visitors who want to bathe in the hot springs have to book into the Thermae Bath Spa (ages 15+).

    There are many brilliant museums to look around; the museum at No.1 The Royal Crescent where kids get an explorer backpack is a favorite with our kids.  Other interesting museums include the Jane Austen Centre and the Bath Assembly Rooms and Fashion Museum.  For families looking for a more low key weekend can check out some of Bath’s green spaces.  There’s an enormous playground in Victoria Park, as well as a botanical garden; alternatively head up to Prior Park gardens and the Bath skyline for great walks and views over the city.   Bath is in the south west of England and is a two hour train journey from London, with direct trains running from London Paddington.

    Recommended by Emily Cole from Kids and Compass.  Find out more from Emily about visiting Bath with kids.

    Birmingham With Kids 

    Currently undergoing massive regeneration, Birmingham, in the center of England is a fabulous city for a weekend break with kids. It’s just a couple of hours on the train from London, and is small enough to be completely walkable.

    The National SEA LIFE Center is a favorite of my daughter’s, and we can spend hours visiting the penguin enclosure. If we’re feeling creative, we’ll head to the Ikon gallery, a small and friendly contemporary art gallery which holds hands on family sessions on weekends and during the holidays or to one of the family music events at Birmingham Symphony Hall.  For a culture hit, the Birmingham Museum of Art is totally free and features a lovely interactive area for kids, or Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum allows children to get hands on with their learning. The new LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham will also appeal to most ages.

    For eats, there are loads of chain restaurants in Brindley Place where visitors can eat overlooking the canals or the Digbeth Dining Club, which is street food style eating and open Thurs-Sat evening.  Birmingham has many theaters and concert venues so if possible, take in a show. The performance is always great, and it’s so much cheaper than the West End!

    Recommended by Karen Quinn from Are We There Yet Kids.  Read Karen’s out more from Karen about UK destination guide.

     

    Brighton With Kids

    England has some wonderful seaside towns, but none are quite like Brighton. One of the country’s coolest cities, it’s perfect with teens but has plenty to tempt families with kids of all ages.  My daughter, aged six, has been several times. A short train journey away from London, it has a very walkable city center and buses available along the coast and through the city.  Note that parking isn’t great in the central area.

    Start at the seafront and walk along the pebble beach spotting the old pier, little galleries and quirky stalls, to the entertainments of Brighton Pier or the SEA LIFE Brighton for rainy days. The best views come from the 162 meter i360 observation tower.  In the summer, the Volks electric railway trundles between the pier and the marina.  Or amble through the Lanes, with its vintage shops and kitschy souvenirs, as well as family-friendly shows at Komedia comedy club and the Painting Pottery Café.

    Brighton’s iconic landmark is the Royal Pavilion, an extravagant royal seaside escape, created by George IV.  With Indian and Chinese influences plus plenty of opulent décor inside, the fairy tale feel is just as fun for kids.  There’s also a trail to spot animals dotted throughout the rooms, including dragons, and you’re encouraged to lie down on the carpet in the music room to appreciate the ceiling.  Add in a variety of other attractions, from the toy museum to the old police cells, plus a street art bike tour, and visitors won’t have any trouble whiling away a few days.

    Recommended by Cathy Winston from MummyTravels.  Find out more from Cathy about Brighton with kids.

     

    Bristol With Kids

    Bristol is a city straddling the River Avon in the southwest of England with a prosperous maritime history. Its former city-center port is now a cultural hub, the Harbourside. The harbor’s 19th-century warehouses now contain restaurants, shops, art galleries and the M Shed museum, which explores local social and industrial heritage.  There’s no need to spend a fortune visiting Bristol as many of the big-hitters are free to visit. These include the M Shed, Leigh Woods National Nature Reserve, Blaise Castle Estate and the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, for visitors on foot.

    There are three attractions however, definitely worth paying for: the SS Great Britain, the newly opened Being Brunel Museum, and the We Are The Curious science center. These attractions are fully interactive and loved by children of all ages.  Bristol is easy to visit without a car and can be reached via train or bus from many other UK cities.

    Recommended by Nicky from Go Live Young.  Find out more from Nicky about Bristol with kids.

     

    Cambridge With Kids

    Beautiful Cambridge is just a short train ride from London’s Kings Cross station and a great place to spend a few days as a family. The university city is compact and full of attractions.  A perfect first stop is a punting tour (a chaufferred river tour) of the River Cam. While gliding past the famous colleges and under the Bridge of Sighs and Mathematical Bridge, the guide will share stories of the university and its renowned alumni.  Two of the most famous alumni are Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton, who serve as inspiration for your budding students.  After the punting tour, explore the colleges on foot. Make sure to spend time admiring King’s College Chapel, a masterpiece built-in the Tudor era with a soaring vaulted ceiling.

    Cambridge is a market town with pedestrianized cobbled streets perfect for exploring. If the weather is cold and wet, the fascinating Fitzwilliam Museum features works by Da Vinci and Rembrandt.

    Recommended by Katy Clarke from Untold Morsels.  Find out more from Katy about Cambridge with kids.

     

    Chipping Camden With Kids

    Chipping Campden is one of many charming small towns in the Cotswolds, but its location makes it the perfect home base for exploring the area. The best way to get around is certainly by car, but we cheated a bit and took the train from London to Stratford-Upon-Avon and picked up a car there. The town’s centerpiece is an old market hall on its main thoroughfare that dates to 1627. There are several pubs and local shops worth exploring, and many hikes that are easily accessible from town. We rented a self-catering apartment on the main street that allowed us to explore once the tourists left for the day.

    Our day trips included Stratford-Upon-Avon where we toured Shakespeare’s family homes and took a boat ride along the river. We also toured Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill and one of the most beautiful estates in England. Kids will not find it boring with its butterfly house, hedge maze, and miniature train. Warwick Castle was a fan favorite and an easy drive from Chipping Campden. The kids loved dressing up like knights and watching the trebuchet shoot fireballs across the lawn. The Cotswolds shouldn’t be missed on any trip to England.

    Recommended by Kirsten Maxwell from Kids are a Trip.  Find out more from Kirsten about England with kids.

     

    Devon With Kids

    Devon is a county in southwest England.  Visitors definitely need a car when visiting with kids as public transportation is not readily available in England‘s third largest county.    This area has so much to offer, including red cliff beaches that join the South West’s Jurassic Coast, traditional sandy seafronts and rocky Atlantic coastlines.  The Hartland Point and Lighthouse (pictured) offers an amazing panoramic view.  Inland Devon has two National Parks – Dartmoor and Exmoor – which are ideal for family hikes, rock climbing and river water sports. There is also an abundance of family attractions ranging from medium-sized theme parks and zoos to historic houses and fortifications dating back to medieval times. Devon has two major cities, Exeter and Plymouth that each offer chain and boutique hotels. But to experience the real Devon, we recommend finding a holiday cottage or campsite in a picturesque coastal town like Dartmouth or nestled in Dartmoor’s dramatic landscape.

    Recommended by Claire Hall from Tin Box Traveller.  Find out more from Claire about Dartmouth with kids.

     

    Lake District With Kids 

    The Lake District wasn’t awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status for no reason. I defy anyone who visits Cumbria not to be blown away by the sheer and epic beauty of the surrounding landscape. We spent a week exploring the Lake District in our car – from taking a steamboat gondola on Lake Coniston and learning why it is the inspiration for the children’s book Swallows and Amazons, to paddling in several of the 16 lakes – our favorites included Wastwater, Buttermere and Ullswater. We even climbed up a waterfall at Aira Force and caught newts in the grounds of a grand castle at Sizergh.  And with so many activities aimed at families from the Beatrix Potter Museum to caves and eerie manor houses and sprawling gardens – it’s the perfect destination for an adventure holiday in England.  Plus, the cream teas and ice creams are pretty wonderful, too…

    Recommended by Ting Dalton from My Travel Monkey.

     

    Liverpool With Kids

    Liverpool was a city that I hadn’t really thought about visiting with kids until a few years ago.  When we did visit for a weekend break, I had very low expectations about what to expect when we got there.  Well, it turned out to be one of those family travel experiences that really changed my perception of the location, and I urge families looking for places to visit in England to put Liverpool on that list.

    Liverpool is easily reached by car or train, and it’s a city that is easy to navigate by foot, even with children.  Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture in 2008, and this gave the city a real boost in terms of family-friendly tourist attractions. We had no trouble at all filling our time with visits to the World Museum, complete with aquarium and natural history exhibits, the Walker Art Gallery, with its interactive zone dedicated to young artists, and the Museum of Liverpool which helped us appreciate Liverpool’s long standing history with music and popular culture.  As well as being fascinating places to visit with kids, they were all free to enter too!  The city also has some incredible architecture and a fascinating dock where family visitors will enjoy taking the ferry across the River Mersey.

    Photo credit – Pixabay.

    Recommended by Zena from Zena’s Suitcase.  Find out more from Zena about Liverpool with kids.

     

    London With Kids

    London is one of the best cities for families in the world!  London has something to offer visitors of any age.  As a major transportation hub, London is easy to access by train or plane.  Accommodations can be expensive, so make sure to reserve well in advance.

    Some of our favorite attractions are:

    • its amazing parks (we absolutely loved Regents Park for the squirrels!)
    • free entry world-famous museums, like the Natural History Museum or Tate!
    • family-friendly plays (when we were there, The Cursed Child, Aladdin, and The Lion King were all playing!
    • fun-filled shopping districts like Camden Market for the teens or Hamley’s Toy Store for all ages! Hamley’s is enormous, and it’s the oldest toy store in the world!
    • lots of Harry Potter filming locations
    • and the classics, of course! Don’t miss the Tower of London, Big Ben Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.

    Public transport on the Underground (aka the Tube) is efficient, and the double decker buses are iconic and easy to use. Kids under 12 ride for free, and kids over 12 receive discounted fares.  The only problem with a weekend getaway in London is that it’s not long enough to fully explore all the city has to offer!

    Recommended by Thais Saito from World Trip Diaries.  Find out more from Thais about London with kids.

     

    Peak District With Kids

    Green rolling hills, dry stone walls, quaint country cottages and old pubs serving real ale in front of a roaring fire. This is the England that I love. The Peak District, nestled between the big cities of Manchester, Sheffield and Derby, is a place I have been visiting since I was a young girl and because we love the area so much, we have just moved here! With the kids dressed in puddle suits and wellies, we love nothing better than a long family walk in the Peaks. Our favorites are the Nine Ladies Circle through Stanton Moor Peak or the walk starting next to The Robin Hood pub in Baslow, with spectacular views from Birchen Edge. These walks are each only 2 kilometers long, perfect for little legs. Alternatively, we enjoy hiring some bikes and riding the Monsal Trail or Tissington Trail. We often visit Blaze Farm in Wildboarclough for a free walk around the farm and a taste of the scrumptious A2 ice-cream or head over to Chatsworth House to play in one of the best playgrounds around! However, if Mum and Dad are needing a drink (the fantastic pubs are part of the Peaks’ charm), we suggest stopping by The Bulls Head Inn, Monyash, which has a wonderful playground for the kids behind the garden. Public transport is available around the Peaks, but it’s very infrequent. The best way to get around is to hire a car.

    Recommended by Jenny Lynn from Travelynn Family.  Find out more from Jenny about family walks in the Peaks.

     

    Salisbury/Stonehenge With Kids

    For our family’s trip to Stonehenge, we opted for a guided, private tour with Stonehenge Tours at sunrise that let us INSIDE the inner circle with private access only granted to 16 people per day. A small van picked us up from our apartment in London at 4:30 a.m. so we arrived in time to catch the sun popping up over the English countryside and through the monoliths. We met our archeologist guide who had studied Stonehenge for decades.  Through our special access, we could walk in between the stones, learning the geology, history, and mystery. The archeologist guide was a masterful educator, holding the attention of my 7- and 9-year old boys. There is a visitor’s center and some outdoor exhibits that show how the prehistoric people who built Stonehenge may have lived.

