Tag Archives: London

Luisa’s top family attractions in London

Posted on January 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

London is a great place to introduce kids and teenagers to a European family getaway. Children and teenagers do not have to struggle with a foreign language, yet they still get immersed in a very cultural, historical and fun experience.

Since London is frequently featured in children’s literature and movies, you may want to get your youngsters familiar with the city’s major landmarks before your trip by showing them classic Disney movies such as Mary Poppins, Peter Pan or a more recent one, Harry Potter.

The Trafalgar Family Experiences trip to London includes visits to top Harry Potter attractions in London such as the site of the magical train platform 9-3/4 and the red telephone booth where Harry and Mr Weasley descend into the Ministry of Magic. Outside of London, Trafalgar’s Castles and Kilts itinerary takes families to Oxford University’s dining hall which was the inspiration for Hogwarts Hall.

The following are some attractions that I suggest you see and do while in London prior or after your Trafalgar trip.

Tower of London
It doesn’t get much more British than this! From viewing costumed Beefeaters to glittering crown jewels and even King Henry VIII’s armor, the Tower of London is a place that kids of all ages will always remember.

Tower Bridge experience
Walking across Tower Bridge is as much of an once-in-a-lifetime experience as walking across the Golden Gate Bridge.

London Eye
There’s more than meets the “eye” when you bring your family on the London Eye! While kids will enjoy the huge ferris wheel, the whole family will revel in the amazing views the Ferris wheel affords of quintessential London.

Hamley’s toy store
Located in the shopping mecca of Regent Street, Hamley’s Toy Store is not to be missed. This classic toy store carries iconic characters such as Harry Potter toys as well as its own brand. Parents: You will probably want to give your child a spending limit before you enter this treasure trove!

 Parks
 London’s many parks are another option for kids and teens to let loose. The top ones include St. James Park, Regents Park and Hyde Park. These parks are great spots for strolling, running around or bringing a picnic lunch.

 Madame Tussauds
The first Madame Tussauds wax museum was established in 1835 in London and then moved to its present London location 127 years ago.  This long history is successfully combined with today’s stars and celebs for a treat for all ages.

Family experiences

View from the London Eye

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Luisa Frey
 As a family travel writer for 17 years, Luisa’s articles have been published extensively in print and online.

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Posted in Sightseeing, Trafalgar, Trip Experiences

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Visit the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at London’s Natural History Museum

Posted on January 19, 2011 | 2 Comments

This weekend I was lucky enough to visit the Natural History Museum in London to see the brilliant Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. As a big animal fan, for me, the winning and commended images from the 2010 competition were simply stunning.

From a disused house in Finland that has been overrun with adorable squirrels, owls and a badger family that were born under the floorboards and use the fireplace as a front door, to ariel shots of vast swathes of manta rays and more, the exhibition was incredibly inspiring.

Whether you’re a keen traveller looking to admire desolate snowscapes and arty mountain shots, or you’re a huge wildlife fan, you’re sure to be blown away by the amazing talent on show at the exhibition. Most impressive was the collections of photos by the youngest category, the ‘under 10s’. That’s right, some of these staggering images are by very young photographers, and the Overall Young Photographer Winner was in that very youngest category!

The winning photo was of leaf-cutter ants in Costa Rica, taken by Bence Mate from Hungary and can be viewed here. Although the winning group of photos are striking, I highly recommend a trip to the Natural History Museum to appreciate all of the entrants. And if you can’t get to London? Easy, just visit the Wildlife Photographer of the Year online gallery.

What do you think of the winners and commended photos? Let us know below!

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Posted in European Events, Travel News

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The four Fashion Week capitals of the world

Posted on October 4, 2010 | 2 Comments

The glamorous week-long event that is Fashion Week takes place all over the world, but most importantly it dominates the ‘fashion capitals’ that are London, Milan, New York and Paris. Here’s a quick look at these fancy cities, and what makes them so fashion-fabulous!

1. London

In London you have the coveted Oxford Street, Regent’s Street and King’s Road, which are filled to the brim with designer shops which help give London its stylish label. Londoners don’t just dress in the latest designer clothes though; they’re also known for being more eccentric in their styles than the other fashion capitals, so look out for more alternative looks on the locals on your London tour. Places to go for more unique clothing include Portobello Road and Spitalfields markets.

2. Milan

Milan is Italy’s shopping paradise, so it comes as no suprise that Fashion Week is held in the handsome city of Milan. First established in 1958, the most important shows in Milan are the Milano Moda Donna and Womenswear. Milan is famous for its classically glamorous styles – but in typically cool Italy, would you expect anything less? Shop in areas like Piazza Santa Spirito or the winding streets of the Oltrarnos for quirky gifts that are exquisitly made.

3. New York

Everyone wants to go to New York in the United States, and one of the biggest attractions is its world famous shopping. From the mighty Bloomingdales to the designer boutiques along Fifth Avenue, New York has it all. But did you know that in 1943, the first New York Fashion Week was held to distract from French fashion during World War II, of which industry workers could not travel to. Aren’t we glad they did; now crowds at New York Fashion Week are so large that shows are strictly invite only.

4. Paris

Paris is known for its natural chic style, whether it’s the lithe design of the Eiffel Tower or the effortless outfits donning the Parisians. Paris is the obvious home for Fashion Week and has long been its central hub, and today remains one of the most exciting Fashion Weeks in the world. This year designers such as Balenciaga, Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Chanel and Louis Vuitton showcased their beautiful collections in Paris, one of the most fashionable as well as romantic cities that you can travel to today.

See our stylish London and Paris 2010/11 tour here

Visit New York with our East Coast Cities tour

Our Milan and Italian Treasures tour

Which is your favourite Fashion Week city?

Do you think Paris should be the main city for Fashion Week?

Have you been to a Fashion Week before? What did you think?

Let us know below and we’ll tweet the best comments!

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Posted in European Events, Spotlight, Trafalgar, Travel News, Trip Experiences, World Events

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London’s new cycle hire scheme is the best way to see the city

Posted on July 30, 2010 | 4 Comments

Overnight the streets of London were filled with thousands of sparkling new bicycles, which are today available to hire in a bid by the London mayor to encourage more Londoners to cycle their way across the city.

The new initiative is called Barclays Cycle Hire and is intended to provide commuters and tourists of the capital with a tax-free way to travel by a more eco-friendly and healthy means. London mayor Boris Johnson says of the exciting new scheme: ‘My crusade for the capital to become the greatest big cycling city in the world has taken a gigantic pedal-powered push forwards.’ Gigantic it certainly is, as 12,000 Londoners have already signed up to use the 5000 bikes, which can be found at any of the 315 docking stations situated in several of the Royal Parks as well as Camden, City of London, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Kensington and Chelsea, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Westminster.

As well as busy commuters, this is the ideal solution for tourists who wish to travel above ground on a low cost and fun transport, especially during the summer months. Keys for the bikes cost £3 and travelling costs vary from £1 for an hour up to £50 for 24 hours. Journeys under 30 minutes are free and you can choose 24 hours, seven days or annual membership, so rental is flexible and free for you.

During days of leisure on your London tour, be sure to take advantage of this fantastic initiative which will allow you to experience life as a Londoner as well as see the best parts of the city while keeping fit and being green.

Have you signed up for Barclays Cycle Hire yet? Do you like the idea? Would you hire a bicycle during a London tour? Let us know using the comment box below. We will tweet the best comments on twitter!

Read more about London and search for London tours

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Posted in Spotlight, Trafalgar, Travel News, Trip Experiences

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