    After our Stonehenge tour, we then headed to historic Salisbury Cathedral (15 minutes away), which is home to one of the four copies of the Magna Carta. Salisbury itself is a cute English town worth exploring or at least visiting some shops and stopping for lunch.  Our private tour wasn’t inexpensive (around US $600), but compared to the bus tours we could have done, it was well worth the expense and an awesome way to visit Southeast England.  We enjoyed Stonehenge and Salisbury so much that we’d definitely recommend it as a destination for a weekend getaway.

    Recommended by Lori LeRoy from Maps, Memories and Motherhood.

     

    Scarborough With Kids

    Scarborough is a popular seaside resort in North Yorkshire on the north eastern coast of England. It’s a perfect place to stay as a family, especially just for a couple of nights. There is so much to see and do. For families who enjoy historical places, a visit to Scarborough castle is a must. Down by the harbor, there are amusements, boat rides and a mini fairground. Further down there is a beach with donkey rides and a lovely view over to the Spa and out to sea. If you hop on a tourist bus you can take a ride up to the north beach. Here it is a little less chaotic with beach chalets and just a short walk away there is the popular Peasholm Park with boats to hire. Plus, a miniature steam train over the road which takes you up to Scarborough Seacliff entre. There are plenty of choices for accommodation and we love the family friendly resort The Sands, with luxury self-catering apartments.

    Recommended by Suzy McCullough from Our Bucket List Lives.

     

    South Downs With Kids

    The South Downs National Park is England’s newest national park. It covers the area mostly along the coast from Eastbourne to Winchester. Train access is available to Eastbourne or Winchester, but renting a car allows visitors to get the most out of the South Downs.

    Eastbourne is a seaside resort that had its heyday in Victorian times. The Georgians would take the waters at spa towns like Bath. The Victorians preferred the seaside which started the trend for our current love of beach holidays.  Much of the architecture reflects this Victorian heritage including the buildings that line the waterfront and the famous Eastbourne Pier. It’s a totally British thing to eat fish and chips by the seaside.  Although Eastborne is a pebble beach, kids still enjoy.

    From one end of Eastbourne, visitors have direct access to South Downs National Park. It’s not too far to the Seven Sisters Cliffs (white chalk cliffs that drop pretty vertically straight into the English Channel) or Birling Gap, a National Trust property.  Erosion of the cliffs is visible at Birling Gap.  The national park is great for walking and cycling through farmland, valleys and cliffs. It also encompasses a handful of postcard-perfect English villages.

    Recommended by Shobha George from Just Go Places Blog.  Find out more from Shobha about the South Downs with kids.

     

    Staffordshire With Kids

    The middle England County of Staffordshire is not the most obvious weekend getaway destination – no mountains, no beaches, and very few holiday parks.  But, Staffordshire offers acres of beautiful English countryside, quaint villages and a whole heap of history.  It’s where the famous Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard was discovered a few years ago which is worth over £3m and is now on show at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent.

    Staffordshire is home to multiple stately homes, each with its own fascinating history. Many hold family-friendly events over the holidays, and all have extensive grounds to explore. We love Sudbury Hall with its Museum of Childhood and Shugborough Hall for its grounds.  Getting outside in Staffordshire is practically compulsory, whatever the weather. There’s Cannock Chase, a 3,000 acre country park, which is a family favorite.  We also love the Gruffalo trail, spotting deer and other wildlife, and the Go Ape tree top adventures if we’re feeling brave. There’s also the monkey forest at Trentham Gardens where you can walk around the grounds with real life monkeys!  Thrill seekers are spoiled for choice with Alton Towers, Drayton Manor and the Snow Dome all fantastic family days out.  Public transport is available to the major towns and cities, but a car is necessary to explore the countryside.

    Recommended by Karen Quinn from Are We There Yet Kids.

     

    Trevone Beach With Kids

    Trevone Beach in North Cornwall is the perfect place to get away from it all and have a family & friends’ gathering. Different holiday agencies and bed and breakfast providers offer great accommodations.  Don’t worry about the British weather, this beach offers an activity no matter what. On the left side of the bay, there are great rock pools ideal for keeping the whole family occupied by naming or should I say, trying to name, all the different creatures living in there. During the warmer months, a man-made pool provides a safe swimming area for the ones that do not mind the cold Cornwall seawater.

    A great large sandy beach with little alcoves provides a playground for all ages is located on the right side of the bay. Families can easily spend hours down at the beach. During low tide, take your picnic, a few chairs if necessary, some sand buckets and shovels, and I can guarantee any visitor will forget busy city lives instantly.  Beautiful walks around to the blowhole or along the coastal path will make you realize how beautiful the North Cornwall coast is. Careful it gets quite addictive… once Cornwall always Cornwall.

    Recommended by Corina Swan from Packed Again.  Find out more from Corina about North Cornwall Beach with kids.

     

    York With Kids

    York is the perfect weekend getaway in England! Easy to get to either by car or train from most major UK cities, York is very accessible! There are tons of family friendly things to do whatever the weather, such as the fabulous National Railway Museum, river cruises and the yummy chocolate story museum. For older children why not learn some more about York’s gruesome history on a ghost walking tour or a trip to York Dungeons! But for the budget conscious, a trip to York doesn’t have to be expensive for families with plenty of free activities such as walking the historic city walls and taking a trip to the Shambles!

    York is full of historical gems that no visit is complete without! Firstly, be sure to visit the York Minster and marvel at the stained glass.   With older children, climb the tower for unrivaled views across the city! Clifford Tower is another gem that explores some of York’s more unpleasant history! And, at any time of year, children will love the Museum Gardens! My little one especially loves a visit York during Christmas to see the beautiful illuminations!

     

    A Visit to England For Kids

    Recommended by Leona Bowman from Wandermust Family.  Find out more from Leona about York with kids.

    Looking for the more of the best places in England for kids?  Check out all our posts about visiting England with kids.

  • Best Science Centers in the World

    Best Science Centers in the World

    Science museums offer interactive and hands-on exhibits to inspire excitement for STEM learning.  Many science museums also participate in the ASTC Travel Passport Program, which provides members of participating museums free reciprocal admission to hundreds of natural history, science and children’s museums around the world.  We asked some of our fellow family travel bloggers for favorite science museums they’ve visited and came up with this list of the best science centers in the world (asterisked museums are participants in the ASTC Travel Passport Program).

    Best Science Museums for Kids

     

    #1:  Arizona Science Center With Kids* (Phoenix, Arizona)

    There are two things that make for a great science museum: interactive exhibits and engaging explanations. We found both of those in spades at the Arizona Science Center! We visited with our 3 and 5 year old children and found meaningful, hands-on stations to suit everyone in the family along with easy-to-understand signage everywhere. There’s almost an entire floor dedicated to the human body, a huge section on mechanics and even a large area covering extreme weather (perfect for my Storm Chasers-loving husband). The Center always shows interesting and age-appropriate films at its IMAX theater and has a fantastic cafe on-site that offers food that is both healthy and fun. A visit to the Arizona Science Center is the perfect way to escape the Phoenix heat with kids, and bring your ASTC member card for free admission!

    Recommended by Melissa Conn from The Family Voyage.  Find out more from Melissa about great family activities in Phoenix. 

     

    #2:  California Academy of Sciences With Kids (San Francisco, California)

    The California Academy of Sciences is both a natural history museum and a science museum all in one! The Academy has a rain forest, aquarium (with a touch and feel tide pool), planetarium, living roof, and a section where they provide African wildlife exhibits – including real penguins! The playroom is a favorite with our 1 and 3 year old children, too. Visitors can’t forget the albino alligator, Claude, who lives in the swamp of the Academy. We’ve had a membership to this museum since before we had kids, and we now continue to renew it because there is truly something for everyone. It’s located in a central part of the Golden Gate Park, so it’s a perfect spot to stop while you are exploring San Francisco.

    Recommended by Emily Jenks from Henry and Andrew’s Guide.  Find out more from Emily about San Francisco with kids.

     

    #4:  Cite des Sciences et de l’industrie With Kids (Paris, France)

    Housed inside a giant concrete block, the Cite des Sciences is the largest science museum in Europe.  It has several permanent exhibits featuring sciences, mathematics and technology.  Visitors can explore the human brain, learn about the origins of the universe and see how man has developed technology, among other things.   Don’t miss the Geode at the back of the museum; this enormous reflective globe contains a state of the art IMAX and virtual reality cinema.

    Children will be especially interested in the Cite des Enfants (Children’s City) where they can join a 90 minute session and explore experiments and interactive tasks, while learning about their bodies and the physical world.  Older children can also play in a TV studio and a garden.  The sessions are split by age: ages 2 – 7 and 5 – 12.  Kids don’t want to leave!

    After exploring the exhibits in the museum, take a walk in the Parc de la Villette behind the museum to see its modern, industrial architecture.  The Cite des Sciences is a little off the main tourist trail in Paris, but it’s reached easily enough from the Gare du Nord.  There’s no general admission fee, but individual exhibits do require admission, and pre-booking the children’s city is a good idea to avoid the long queues.

    Recommended by Emily Cole from Kids and Compass.  Find out more from Emily about Paris with small kids.

    #5:  The Franklin Institute With Kids* (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

    The Franklin Institute is a science and technology center in Center City in Philadelphia. It’s named for Philadelphia’s beloved citizen and Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, who wore many hats but most notably as a scientist and inventor. When we go to Philadelphia to visit family in the suburbs, my children always insist on visiting the Franklin Institute.

    Visitors can easily spend an entire day at this center because there is so much to do. The Institute has special exhibits that rotate regularly. For example, we have enjoyed exhibits on Pompeii and the Terracotta Warriors. There is an IMAX theater, a planetarium and many interactive exhibits. For example, there is a giant human heart that visitors can walk both around and through, while exploring the different parts of the organ. Even though the Institute is very popular, it never feels crowded because it is so large. It’s easily one of the best science centers we have ever visited.

    Recommended by Shobha George from Just Go Places Blog.

     

    #6:  Luray Caverns With Kids (Luray, Virginia)

    Luray Caverns is basically the Geology Hall of Fame. Located in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, Luray is the largest and most visited caverns in Eastern America. This one of a kind attraction combines geology, chemistry and even music. Admission tickets include a guided tour, which departs every 20 minutes after 9 a.m., and access to the The Luray Valley Museum, the Car and Carriage Museum and Toy Town Junction. Families can also buy additional tickets to the Rope Adventure Park and Garden Maze. The guided tour leads visitors through well lit, paved walkways to view and explore towering stone formations and natural wonders. Our family stopped at this one of a kind center on a road trip to Georgia, and I literally had to drag my kids out of there. My science and history loving children were in awe of the enormous chambers filled with towering stone columns, draperies and crystal-clear pools. For visitors looking for a unique science museum that offers hands on and experienced based learning in a stunning environment, Luray Caverns should be on your East Coast itinerary.

    Recommended by Ruth Mendes from Have Kiddos Will Travel.

     

    #7:  Magna Science Adventure Centre With Kids (Rotherham, England)

    We love the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham, Yorkshire. It’s based around air, fire, water and Earth with different exhibit areas for each. The Centre is set in an old steel works, and the space is massive and actually a little spooky. There is a big melt every hour with fireworks and other sounds to demonstrate how they used to melt the steel. Each of the pavilions has different interactive displays for young and old to play with and explore. Our particular favourites are watching a tornado of fire ignite in the fire pavilion, playing with pretend rocks and blowing holes in rocks in the Earth pavilion and shooting water canons at targets in the water pavilion. There’s also one of the biggest playgrounds I’ve ever seen that has a splash park in the warmer months. The added cherry on top is that once visitors have paid for one visit they can return as many times as desired for the next 12 months without charge.

    Recommended by Suzy McCullough from Our Bucket List Lives.

    #8:  National Science and Technology Museum Leonardo da Vinci With Kids* (Milan, Italy)

    The National Science and Technology Museum Leonardo da Vinci is the biggest science museum in Italy. The outside of the 16th-century monastery that houses the museum is nothing to look at, but the inside is amazing. The Museum has a huge collection of sixteen thousand technical scientific objects, dating back to the 19th century. There’s a gallery with drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci and 130 scale models that are based on his sketches. Furthermore, the Museum has exhibits about energy production, communication, computers, iron and steel industry and space travel. The transportation section takes up a large part of the museum, with various (parts of) ships, a collection of locomotives and train carriages, numerous airplanes and even a full-size helicopter. Our son was also really impressed by the huge military submarine Enrico Toti that sits in the garden. We only spent a morning at the museum with our toddler and did not nearly have enough time to see it all.

    Recommended by Lisa van den Berg from Flip Flop Globetrotters.  Find out more from Lisa about things to do in Milan with kids.

     

    #9:  Nagoya City Science Museum and Electricity Museum With Kids (Nagoya, Japan)

    The Nagoya City Science Museum in Nagoya, Japan houses the biggest planetarium in the world.  The 30 minute planetarium show about the galaxy and constellations, featuring a highly realistic starry sky, will leave the viewers in awe even though it isn’t dubbed in English.   Visitors will also enjoy various exhibits such as the Tornado Lab, Deep Freezing Lab and Electric Discharge Lab.

    For Nagoya visitors who love science, the Electricity Museum is a family-friendly attraction in Nagoya, Japan where kids and adults can enjoy learning how electricity works and its importance to the people of Japan. We toured the museum through the Nagoya Sightseeing Tour Bus, and the entrance ticket is free for everyone. It offers hologram images where visitors can see the pioneers in Japanese electricity and there are interactive tools on display and a science plaza where kids can experiment and be familiarized with different science laws. The main attraction of this museum is the OHM Theater where guests can participate in quizzes and competitions as video game characters on their impressive 29-foot screen.

    Recommended by Catha Buti-Uy of Team Uy Travels.

     

    #10:  Oregon Museum of Science and Industry With Kids* (Portland, Oregon)

    The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (“OMSI”) in Portland, Oregon, is not somewhere visitors might think of bringing a child, and we worried whether our son would enjoy it. We wanted to visit the special exhibition OMSI had about Pompeii, but we were delighted to find lots for kids to enjoy. We were totally blown away by it. The Science Playground was by far our son’s favourite section.  Designed for kids ages 0-6, there were water tables, sand pits and lots of different sections for free-play, learning and discovery. The Planetarium was also a hit with our young son, and the rest of the museum was filled with different exhibits for children of all ages. One thing we missed during our visit was USS Blueback, the submarine that was featured in The Hunt for Red October and now permanently docked beside the museum. I was gutted to learn that we had missed it, but it’s a perfect excuse for a return visit!

    Recommended by Catherine from Passports and Adventures.  Find out more from Catherine about the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

     

    #11:  Perot Museum of Nature and Science With Kids* (Dallas, Texas)

    The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is not merely a science center. This awe-inspiring, 160,000 square foot structure is a state-of-the-art experience intersecting the worlds of engineering, science, architecture, nature and sustainability. With eleven permanent exhibits, six learning labs and one traveling exhibit, the sprawling six floors deliver excitement. My fourth-grader loves the Rose Hall of Birds where visitors can build and fly their own bird. The Leap Frog Forest enchants my toddler as kids of all ages can crawl, jump and play life-size leapfrog. Both kids agree that the top attractions are:

    • Sports: Practice an athletic move then film yourself in “Motion Lab” or challenge a T-Rex, Dallas Cowboy or cheetah in a timed race at “Run.”
    • Life Then and Now: Build your own dinosaur then send it to battle.
    • Engineering and Innovation: Lead pre-built robots on missions or program one yourself using visual coding stations.

    But, don’t forget to squeeze in some other special engagements. Marvel at the Perot Dinosaur, a new species found by Perot Museum Paleontologists. Crack open an Amethyst Geode that stands 5 feet tall. Visitors can also get their groove on at Harmony Park, watch a 4D Film at the National Geographic Experience Theater or view a real brain and stem at “Being Human.”

    Recommended by Brandy from Kid Allergy Travel.

     

    #12:  Science World at TELUS World of Science With Kids* (Vancouver, Canada)

    Science World at TELUS World of Science is one of the best science museums we have visited.  Not only does it stand out in terms of location and architecture, but it also has diverse displays, hands-on experiments and award-winning playgrounds.  Most displays are designed to be intuitive, and children and grown-ups are encouraged to try things out and have fun while exploring the museum and learning. Kids can try to weigh a hippo, climb on a rotating climbing wall and crawl through a beaver lodge. There are regular live demonstrations throughout the day, and we planned to visit for 2 hours and end up staying for 4.5. Science World is one of Vancouver’s must-do kid-focused tourist attractions.

    Recommended by Jules from Shades of Courage.

     

    #13:  Scienceworks With Kids (Melbourne, Australia)

    For parents of children constantly asking “why” about everything, Scienceworks in Melbourne feeds the curiosity of young minds.  Offering a wide range of kid friendly exhibits with hands on activities, and live demonstrations, this child-focused museum makes learning about science fun and exciting.

    For little space lovers, the planetarium teaches kids about planets, constellations, and their home planet Earth through a kid-friendly animated film. With reclining seats and a domed roof, visitors can sit back and enjoy the show.  Kids also love the “lightning room” which is a 120-seat auditorium that presents demonstrations to teach children about electricity.  Learn about dinosaurs, the ocean, bugs and insects, and much more.  For those visiting Melbourne, Scienceworks is a great day out for the whole family.

    Recommended by Chontelle from Mum’s Little Explorers.

     

    Best Science Centers For Kids

    There are so many of these best science museums in the world that are now on our travel list.  For more amazing museums for young scientists, check out the Best Natural History Museums in the World!

  • Best Natural History Museums in the World

    Best Natural History Museums in the World

    Our kids love museums, and we often visit natural history museums while we travel, particularly those that participate in the ASTC Travel Passport Program, which provides members of participating museums free reciprocal admission to hundreds of natural history, science and children’s museums.  Natural history museums are a great way to extend classroom learning.  We asked our fellow family travel bloggers for their favorites and came up with this list of the best natural history museums in the world (asterisked museums are participants in the ASTC Travel Passport Program):

    Best Natural History Museums With Kids

     

    #1:  American Museum of Natural History With Kids* (New York City, New York)

    The American Museum of Natural History is the largest Natural History museum in the world and is housed in a beautiful building in New York’s Upper West Side, right outside Central Park. It’s crammed full of artifacts from land, sea and space and is super family friendly for visitors with kids. Our favourite section (and I think the favourite for the majority of visitors) is the Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs, which contains a huge selection of dinosaur fossils. There is a T-Rex, a stegosaurus, a triceratops and loads more for any dino fans. But it’s not only dinosaurs, the Museum also has a fantastic oceans exhibit – home to the amazing 94 foot long blue whale model, halls featuring birds and reptiles halls (watch out for the 25 foot python!), exhibits about human origins and cultural diversity and a fantastic section about space. All around the museum are interactive touch screens with more information, and don’t all kids love a touch screen?! General admission for adults costs $23 and $13 for children.  The Museum opens daily at 10 am, which is the best time to visit to avoid the crowds.

    Recommended by Karen from Are We There Yet Kids.

     

    #2:  Denver Museum of Nature and Science With Kids* (Denver, Colorado)

    We are privileged to have a world-class nature and science museum in Colorado. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science has something for everyone with an interest in natural science. The Museum has an IMAX Theater and planetarium with various shows. Traveling exhibits include such divergent topics as Vikings, bioluminescent animals, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The permanent exhibits showcase outer space, animals from around the world, the intricacies of our bodies, Egyptian mummies, and prehistoric dinosaurs.

    But we love bling, so our favorite museum exhibit is the gems and mineral showcase. As self-professed rock hounds, we love to see the awe-inspiring collection of minerals and gemstones. Indigenous Colorado gemstones include aquamarine, amazonite, and the very rare rhodochrosite. The largest gold nugget found in Colorado is also on display. We always learn new things about the gemstones and minerals during our visits.

    Recommended by Lance Hale from Family Well Traveled.

     

    #3:  Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa With Kids (Wellington, New Zealand)

    Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (commonly referred to as “Te Papa”) is mind-blowing and an unmissable stop on a New Zealand itinerary. Perched on the waterfront in Wellington, this 6 story building is stuffed with awe-inspiring exhibitions on Aotearoa/New Zealand’s history, it’s natural world and cultural treasures. Te Papa Tongarewa (meaning ‘container of treasures”) is literally packed with hands on, interactive exhibits, which our kids, ages 6 and 3 loved. Far from dragging them around the museum, they ran from exhibit to exhibit excited and totally engaged. The five main collections are Arts, History, Taonga Māori, Pacific Cultures, and Natural History. From impressive native species such as the pygmy blue whale skeleton and the world’s largest specimen of the rare colossal squid (weighing 496 kg!) to more light-hearted exhibits such as Peter Jackson replicas of Orcs to more sobering inclusions such as the current Gallipoli exhibition, Te Papa is, in our opinion, one of the greatest museums in the world.  FREE ENTRY apart from specific touring exhibitions.  Allow a full day!

    Recommended by Mags Nixon from The Family Freestylers.

     

    #4:  National Museum of Natural History and Science With Kids* (Tokyo, Japan)

    The best museum in Ueno Park for families with kids is the National Museum of Natural History and Science.   This is the huge building with a concrete blue whale on one side and a locomotive on the other. That basically sums up what the museum is about – the encounter of people with nature, which in Japanese culture is a continuum rather than a disruption.

    The Museum tells the story of how people came to Japan (via Okinawa), and how the islands looked before they came. That part of the museum is pretty conventional, although English explanations are limited.  Audio guides are also available.

    The coolest part of the museum is the “global gallery”, which goes down three levels into the ground, with dinosaurs in the middle. The cartoon movie explanation of evolution one floor below is also very interesting, a bit tongue in cheek, although everyone looks like an American cartoon from the 1950s. We were entertained by the exhibit representing the smart phone as the peak of evolution.

    The upper floors of the global gallery contain exhibits about technology, Japanese technology of course. The upper floors are where kids will get their most lasting memory of their visit in ComPASS, the space for children’s play and communication. It was recently opened after a renovation and is really fun for the kids. It is so popular that visitors have to get a queue ticket at the information desk at the first floor.

    Especially on rainy days, the museum can be crowded. Bring a packed lunch and eat it in the lunch space on the basement floor of the old building (the “honkan”). There are two restaurants, but the wait could be as long as several hours to be seated.  Except for the dinosaurs, children do need adult explanation of the exhibits but absolutely love exploring this fact-packed museum.

    Recommended by Wisterian from Wisterian Watertree.

     

    #5:  Natural History Museum With Kids (London, England)

    There is so much to captivate children at London’s Natural History Museum whether they’re into dinosaurs and furry owls or giant whales and tiny insects. Visitors can feel the earth move in the Earthquake machine, play detective games around the museum and visit colorful butterflies in the Butterfly House. The hands-on Science Centre is a great place for children to examine specimens from around the world, using microscopes and other instruments.

    The most popular gallery is the Dinosaurs, where visitors can get up close to prehistoric specimens, including the skull of a plant-eating Triceratops, an Iguanodon, one of the first species of dinosaur, and of course, the formidable Tyrannosaurus Rex.  Hope, a 25 meter long blue whale skeleton, is suspended from the ceiling of the main hall.  The Natural History Museum is open daily and admission is free.

    Recommended by Nicky of Go Live Young.  Find out more from Nicky about London with kids.

     

    #6:  Natural History Museum (Vienna, Austria)

    Vienna’s Natural History Museum was one of the highlights of our trip to Vienna with our kids, aged 3 and 1 years old. We actually pushed this activity as one of the last, since it isn’t specifically geared towards kids, but we are so glad we didn’t miss it! For kids who love animals, this place is a must. We toured the taxidermy exhibit on the top floor of the Museum, where taxidermy of every kind of mammal imaginable was exhibited 3 times and saw every kind of mammals imaginable! The architecture is absolutely breathtaking, and the Museum is enjoyable for adults too. Even our 1-year-old was amazed at all the animals. Families visiting Vienna with kids should not push this museum off – it’s totally kid-friendly and adult friendly too!

    Recommended by Emily Jenks from Henry and Andrew’s Guide.

     

    #7:  Natural History Museum of Marseille With Kids (Marseille, France)

    There may be countless natural history museums in the world, but not many of them are housed in magnificent 19th century palaces. If you happen to be in the city of Marseille in the south of France, make sure you visit the Natural History Museum of Marseille located inside the Palais Longchamp. Why our family loves this museum:

    • It contains thousands of zoological, botanical, mineral and fossil specimens, some of them long extinct.
    • It has four permanent exhibits: Safari Room, Provence Room, Human Earth and Land of the Living.
    • It has an old-fashioned feel to it. It was founded in 1819, and we felt like we were indeed stepping back to the 19th century when visiting it.
    • There is a great interactive display for kids.
    • It has free admission on the first Sunday of each month.

    Recommended by Bea from PackYourBags.Org.  Find out more from Bea about the Natural History Museum of Marseille.

     

    #8:  Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum With Kids* (Washington, D.C.)

    We recently traveled to Washington D.C. on our recent White Christmas trip to the U.S., and visiting a few of the Smithsonian Museum’s was top of our list. First up was the National Museum of Natural History, located on the National Mall near Capitol Building. I wasn’t sure how interested the kids would be and had expected that we would whip around this museum in a few hours. How wrong was I, as we took a whole day exploring this Museum, and I still feel that we rushed through some parts of it.

    The Museum is reported to be home to approximately 126 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, human remains and human cultural artefacts. The kids most enjoyed the interactive areas, particularly where they were able to place items under a microscope and analysis them. There are a large number of animals from each continent on display, including animals that are now extinct. My son was also very interested in the Egyptian, artefacts including the mummies on display.  The museum is huge, and visitors could spend a week here and still not see if all. A full day gave us a good look around and kids enjoyed every minute of it.

    Recommended by Sally Lucas from Our 3 Kids v the World.

     

    #9:  South Australian Museum With Kids (Adelaide, Australia)

    The South Australian Museum is one of the most visited museums in Australia.  With five floors of exhibits covering fossils, mammals, Ancient Egypt, special exhibition spaces and more plus Aboriginal and Pacific Cultures collections, the South Australian Museum offers plenty for young and old.  With so many interactive hands on activities, kids will absolutely love it here.  No doubt they will love checking out the various world mammals, learning about the various South Australian biodiversity and checking out the giant squid that spans across four floors dangling in an elevator shaft!

    During the school holidays, the Museum has free school holiday programs attracting more than 5,000 school kids each holiday period.  The Discovery Centre Team located on level 1 is more than happy to have a chat about any of the exhibits, and visitors can also see bees making honey, which is sure to keep little, and big kids busy for a while.  The Discovery Centre is open from 11am-4pm weekdays, and 11am-3pm weekends and public holidays.  The Museum is open every day from 10am-5pm, including weekends and public holidays. Entry is free; however some exhibitions may charge an admission fee.

    Recommended by Melissa Delaware of Thrifty Family Travels.  Find out more from Melissa about Adelaide with kids.

     

    We love natural history museums with kids and can’t wait to visit all of these world’s best natural history museums.  For more amazing museums for young scientists, check out the World’s Best Science Centers With Kids!

  • Best London Parks With Kids

    Best London Parks With Kids

    London may be densely populated and one of the largest cities in Europe, but it is also known for its amazing park areas.  The Royal Parks manages the city’s eight Royal Parks, which were originally owned by the monarchy for recreation and hunting but were preserved as public parks by the Crown Lands Act of 1851.  We enjoy visiting London parks with kids so much that I once spent the better part of a day wandering between Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens with a friend from my semester abroad at the University of York and my four month old son while my husband and his family went to Wimbledon.

    Although I have visited all of the Royal Parks in London’s city center, we only made it to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens with kids and enjoyed spending time in these amazing parks on most days that we traveled into the city center.

    There is so much to see and do in London’s parks, but these are our some of the best London parks with kids:

     

    #1:  Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground

    The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, which is located in the northwest corner Kensington Gardens, is one of my kids all time favorite playgrounds.  The Playground was inspired by J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and opened in 2000 to honor Princess Diana.  On our first visit, we were accompanied by my sister, her husband and three kids who just happened to have scheduled a trip to London that overlapped ours.  Any playground is better with cousins to share it with, but this was a particularly amazing place to spend an afternoon.  Our boys had so much fun that they requested a return trip on our last day in London’s city center.

    The centerpiece of the play area is a huge pirate ship, which is surrounded by an enormous sand play area.  The ship’s lookout was my boys’ favorite part and where they spent most of their time.

    The Playground is fully gated, and kids cannot get in or out without an adult.  The Playground is free, but there may be queues to enter.  Luckily, we did not have any wait times during our June and July mid-week visits.

    Fans of Peter Pan should also make sure to visit Kensington Gardens’ bronze Peter Pan statue that was commissioned by J.M. Barrie and created by George Frampton in 1912.

    • Kid Facts:  Kids are delighted to learn that adults are not permitted to enter unless they are accompanied by a child aged 12 or younger.

     

    #2:  Kensington Palace

    Kensington Palace was designed by Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral at the request of King William and Queen Mary and constructed within six months in 1689.  King William and Queen Mary only enjoyed Kensington Palace for a few years.  Queen Mary died from smallpox about five years after the completion of Kensington Palace.  King William died after falling off his horse and breaking his collar bone eight years later.

    Kensington Palace is located in Hyde Park and was the royal residence before Buckingham Palace.   but now houses the “lesser royals”, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka William and Kate), who currently occupy Apartment 1A’s four stories and 20 rooms with their three children.  Princess Diana also lived in the Palace  from 1981 to 1997.  The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Harry and Meghan Markle) live in William and Kate’s previous home, a “cottage” also within the Palace.

    The Palace Gardens were not open to the public when we visited, but are simply stunning.  The Sunken Garden includes a terrace with ornamental flower bed that surround a small pond.  The fountains were formed from water cisterns that were used in the Palace during the 18th century.

    It would be lovely to stroll around in Palace Gardens, which are sometimes open to the public without required tickets.

    • Kid Facts:  Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first appearance together after their engagement announcement in the Sunken Garden.

     

    #3:  Picnic in Hyde Park

    Hyde Park is a large 350-acre park that is often considered London’s Central Park and a lovely place to picnic.  There are chairs for rent if it is inconvenient to bring picnic blankets.

    There are so many options for takeaway food on the periphery of Hyde Park that it is not necessary to pack your own meal but make sure the prepare for weather changes.  On our last visit, a quick shower brought the temperatures down unexpectedly, and we wished we had brought warmer clothes.

    After lunch Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain is a great place to stop with kids.  The Fountain opened in 2004 as a memorial to Princess Diana, who lived in Kensington Palace.  It is constructed with 545 pieces of Cornish granite.  The Fountain has a circular stream, and it is permitted to sit on the edge of the memorial and to dip your feet but not to walk on the Memorial.

    • Kid Facts:  Hyde Park was originally Henry VIII’s hunting grounds.

     

    #4:  The Serpentine

    The Serpentine is a man-made body of water near Hyde Park’s southern border.  Favorite activities in this area include renting boats and paddleboats, swimming and feeding ducks.  Visiting the Serpentine was one of the few “must-do” activities during our first trip to London when our oldest was only four months old.

    On our most recent visit to London, we enjoyed hot chocolate and coffee with friends on a chilly July afternoon at Lido Café and Bar, which is located on the southern side of the Serpentine near the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain.

    • Kid Facts:  Serpentine refers to the curving shape – even though there really is only one bend.  Although the entire body of water is commonly called the “Serpentine”, the name actually refers to only the eastern portion of the lake.  The portion to the west of the Serpentine Bridge is known as the Long Water.

     

    #5:  Speaker’s Corner

    Speaker’s Corner is an area for open-air public speaking on Sunday afternoons in the northeast corner of Hyde Park near Marble Arch.  Many of the speakers are often passionate and irrational orators who give political demonstrations.   We were glad to catch this eccentric tribute to free speech on our last visit to London, and our kids definitely enjoyed participating in this bizarre tradition.

    The speakers each gave impassioned political demonstrations what were often irrational.  Several literally stood on soapboxes, or at least stepladders.  This may not be the best place to learn about current events or engage in intellectual political debate, but it an amusing sight to behold for sure.

    • Kid Facts:  Historically, there have been other areas designated as Speakers’ Corners in London’s parks, but this is the original and most popular location.

     

    London has so many fun family activities!  Make sure to check out our posts on London, including Our First Family Trip Abroad, Five(teen) Fun Family Attractions, Spotlight:  The Tower of London, Five Fun Family Museums and Sample Itineraries (to come).

  • World’s Best Zoos With Kids

    World’s Best Zoos With Kids

    WGWK believes it is safe to say that a day at the zoo is something all kids can enjoy! When traveling, viewing animals in beautiful habitats is a nice break from city sightseeing for the little ones.  We asked our fellow family travel bloggers for their favorites world zoos and came up with this list of world’s best zoos with kids:

     

    Assiniboine Park Zoo – Winnipeg, Canada

    Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada, we have been to the Assiniboine Park Zoo countless times. Until recently, it was just another zoo. But in mid 2014, after years of hard work, this Zoo got a makeover and a brand new world class exhibit called Journey to Churchill was unveiled.  Journey to Churchill focuses on Arctic animals and is the most extensive of its kind in the world when it comes to showcasing northern animal species. It has been dubbed “the Gateway to the Arctic”. The animals in this exhibit are polar bears, muskoxen, Arctic wolves and foxes, to name a few. The exhibit occupies ten acres and recreates the landscape of the animals’ natural habitat of the Subarctic and the Arctic. There are currently nine polar bears living at Assiniboine Park Zoo. Most have been rescued as very young cubs after being orphaned in the Canadian North. We all know that polar bears are endangered species. This exhibit not only serves as a new home to these animals that would have otherwise perished, but it also provides the public with educational opportunities on how to protect them. Our son’s favourite part is observing these animals up close as they swim above his head in the aquarium tunnel called the Sea Ice Passage.  Don’t miss this unique zoo experience when in Winnipeg.

    Recommended by Bea from Pack Your Bags. Find out more from Bea about Assiniboine Park Zoo.

     

    Auckland Zoo – Auckland, New Zealand

    New Zealand’s Auckland Zoo is one amazing zoo!  We love it because the animals are well cared for, and a lot of them are rescued animals that wouldn’t survive in the wild.  Families who visit during the school holidays will also find something different going on as there are special exhibits and learning experiences, including the opportunity to be a zookeeper for a day (for kids and adults).

    Even out of school holidays, it’s great fun. First, we love the vet hospital there, which cares for the zoo animals, but also for injured wildlife. Visitors can see what’s going on through the glass window, and there is usually a zookeeper stationed outside the glass to explain to visitors what is taking happening.  We also love the daily elephant walks that take place every day! As the elephant walks by with its keeper, visitors can view the animals up close. And, of course, in the spring, there is the opportunity to see lots of baby animals! We were lucky to see the red panda cubs, a giraffe calf, and many more during our visit!

    Recommended by Thais Saito from World Trip Diaries.  Find out more from Thais about Auckland.

     

    Belize Zoo – Belize

    The Belize Zoo started off as a conservation center and still has a huge effort in conservation of animals in Belize. All the animals are native to Belize. They may have encountered issues in the wild and have been rescued by the center. For example, they have a jaguar who they rescued as a cub when she got separated from her mother and a jabiru who fell out of its nest and can no longer fly.  They also have a center for “problem jaguars” – jaguars who hunt too close to human settlements because they may be old and injured. Instead of being shot and killed, these problem jaguars are brought to the center to be cared for and studied. My kids thought the Belize Zoo was very cool especially seeing the big cats – the jaguars and the pumas. We spent two weeks in Belize but never saw many of the native animals exhibited at the zoo in the wild.

    Recommended by Shobha George from Nylon Living.

     

    Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary – Tasmania, Australia

    For families with a young animal-lover in their life, a trip to Australia offers the opportunity to see many unique creatures! The Land Down Under has so much more than just kangaroos and koalas. We spent the first day of our epic two-month visit to Australia at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania, where injured or endangered animals are sheltered and nurtured. During our awesome guided tour (which is included in the admission price), we visited with wombats, echidnas, quolls and the infamous Tassie devil… and of course it was a great opportunity to get up close with koalas and ‘roos as well.

    Recommended by Melissa Conn of The Family Voyage.  Find out more from Melissa about family travel in Australia.

     

    Chester Zoo – Chester, England

    We’ve visited a few zoos with our son, but the Chester Zoo, the UK’s most visited zoo, is one that stands out. Not only is it a very large zoo, at approximately 125 acres, with big enclosures for the many species of animals and birds that can be found there, but it is also highly involved in conservation. The most exciting part for us was the Islands at Chester Zoo. This part of the Zoo, opened in 2015, has areas representing six South East Asian Islands including Bali and Sumatra. It is a truly wonderful part of the Zoo and transports visitors to South East Asia with atmospheric music and explorer huts – a true delight to visit. From Sumatran tigers and orangutans, to Visayan warty pigs, the Islands are not to be missed. Chester Zoo has so much to see and do and is best given a full day to explore. Even then visitors may still miss some of the zoo as it’s that big. This is what makes Chester Zoo one of our favourite zoos of all time.

    Catherine from Passports and Adventures.

     

    Cotswold Wildlife Park – Oxfordshire, England

    Cotswold Wildlife Park is one of the star attractions in the Cotswolds.  The Wildlife Park is just outside the town of Burford in Oxfordshire, in the grounds of a manor house surrounded by beautiful gardens.  The Park is home to some amazing animals and is sure to enchant kids of any age.  Visitors can get up close to giraffes in the giraffe house and meet the friendly lemurs and critically endangered Bactrian camels.  The Wildlife Park is probably the only place in the world to see a white rhino grazing in front of a Victorian manor house!

    Don’t miss the daily talks and animal feeding times – visitors can even sign up to be a keeper for the day.  The children’s farm is always a hit as kids can pet some of the more tame animals.  There’s also a miniature train ride, which is a great way to get an idea of the park’s layout and appeals to smaller children. The Cotswold Wildlife Park is a charitable trust and part of several breeding programmes for endangered species as well as promoting conservation in the wild. This means visitors can be sure that they are supporting animals worldwide when they visit.

    Recommended by Emily Cole from Kids and Compass.

    Dujiangyan Panda Base – Shiqiao, China

    Pandas are the emblem of China and currently considered a national treasure. Only in China do pandas live outside of captivity, yet seeing any pandas in the wild in China is nearly impossible, because it’s a vulnerable species and there are less than 2000 in the wild.  That’s what makes the Dujiangyan Panda Base such a special place.  Although the Center may look like a regular zoo at first look, this non-for-profit, government-funded organization is dedicated to saving pandas from extinction through controlled breeding techniques and specially designed wildlife reinsertion programs.

    We visited Dujiangyan Panda Base on our trip to Chengdu.  At Dujiangyan, along with seeing the pandas up close with few interruptions from other tourists, we learned about the Center’s conservation programs. Best of all, visitors can volunteer for the panda keeper program and spend a day working alongside zookeepers and scientists caring for the pandas.

    Recommended by Daniela Kemeny from A Baby Abroad.

    Melbourne Zoo – Melbourne, Australia

    The Melbourne Zoo’s vision is to be the world’s leading zoo-based conservation organization, and it is well worth a visit.  In addition to featuring enclosures with natural habitats where visitors can get close to a wide-variety of international and foreign animals, the park-like grounds are themed to look like different regions of the world.  While seeing the elephants and tigers, visitors will think they are wandering through a safari town in India.

    The Zoo does incredible conservation work through targeted campaigns to teach and educate visitors about sustainability.  The orangutan area has a lot of great information about palm oil products and the threat wild orangutans face from loss of habitat from palm plantations.  Another recent campaign entitled “Wipe for Wildlife” encouraged visitors to make the switch to toilet paper made from recycled materials.  The Melbourne Zoo is Australia’s oldest zoo and has re-invented itself as a wonderful place to learn about wildlife right in the city centre.

    Recommended by Dawn Nicholson from 5 Lost Together.  Find out more from Dawn about Melbourne With Kids.

     

    National Zoo and Aquarium – Canberra, Australia

    Our local zoo, the National Zoo and Aquarium, is the perfect animal experience for young families as it is packed full of cool and interesting animals but is compact enough for little legs. The Zoo itself is beautifully constructed with pretty walkways and creative gardens and enclosures for all the animals. The Zoo offers great memberships where kids under three are free of charge, so when my kids were little for the price of one adult membership, my two young daughters and I had many outings to the zoo.

    Over the last few years the National Zoo and Aquarium has undergone quite a transformation and expansion with the award-winning Jamala Wildlife Lodge opening. Guests can stay overnight in luxury lodgings and be immersed in the wildlife experience as they watch lions, bears and other awesome animals through the floor to ceiling glass windows of their lodges.  As for the animals – a favourite is hard to pick. I love the white lions, giraffes and cheetahs. The kids, are always enthralled by the cheekiness of the otters and the meerkats!

    Recommended by Karen Buffier of Big Adventures for Little Feet.

     

    Ocean Park – Hong Kong, China


    Ocean Park is a part-zoo, part-aquarium, part-theme park and is a favourite day out for Hong Kong’s families.  The two biggest attractions here for animal lovers are the Grand Aquarium and the four resident Giant Pandas. The Giant Aquarium has loads of sea creatures to fascinate children – from hammerhead sharks, to manta rays, starfish and lionfish. There’s also a separate three-level Shark Mystique if they want more. Beyond the pandas, there are also penguins, walruses, sea lions and seals to visit, in addition to rainforest creatures such as the sloth, capybaras and giant anaconda.
    Unusually Ocean Park mixes up animal viewing with thrill rides. There are rides for everyone here – from the carousel and frog-hopper for the little ones, to the floorless Hair Raiser roller coaster that sends you looping and plunging at
    88km/h for the really fearless.  Visitors to Ocean Park should not miss the cable car, which offers some of
    the best views of the south side of Hong Kong Island.

    Recommended by Marianne from Mum on the Move.  Find out more from Marianne about Ocean Park.

     

    Singapore Zoo – Singapore

    The Singapore Zoo is often rated as one of the top 10 zoos in the world, and once we arrived, we could certainly see why. It is well set out, and all the enclosures are open range with no visible fencing or bars. It is spread over 64 acres in the Mandai Rainforest, 30 minutes taxi ride from central Singapore. Singapore Zoo is so large that there is a shuttle bus system to move the 1.7 million annual visitors around the park, which is great for little ones so they don’t get too tired early in the day.

    Singapore Zoo is famous for its orangutan enclosure which is free range and the orangutans move from tree to tree often right above your head. The zoo also offers the opportunity to have breakfast with the orangutans at Ah Meng Restaurant. Visitors sit and enjoy a generous buffet breakfast while the orangutans come to visit and have their breakfast at the same time. After breakfast visitors can stand up close to the orangutans and have their photo taken, but can’t touch them.

    There are various feeding times and educational shows about conserving land and looking after endangered animals. My kids really enjoyed the shows and it was nice that they incorporated an educational message while keeping it fun for the kids.

    Recommended by Sally Lucas of Our 3 Kids v the World.  Find out more from Sally about the Singapore Zoo.

     

    Taipei Zoo – Taipei, Taiwan

    The Taipei Zoo features around 300 animals, including those from tropical, rainforest and safari environments for an admission of about 6 USD. Our Taiwan sojourn became extra special because we got to see a 276 pound panda for the first time. Our little one, Sophia, had a chance to get face-to-face with a panda that had acted aloof because of noisy visitors for a couple of hours prior to our visit.

    Inside the Zoo, we rode the Maokong Gondola up the mountain, and we were mesmerized with the aerial view of the beautiful forest and the city lights. We were waiting for the Crystal Cabins, the glass-bottom cars where visitors can vividly see the breathtaking views from thousands of feet above ground, but we ended up riding a regular cabin. We still experienced the same excitement when the ride reached the highest peak. So far, this is the best zoo adventure we have ever had, and we’ll definitely come back to this astonishing place.

    Recommended by Catha Buti-Uy of Team Uy Travels.

     

    Taronga Zoo – Sydney, Australia

    Taronga Zoo Sydney is an iconic Sydney landmark. Sitting on the Sydney Harbour, historic Taronga Zoo was officially opened on 7 October 1916 and has become one of the city’s main attractions. Spread over 69 acres and boasting over 350 different species of animals, Taronga Zoo showcases both native Australian animals and a range of exotic animals including tigers, chimpanzees, giraffes and gorillas. A daily highlight for all visitors is the Free Flight Bird Show, which is not to be missed.

    The Taronga Zoo offers visiting families the incredible Keeper for a Day program on weekends and school holidays where children can learn about animal husbandry and the behind the scenes workings of a zoo. Those wanting a once in a lifetime experience can enjoy the Roar and Snore experience at stay at the zoo overnight.  One of Taronga Zoo’s highlights every year is its inclusion in the Vivid Sydney festival in May, in which the Zoo is lit up with a number of animal-themed installations around the grounds and accessed in the evening moonlight.

    Whilst visitors can drive to the Zoo, the ultimate experience is to catch a ferry from Circular Quay across to the Zoo and enjoy the sights of the Sydney Harbour along the way. The Zoo is a not for profit establishment with all money raised funneled back into the Zoo’s important conservation projects.

    Recommended by Leah Smileski from The Kid Bucket List.  Find out more from Leah about the Sydney Zoo.

     

    Toronto Zoo – Toronto, Canada

    SONY DSC

    The Toronto Zoo can be reached with a metro-bus combination from downtown Toronto. With 287 hectares, it is the largest zoo in Canada, and visitors should come prepared to walk a lot. The animals get a lot of space at this zoo, which is nice, but sometimes they are hard to spot, especially for young children.  For the past five years the main zoo attraction has been the pandas, but they were moved to Calgary in March 2018.  There are still plenty of other animals to see and the Zoo’s Africa Savannah section houses lions, zebras and very cute pygmy hippopotamuses. What made the Toronto Zoo special for us was its large exhibit of Canadian wildlife. We got to see grizzly bears, cougars, elk and other animals without having to travel to Alaska or other more remote parts of Canada.

    Recommended by Tikva from Gezin op Reis.

     

    Vienna Zoo – Vienna, Austria

    As we wandered aimlessly around the Berlin Zoo looking for the panda we wanted to see, we grew more and more impatient. Soon as we saw a keeper, we asked for directions and were told that the panda was no longer at the zoo. All four of us were so upset that when we added Vienna on our itinerary, there was one place that was top of the list….the Vienna Zoo.  Little did we know how amazing the entire Zoo would be for our family.

    There was so much to do other than seeing the animals. My daughters were a little younger then and just looking at animals was something that Marley could not always do whereas Willow was amazed by the enclosures and all the different animals that were housed there. Marley could let off some steam in the play areas located all over the Zoo.

    The paths were nice and wide for prams with not many hills to tire out those little legs. What I liked the most was that the enclosures were a sight in themselves. They all looked fantastic and really well-kept. We even got to see the pandas at play while we were there!  We also found a restaurant just inside the Zoo that had a great menu for us to all sit and have a proper meal after wandering the Zoo for a few hours. No deep-fried stuff…we all had a great main meal at a really good price too.

    We went on a cold wintery day, and we didn’t find that we were cold as we were sheltered from the wind by the Zoo.  There was little rain, but there were plenty of places to take cover if we needed to. The Vienna Zoo is the world’s oldest zoo, a great place to visit, and kids love it!

    Recommended by Bec Wyld from Wyld Family Travel.  Find out more from Bec about the Vienna Zoo.

     

    Xcaret Park – Playa del Carmen, Mexico

    Xcaret Park has dozens of exhibits, including a huge aviary, a butterfly pavilion, an aquarium complete with big lagoons containing sea turtles, manatees and sting rays as well as Jaguar Island, which includes both black and spotted jaguars. With wildlife around every corner, visitors can spend half the day enjoying the fauna and the other half enjoying the underground rivers, attractions and cultural displays of Mexico. Our family has enjoyed ourselves every time we’ve visited, and the kids always say they want to go back.

    Recommended by Charles Kosman from The Barefoot Nomad.  Find out more from Charles about Xcaret.

     

    Zoo Berlin – Berlin, Germany

    A world-class zoo with respected animal care and preservation programs, Zoo Berlin is “home to the world’s largest variety of species”. The Zoo is extensive and houses nearly 20,000 animals of about 1,400 species, and many of the enclosures appear like the animals’ natural habitat. There is also a petting zoo, a nocturnal house, and a bird house where colorful birds fly freely. Entry to the aquarium portion requires an extra fee.

    Millions of annual visitors enjoy learning about animals and conservation at Zoo Berlin, and they can also view daily animal feedings. Most signs are in English as well as German. An interactive app is available to download, with zoo schedules, map features, and animal information. A variety of food and beverages is available at restaurants and kiosks.  One restaurant looks onto a large playground with a climbing structure for kids.

    Amidst all the activity, there are beautiful, wide, garden-like pathways. These promenades extend along manicured grass and low hedges, interspersed with groupings of roses abloom in summer, and fountains that spout and splash.  Plenty of benches invite a rest under the shade of nearby trees. In the big city of Berlin, the zoo offers a peaceful day out.

    Recommended by Sandy Nielsen from Sleeps5.  Find out more from Sandy about Berlin.

     

    We love visiting zoos with kids, and there are so man of the top zoos of the world that we have not yet visited.  If you want to read about more amazing zoos, check out our post on the Best U.S. Zoos With Kids and other zoos we have visited during our travels.

  • Best Beaches in Europe With Kids

    Best Beaches in Europe With Kids

    Europe’s capital cities may attract more attention than its beaches, but sun and sand makes for an ideal vacation with kids.  Travelers in search of picturesque beaches often focus more on the Caribbean or South Pacific.  However, it is possible to combine both beach and city visits into the same European vacation.  Most importantly, these are kid-tested and recommended by other traveling families.  If that sounds appealing, here are some of the best beaches in Europe to visit with kids(including one technically in Africa) from some of our fellow family travel bloggers.

    Fun Family Beaches in Europe With Kids

    #1:  Barceloneta Beach – Barcelona, Spain

    It can get crazy hot in Barcelona during the day, so we decided to take a day off and head to the beach! Once we arrived we realised that it was just about everyone else’s plan as well. There were so many families around that I knew we had made the right choice in coming to this Mediterranean Sea beach. There are nice calm waters that just lap up onto the beach, which was great for the girls to paddle in. Unlike a lot of beaches at home there wasn’t a huge drop, it just gradually got deeper as we went out but it was still not very deep. One of the best bits is that because there were so many kids, everyone looked out for each other, and all the kids played nicely together building castles and splashing. It made for a great day as the kids got to play with other kids…even if they didn’t speak the same language! It is a bit of a hike to get supplies if you need ice cream as we decided we did, but there was lots to choose from once you got back onto the street. And just a heads up, there was lots of topless sunbathing going on!

    Recommended by Bec Wyld from Wyld Family Travel.  Find out more from Bec about Barcelona.

     

    #2:  Derrynane Beach – County Kerry, Ireland

    The scenic route along the Ring of Kerry boasts some of the best beaches in Ireland. Our favourite was Derrynane Beach, 2 miles from the village of Caherdaniel, in the Iveragh Peninsula and along the Derrynane Bay. On a long white powdery stretch of sand dotted with giant stone, our children happily splashed away for hours in the shallow pools of this natural playground, safely sheltered from deeper waters by the smooth rock formation.

    Thanks also to the mild summer climate, we did not have to worry about +50 SPF suncream and summer caps, and thus, this beach immediately turned out to be a winner with us.  We parked at the nearby Derrynane house, ideally located nearby, which helped us avoid the weekend traffic due to the main car park, which was more likely created by the narrow roads than by number of vehicles. Derrynane house is also a good place to stop for ice cream, water and coffee as there is no coffee shop along the beach. But there are toilets located near the main parking area, and during the summer months there is a lifeguard on duty.

    Recommended by Cris from Kids in Travels.

     

    #3:  Durdle Door Beach – Dorset, England

    The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site and one of England’s most beautiful stretches of coastline.   The best part of it has to be the beautiful Durdle Door beach along the English Channel.  Durdle Door is most famous for its incredible arch that frames one end of the beach, and it draws photographers from far and wide.

    But, the beach itself is a great place to spend the day with kids.  While it’s a pebble beach, the pebbles are small enough to be really comfortable.  Children can paddle and swim as the sheltered cove is usually calm and the sea is clear and clean (although I can’t promise it will be warm!).  Visitors might also be lucky enough to find fossils in the pebbles.

    Just next to Durdle Door is another beautiful sheltered cove, Man O’War Bay; so it really is two beaches for one here!   The clifftop walks are also stunning.  Just make sure to pack a picnic as there aren’t any shops nearby, and wear good shoes to walk down the cliffs to the beach itself.

    Recommended by Emily Cole from Kids and Compass.  Find out more from Emily about Durdle Door.

     

    #4:  Isle of Harris and Lewis – Outer Hebrides, Scotland

    When travelers think of stunning white sandy beaches, there are many places around the world that come to mind.  Interestingly, Scotland is not normally one of them.  The Isles of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides in the North West of Scotland have some of the most beautiful and peaceful beaches I’ve ever seen.  The islands are fairly remote, and the biggest town, Stornoway, has a population of only 8,000 people.

    The remoteness and peacefulness of the island and its beaches make it the perfect place to visit with children.  The weather isn’t too hot for children and there is probably nowhere else in the world where visitors can have miles of golden sand all to themselves.  We never worry about losing sight of our children as we are often the only people there.  One of the things I love so much about the beaches on these islands is the way they really help children understand nature.  My daughters and I once sat and watch an Oxbow Lake (of geography lesson fame) form right in front of us as water ran off the hills behind the beach and out into the sea.

    Recommended by John Franklin of From Real People.

     

    #5:  Manta Rota Beach – Portugal

    Manta Rota beach in the Eastern Algarve is probably one not many people will have heard of. But it is a great beach for families. It is one of few beaches in the East Algarve on the Ria Formosa natural reserve that is accessible by foot rather than by boat. There is a boardwalk from the square next to the car park which leads visitors to a beautiful sandy beach. During summer, there are sunbeds and parasols for rent. What makes it family-friendly is that it has toilets on the boardwalk, next to a great restaurant. There are foot showers for cleaning feet of sand after a visit and even a playground, too. Although it gets busy during summer, it’s a beach where parents can easily keep an eye on children, and the water is lovely and warm for little ones to happily play in for hours. It is a little gem of a beach with easy access and great facilities around it.

    Recommended by Catherine from Passports and Adventures.

     

    #6:  Paleokastritsa Beach – Corfu, Greece

    The Greek Island of Corfu has so many amazing beaches for families. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea with calm little waves and stunning clear water, it is just a little paradise to spend all day in the sun and swim, snorkel and play. We have visited many beaches together, and even though it is hard to pick one we think that Paleokastritsa beach in Corfu is the best child friendly beach around. It is stunning and very easily accessible, perfectly for families with young kids. There is a parking space just on the opposite side of the road and a few restaurants and shop to get souvenir or beach products. Visitors can also take boat tours from this beach and explore the island coast further. One thing to keep in mind though is that water shoes may be necessary as the beach has a mix of sand and pebbles, like many other Greek beaches.

     

    Recommended by Thassia from Family off Duty.  Find out more from Thassia about Corfu.

     

    #7:  Playa de Maspalomas – Canary Islands, Spain

    Our favourite beach in the Canary Islands (and perhaps in the world) has to be Playa de Maspalomas. The sand is fine and soft, perfect for little feet. The water is warm. The beach stretches for 3.5 kilometres and is divided into sections. The first 1.5 kilometres on the west side is where most families choose to spend their time. Restaurants and amenities are all close by.  But the reason why we fell head over heels for this magical place is that it is not a typical beach. What is special about Maspalomas is that visitors can check these items off their bucket list in one day:

    • Play in the Maspalomas Dunes:  These dunes, a nature reserve, under protection since 1897, are located right behind the beach, and are a perfect playground for the entire family. Just avoid the midday heat. Our 9-year old literally spent hours playing in the dunes.
    • Visit an African island … in Europe. That’s right, Canary Islands, even though politically part of Spain, are geographically an African archipelago.
    • Ride a camel. After all, Gran Canaria is an African island with its own miniature dessert! This is another fabulous way to see the dunes with the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop and the volcanic mountains in the distance.

    Recommended by Bea from Pack Your Bags.

     

    #8:  Playa Pollensa Beach – Mallorca, Spain

    Anyone who sees the beautiful turquoise waters of Mallorca, Spain won’t want to vacation anywhere else again! Mallorca is a popular beach destination for many European families. The whole island in the Mediterranean Sea is welcoming to kids, and the beaches are no exception.  Known as an ideal spot for young families, Playa Pollensa is perfect for little kids. With epic views of the coastline, the beach is a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the view. The water is calm, which is perfect for kids to splash and enjoy a swim. There are even paddle boats (with built-in slides!) available to rent right from the beach.  Kids hungry?  Grab a quick bite from the restaurants right on the beach.  It’s not uncommon to see a row of strollers walking the famous ‘pine walk’ in this charming town.

    Recommended by Kate from Tear Free Travel.

     

    #9:  Rock Beach – Cornwall, England

    Rock Beach, on the north Cornwall coast along the Celtic Sea, is a beautiful stretch of sand on the Camel Estuary, adjacent to the more well known harbour town of Padstow. The sand stretches for miles, right around to Daymer Bay, further along the coastline. Rock is a perfect ‘bucket and spade’ type beach. Take a picnic, deckchairs and beach toys, and spend the day. Golden sand, great for sandcastles, and a calm sea for splashing about makes Rock Beach a perfect beach for children. The beach never gets crowded due to it’s vast expanse and the relatively small carpark available. There’s always plenty of space for a game of cricket or football.

    For the more adventurous, there is a popular watersports centre, offering sailing, windsurfing and canoeing. Behind the beach, sand dunes stretch for miles, perfect for a walk or some sand boarding (usually on a piece of cardboard!).

    Recommended by Nicky of Go Live Young.  Find out more from Nicky about Cornwall.

     

    #10:  Zavial Beach – Portugal

    We are a full time traveling family and while RVing in Portugal, we loved to go to Praia do Zavial on the Atlantic Ocean. This little beach in the Algarve has stolen our hearts! It is perfect for kids as the beach is very broad. Children can play freely on the sand without getting near to the water. Our three year old especially liked climbing on the rocks at the edge of the beach. While taking a break from climbing, he loved watching the surfers doing their tricks. The beach has a restaurant with a few facilities; however, it was closed when we visited in the winter. We didn’t mind, though, as we had everything with us in our RV. The parking area is small, but perfect for boon docking. We stayed a total of seven nights at Zavial, and we always felt safe.

    Recommended by Nanouk from Digital Nomad with Kids.  Find out more from Nanouk about RVing in Portugal.

    Visiting Fun Family Beaches With Kids

    Does a beach vacation with kids sound perfect?  Check out our Fun Family Beaches in North America, Asia, Australia and Central and South America.

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  • 15 Top Attractions in London for Families

    15 Top Attractions in London for Families

    London has so many of the world’s most recognizable tourist landmarks, and many of our favorites are world-famous sights that scream “photo op” while others require the better part of a day to fully explore.  Here are our 15 top attractions in London for families:

     

    Things to Do in London With Kids

     

    #1:  Big Ben and Houses of Parliament With Kids

    Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are probably London’s most recognizable landmarks.  Big Ben was the #1 must-see on our seven year old son’s list.  We took the Underground to the Westminster Station on our first day in the city so that his very first view of central London upon emerging from the Tube would be Big Ben.  It was definitely a surreal experience that left him completely in awe.  He asked to re-visit Big Ben on our final day in London, and it remains his favorite London landmark.

    We have always enjoyed hearing Big Ben’s chimes regularly during our visits to London.  Renovation work began on the clock tower in 2017, and the bells will be silent until the early 2020s except for special occasions like New Years Eve and Remembrance Sunday.

    The House of Commons and House of Lords meet at the Houses of Parliament, which is also known as the Palace of Westminster.  The current Gothic Revival structure was designed by Charles Barry after the prior building complex was destroyed by fire in 1834.

    View from across the River Thames
    The Elizabeth Tower
    • Big Ben Facts:  Big Ben is actually the name of the bell and not the clock tower itself.  “Big Ben” honors Benjamin Hall, who was the commissioner of works when the tower was completed. The clock tower was officially designated as the Elizabeth Tower to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.  However, I’m pretty sure that even the Queen will have trouble getting people to refer to the clock tower as anything other than Big Ben.

     

    #2:  Tower of London With Kids

    The Tower of London is a historic castle with an infamously bloody past.  If the Beefeater tour guides, inner battlements and White Tower are not enough of a draw, the Crown Jewels and Royal Armouries collection are housed here.  This may be our favorite place ever for hands on history.  Check out our Spotlight for a comprehensive overview of our day visiting the Tower.

    The White Tower
    Exploring the walls of the Tower of London
    • Tower of London Facts:  Two of King Henry VIII’s wives were executed on Tower Green.  Also, based on a superstition from over 500 years ago that the British empire would fall if ravens ever left the Tower of London, seven ravens are kept on site at all times.

    #3:  Tower Bridge With Kids

    The Tower Bridge was built in the late 19th century and specifically designed to be raised when necessary to allow ships to pass.  Most visitors aim to take photos of this iconic bridge, but make sure to check the lift schedule if you want to see the Bridge in action.

    Tower Bridge
    View of Tower Bridge from the Tower of London
    • Tower Bridge Facts:  Tower Bridge is such an iconic image of London that it is often confused with London Bridge, which is famous because of the song and not its image.  London Bridge has actually been replaced several times – the current London Bridge was completed in 1973.

     

    #4:  London Eye With Kids

    The London Eye opened in 2000 as the world’s tallest Ferris wheel to commemorate the millennium.   Passengers ride in one of 32 egg-shaped capsules that hold up to 25 people each, and the wheel turns so slowly that a single revolution takes about 30 minutes.  The London Eye offers riders an amazing view of the River Thames, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

    It has been known as the Coca-Cola London Eye since 2015 when Coke paid an undisclosed sum for naming rights.   My husband and I rode in the London Eye in 2005 but have not yet taken the kids due to long lines and so many other attractions.

    The London Eye
    Our ride on the London Eye
    • London Eye Facts:  While three taller Ferris wheels have now surpassed the London Eye, it remains the tallest in Europe and the world’s tallest cantilevered Ferris wheel.

     

    #5:  Trafalgar Square With Kids

    Trafalgar Square is a large public space with Nelson’s Column at its center.  Nelson’s Column was constructed in the mid-19th century to honor Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died in 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar.

    The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery flank Trafalgar Square, and there is a view of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament down Whitehall Street.  Trafalgar Square used to be overrun with pigeons fed by tourists.  However, in recent years, feeding was banned, and birds of prey were used to further discourage pigeons.  Honestly, it’s much more pleasant to visit Trafalgar Square without the nuisance of pigeons.  Our kids particularly enjoyed the street performers (aka buskers) and had a grand time posing with each of the four metal lions at the base of Nelson’s column.  The nearest Underground Station is Charing Cross, which is what this area was called before Trafalgar Square.

    Nelson’s Column and Big Ben
    The base of Nelson’s Column is a great place to pose
    • Trafalgar Square Facts:  This area has been a landmark since the 13th century.  Original plans for redevelopment were designed by John Nash in the 19th century but redesigned by Charles Barry after Nash’s death in 1830.

     

    #6:  St. Paul’s Cathedral With Kids

    St. Paul’s Cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren and constructed at the turn of the 18th century.  The Cathedral has one of the world’s largest and most famous church domes that is modeled after the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.  The English Baroque Cathedral is open at certain times of the day for sightseeing only and others for worship.  We really enjoyed Evensong.  Check the online schedule if you would like to attend a service.  Note photography is not permitted inside the Cathedral.

    View of St. Paul’s Cathedral from Tate Modern
    • St. Paul’s Cathedral Facts:  Prince Charles married Princess Diana at St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1981.

     

    #7:  Buckingham Palace With Kids

    Buckingham Palace is Queen Elizabeth II’s official London residence.  During our last visit, we watched the Changing of the Guard, which occurs at 11:00 a.m. in the spring and summer months according to this schedule.  The Palace Guards dressed in scarlet tunics and black fury hats perform a musical military ceremony as they parade from Wellington Barracks to Buckingham Palace.  It’s necessary to arrive early to stake out a good spot to watch the 30-minute ceremony.

    Completely coincidentally, my sister and her family also scheduled a trip to the UK that overlapped ours.  We were able to meet them at the Changing of the Guard.  It was a pretty amazing experience for the six cousins to spend a day exploring London together.

    Buckingham Palace
    Changing of the Guard
    Cousins taking a stroll from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square
    • Buckingham Palace Facts:  If Queen Elizabeth II is at home in Buckingham Palace, the Royal Standard flag flies on the roof.

     

    #8:  Westminster Abbey With Kids

    Westminster Abbey has been the site of all of England’s royal coronations since William the Conqueror back in 1066.  It is also the setting for royal weddings and funerals.  The current Gothic structure was completed in the 16th century.  The Abbey is open for worship and tours.

    Photo credit:  PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

    • Westminster Abbey Facts:  Princess Diana’s 1997 funeral took place in Westminster Abbey, loosely based on plans prepared in case of the Queen Mother’s death.  Prince William and Catherine Middleton were married here in 2011.

     

    #9:  Piccadilly Circus With Kids

    Piccadilly Circus is a traffic junction that has featured illuminated advertisements since 1908 – just a few years after Times Square debuted electronic signage.  While Times Square definitely dwarfs Piccadilly, this is still my favorite street corner in London.  After a major renovation in 2017, Piccadilly Circus now features a single 4K LED digital screen.

    LED signs at Piccadilly Circus
    • Piccadilly Circus Facts: Circus means circle, and the name remained after the intersection lost its circular shape in the late 19th century when Shaftesbury Avenue was constructed.

     

    #10:  Marble Arch With Kids

    This triumphal arch was designed by John Nash as a state entrance to Buckingham Palace but moved to its current location on a large traffic island at the intersection of Oxford Street, Park Lane and Edgware Road in the 1960s.

    • Marble Arch Facts: When the Marble Arch served as Buckingham Castle’s main entrance, only senior members of the Royal Family and members of the Royal Horse Artillery and King’s Troop could pass through.  Now, it is open to everyone, and “commoners” regularly pass through.

     

    #11:  Covent Garden With Kids

    Covent Garden was the first planned square in London and was modeled on a Tuscan piazza.  The Central Market was originally a fruit and vegetable market but has now been redeveloped into shops, cafes, stalls and restaurants.

    Outside on the cobbled street, we saw a performance by contortionist Kenneth Greenaway who is popularly known as Yogi Laser.  We also watched part of Laser’s mesmerizing performance next to the River Thames earlier in the trip.

     

    #12:  10 Downing Street With Kids

    10 Downing Street is the Prime Minister’s official residence.  This Georgian townhouse is conveniently located right off of Whitehall Street on the walk from Trafalgar Square to the Houses of Parliament.  The main entry is right off the street, so even when just passing by, you often can catch comings and goings of both presumably important people and lucky visitors.  The actual entrance is cordoned off with a large iron gate.

    • 10 Downing Street Facts:  The front door has no keyhole and cannot be opened from the outside.

     

    #13:  Millennium Bridge With Kids

    The Millennium Bridge is a steel suspension bridge for pedestrian use to cross the River Thames.  The Bridge opened in 2000 to commemorate the millennium.

    • Millennium Bridge Facts:  The Millennium Bridge was closed on its opening day and remained closed for two years to make modifications to eliminate its unexpected sway.

     

    #14:  Portobello Road Market With Kids

    My husband, daughter and I met friends for a Saturday afternoon of window shopping at the Portobello Road Market while the boys spent the day with their grandparents.  There are five main sections selling second-hand goods, clothing, household goods, produce and antiques.  Saturday is the only day that all sections are open.  We passed hundreds of stalls and shops selling wares of all sorts on our relaxing afternoon.  Despite the crowds, we had no issues with our stroller, which is commonly called a pushchair in England.

    • Portobello Road Market Facts:  Much of the filming of the 1999 movie Notting Hill starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant took place on Portobello Road.

     

    #15:  Hamleys With Kids

    Hamleys is the world’s oldest and largest toy store in the world.  If my boys were ordering this list, Hamleys might be at the top.  They visited the Regent Street store with their grandparents, who gave them each a budget to find the perfect toy souvenir.  It took them a few hours to make their selections as they explored every square inch of store’s seven floors.

    • Hamleys Facts:  William Hamley opened a toy shop called “Noah’s Ark” in 1760.

     

    London Family Attractions

    London has so much to offer family travelers!  We loved our visits to the best attractions for families in London, England.  Make sure to check out our blog posts on London, including Our First Family Trip Abroad, Five Fun Family Museums, Five Fun Family Parks and London Itineraries (coming soon).

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  • Things to Do in York, England

    Things to Do in York, England

    York is an unparalleled medieval city and one of the few places from all of my travels that I have called home.  I studied medieval history and sociology at the University of York as an exchange student during my junior year of college.  It was during that time many moons ago that my wanderlust began.  I explored literally every nook and cranny of the city – visited every museum, bought produce at the Shambles Market, watched Hamlet in the Yorkshire Museum’s theater, peeked inside York Minster several times each week and tried out dozens of pubs.  I met life-long friends while playing cards in the common room of my residence hall and also used York as my home base while traveling around the UK on weekends and to eight other European countries during my six-week Spring break.

    York is an easy two-hour train journey on England’s Northern line from Kings’ Cross station, and I have been back four times since my semester abroad.  When we planned our last trip to London in 2015, I was ecstatic that we would be able to fit in two days and one night in York.  We booked tickets a few weeks in advance online through Grand Central Railway.  Our kids (aged 11 months, 5 and 7) thoroughly enjoyed the lovely train journey, and we fit all of our things for the quick trip into two backpacks that we tucked in our daughter’s stroller.

    Traveling by train with a table is one of the most comfortable ways to go
    Baby and luggage on board

    When orienting yourself in York, it is important to remember that streets are called gates, gates are called bars, and bars are called pubs.   Most streets end in “gate” like Fishergate, Castlegate, Fossgate and Petergate.  The four main entries into the city are called Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, Walmgate Bar and Mickelgate Bar.  And, as is common throughout the UK, the corner establishments that sell beer by the pint are called pubs.

    We stayed at the Novotel York Centre, a modern hotel just outside the city walls between the city center and the University of York.  The only downside to our trip was that it was unseasonably hot.  The Novotel was not air conditioned but luckily did offer us a fan.

    I particularly enjoyed taking the kids to visit the University of York, the guesthouse where I lived and my favorite pub, the Rose & Crown.  We stopped by on the evening we were there and found that kids were not permitted after 8 p.m.  We returned the next afternoon when the pub was practically empty and were directed to a back room.  My husband and I enjoyed some beer, but it was clear that our kids were not really welcome.  Those stops would probably not be trip highlights for families with no connection to the University.

    The architecture of the University of York, which was established in 1963, starkly contrasts that of the medieval city
    My boys playing in my old back garden
    My favorite pub from my university days

    The city offers so many great things for any family, but these are our favorite things to do in York, England.

    #1:  Relax in Museum Gardens With Kids

    Museum Gardens is a very special place – this is where my husband literally got down on one knee and asked me to marry him while surreptitiously filming with my digital camera years ago. These Gardens are known for the medieval ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey as much as they are known for the luscious green space.  When I was a university student, I walked through the gardens practically every time I went into York’s city center.  I was always in awe of the Abbey ruins, especially when they were illuminated at night.

    On our first trip to York with our children, the Museum Gardens were definitely at the top of our list.  Even though it was a quick overnight trip, we spent at least an hour relaxing in the Gardens each day.  We showed them right where their Dad proposed to me, but the exact spot was unfortunately under construction at the time.  And, the peacocks that used to roam in the Gardens have been removed since my last visit.

    It’s an amazing place to sit and think

    While climbing on medieval ruins is pretty cool, the highlight of our time in Museum Gardens was definitely the Birds of Prey Show.  Admittedly, the Birds of Prey Show more than made up for the missing peacocks.  A falconer brought six birds of prey to showcase during the free seasonal show that we happened to catch.  And, our five-year old son was chosen to hold a white barn owl, which is something he will never forget.

    The Gardens also contain the remains of the west corner of the Roman fort of Eboracum, including the Multangular Tower and parts of the Roman walls.

    The Multangular Tower with Roman stones on the lower portion

    The Yorkshire Museum is also located on the grounds and features archeology, geology, paleontology and natural history collections.

    • York Museum Gardens Facts for Kids:  If the medieval abbey ruins are not ancient enough, Museum Gardens also include the remains of a portion of a Roman fort, including the Multangular Tower and a portion of Roman wall.
    • Kid Moment:  The owl show seems to be a free seasonal attraction and was an absolute highlight of our trip to York.  Distinguishing the small Roman stones from the larger medieval ones on the Multangular Tower and adjoining wall is also a great activity.

    #2:  Evensong at York Minster With Kids

    York Minster is the largest cathedral in Northern England.  I’ve been to dozens of cathedrals, but York Minster is my hands-down favorite.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked through its doors, and every time, I feel an overwhelming sense of awe at its enormity and beauty.

    The Minster’s West Window – the Heart of York
    York Minster has a way of making me feel quite small

    Because our trip was so short, and we had a baby with us, we did not take the guided tour.  Also, children must be at least eight to climb the narrow staircase to the top of the tower, so we had to save that for another trip.  We chose instead to visit during Evensong with Songmen and Choral Scholars.

    • York Minster Facts for Kids: Construction began on the Minster in the thirteenth century after at least three churches previously at this site had been destroyed.  Its classic Gothic architecture was modeled after Canterbury Cathedral (the archbishop of York is second in England only to the archbishop of Canterbury).  Its stained-glass windows are some of the best remaining examples from medieval times.  There was a disastrous fire in 1984 that badly damaged the south transept.
    • Kid Moment:  Make sure to request a free Explorer Backpack and the Blue Peter roof bosses in the south transept.  In 1986, the popular television show Blue Peter held the York Minster Contest and asked children to submit boss designs for the Minster’s vaulted ceiling.  They are the only cathedral designs I have ever seen created by children.
    Roof bosses, including those designed by winners of the Blue Peter Contest

    Downton Abbey fans will notice that the York Minster makes several cameo appearances in the series, which is set in Yorkshire.

    #3:  Climb Clifford’s Tower With Kids

    Clifford’s Tower is a tower that sits on top of a small hill and is reminiscent of Monty Python movies.  It is the largest remaining portion of the castle originally built on this site by William the Conqueror.  There isn’t much to see inside the Tower, but it does offer the best view of York.  We arrived after it closed, but the kids enjoyed running up the hill to get a closer view.

    Clifford’s Tower

     

    We reached the top

    Below Clifford’s Tower is the York Castle Museum that allows visitors to step back into time and experience everyday life in earlier centuries.  While it is named in honor of the castle that used to sit on this site, it is housed in prison buildings constructed in the 18th century.

    The Castle Museum
    • Clifford’s Tower Facts for Kids:  Clifford’s Tower is the only remaining portion of York Castle.  In 1190, about 150 Jews died inside the previous timber tower that stood on this hill – most from mass suicide to avoid being murdered.  The current stone tower dates from the 13th century.
    • Kid Moment:  My kids particularly enjoy towers in general, but the added excitement of the hill and stairs made Clifford’s Tower especially fun.
    • Kid Caution:  Clifford’s Tower is definitely not stroller accessible.

    #4:  Walk on the York City Walls With Kids

    Since Roman times, cities were walled as a defense mechanism.  York’s city walls are more intact than any other city in England and recently ranked by CNN as the third best medieval walled city in the world.  There are some remains of the Roman brickwork, as well as Norman and medieval portions with modern renovations.

    Visitors can access the remaining portions of the city walls by climbing the stairs at each of the four Bars.  The entire circuit is 4.5 miles, and the best stretch is between Bootham Bar and Monk Bar.

    Walmgate Bar is the only city gate in England with a working barbican, a fortified outpost of gateway.  Unfortunately, the 12th century stone archway did not contemplate the size of modern vehicles, and there are regularly accidents.  This is how it looked in 2015, and how I generally remember it.  I think a truck tried to drive through days after it was re-opened when I lived there.

    Walmgate Bar, the city gate closest to the University of York
    • York City Walls Facts for Kids:  Very little of the Roman walls remain, but the current 13th-century walls were built right on top of the Roman ones.
    • Kid Moment:  We imagined what it would be like to be a castle guard scanning the horizon for enemy forces as we walked along the walls.
    • Kid Caution:  Like Clifford’s Tower, the city walls are definitely not stroller accessible.

    #5:  Stroll Down the Shambles With Kids

    The Shambles is a very old and narrow street with overhanging timber buildings lining each side.  The architecture is classic 15th century Tudor.  Its name comes from “shamel,” meaning either slaughterhouse or the stalls or benches used to display meat.  In 1862, there were 26 different butcher shops on this small, cobbled pedestrian street.  The first-floor shops that used to be occupied by butchers are now predominately used as souvenir shops and cafes.  There are so many charming and irresistible shops in York’s city center.  Many people believe that the Shambles was an inspiration for Harry Potter‘s Diagon Alley.  Find out more about the Shambles and its recent wizarding shops.

    We caught the Shambles at a quiet moment, but it is usually crowded with tourists
    • Shambles Facts for Kids:  One advantage of the cantilevered buildings is that it maximizes available space without obstructing the street.
    • Kid Moment:  With the narrow street and the overhanging buildings, it is fun to stand in the middle of the street and look up.

    York is a great destination for families to get a chance to experience a bit of medieval times (and not the dinner theater variety).  Our trip was so short that we didn’t have a chance to make a day trip from York, but we hope to next time for sure.  Planning a family trip to England?  Check out all our posts on England and London.

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  • Not Too Young for the Art Museum

    Not Too Young for the Art Museum

    My three-year-old daughter and I were recently sitting at the puzzle table of a nearby library while waiting for her story time to begin. I was making small talk with another mom sitting with her young sons, and she came to my rescue and directed me to the ABC books when I could not locate Chica Chica Boom Boom on the shelves.  I explained that my daughter had listened to the book when she attended Art Stories at the Cleveland Museum of Art the day before with her nanny and was desperate to read it with me. The other mom responded with, “my kids are too young for the art museum.”  I was not exactly sure how to respond because the thought of being “too young” to visit any museum had never crossed my mind.

    Not Too Young

    My husband and I really enjoy visiting art museums.  My daughter visited her first art museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, when she was two months old.  Since then, she has made a repeat trip to the Art Institute of Chicago and also visited the Cleveland Museum of Art many times as well as the Tate Modern, the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery in D.C.  While she clearly does not remember those early trips, she gained familiarity with art museums in the process.  At the age of three, my daughter now walks around the Cleveland Art Museum, holding my hand and discussing which paintings catch our attention.

    My sons also enjoy art museums and can distinguish a Monet from a Van Gogh (two of my favorites).  Their favorite special exhibition was Cleveland Museum of Art’s “Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse” in the Fall 2015 that included pieces that influenced Monet’s garden painting and reunited CMA’s Water Lilies with the other two panels of the triptych and displayed them together (no photography permitted).  On our first trip, I took all three kids, aged one, five and seven, alone.  We all loved it so much that we came back a few weeks later with my husband.  After going to the exhibit for the second time, my five-year-old son came home, asked for paints and created his own version of water lilies.

    My five-year-old son’s Water Lilies painting

    Kid Moments

    If your children are new to visiting art museums, start with a short trip of about 45-60 minutes.  We play a “game” when we enter a new gallery.  I ask each kid which is their favorite piece.  We then go and specifically examine each of our favorite pieces before moving on to the next room.  Sometimes, we read the plaque on the wall, other times, we briefly discuss color choice or artist technique that made that piece stand out, but we try hard not to dawdle.

    Kid Caution

    While there is no age that is “too young”, it is necessary to be careful when bringing a child into art galleries as some art is accessible to small hands.  The stroller or front carrier is the safest place for infants or toddlers.   Many art museums do not permit backpacks or back carriers because the wearer could accidentally cause damage by brushing up against the art.  Older children need to have enough self-control to understand that they must stay right with an adult and not touch the art work before going into galleries.  However, many art museums have interactive child-friendly exhibits like the ArtLens Gallery at the Cleveland Museum of Art that everyone can enjoy.

    Our Favorite Art Museums

    We have visited many art museums with kids, but these are our favorites:

    • Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the US and boasts a permanent collection of over two million works.  The Met is located on Fifth Avenue in New  York City.  We were a few of the Met’s over 7 million visitors in 2016 that made it second to only the Louvre in number of visitors.  Our boys were especially excited to find Seurat’s final study for A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.  Admission to the permanent collection is free, but the suggested donation is $25 for adults.
    Van Gogh’s Irises
    One of two lion statues guarding the Institute’s Michigan Avenue entrance
    Gustave Caillebotte’s Paris Street; Rainy Day
    Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
    • National Gallery (Washington D.C.) is the third largest art museum in the US.  When we are visiting the Mall, we take a quick stop through the impressionist galleries and the outdoor sculpture garden.  On our most recent visit, my husband was holding our daughter, who was then two.  They stopped in front of a Degas, and she looked at the painted ballerinas and commented, “Daddy, I really like this painting” to the shock of the visitors around her who had no idea that she thought she was merely “playing” a familiar game. Admission is free.
    Van Gogh’s Green Wheat Fields, Auvers
    Lime Green Icicle Tower
    Monet’s Water Lilies
    • The National Gallery, London is the fourth most visited art museum in the world with over six million visitors annually.  It is located in Trafalgar Square and houses a relatively small collection of about 2,300 paintings, almost all of which are on permanent display.
    The National Gallery, London
    Van Gogh’s Sunflowers
    • Cleveland Museum of Art is the art museum we frequent most often.  CMA is located in Cleveland’s University Circle area on the near east side.  A massive expansion project began in 2005 and was completed at the end of 2013 increased floor space by 65% and included the glass-roofed Ames Family Atrium.  It has a permanent collection of 45,000 works and significant Egyptian and Asian galleries.  We always make sure to spend a few minutes sitting on the bench in front of Monet’s Water Lilies (Agapanthus) and enjoy the Armor Court.  Rodin’s Thinker, which sits outside the front entrance, was partially vandalized by a bomb in 1970, and the statue’s lower legs were destroyed and have not been restored.  Admission to the permanent exhibitions is free, but there are fees for special exhibits.
    Monet’s Water Lilies
    Rodin’s Thinker with damaged legs

    With some precautions and child-centric activities, art museums truly can be enjoyed by all ages.  While infants and toddlers may not have specific memories of the museums they visit, those who go to art museums are more likely to grow into young children who enjoy art and visiting galleries.