City Breaks with the Kids

Last Updated on August 22, 2011 by Jody Halsted

The traditional family holiday does not usually play itself out in the bustling streets of London, Birmingham, Manchester or Edinburgh. Britain’s biggest cities remain the holiday domain of young couples, old couples, groups of friends and solo travellers. Yet many of Britain’s most culturally thriving city destinations are more than sufficiently equipped to cater for families, in terms of both accommodation and entertainment.

Finding the right place to stay is often crucial to a successful trip away, and never more so than when you are travelling with children. If the facilities aren’t up to scratch, if the breakfast menu isn’t sufficiently varied, if the rooms don’t have enough space for travel scrabble, you might end up in holiday hell. However, if you find a hotel that sets the perfect tone for your trip you are likely to enjoy a rewarding, and bonding, family excursion.

The internet has made it easy to find great family establishments, as sites such as Travel Fish and Trip Advisor allow readers to submit accurate and unbiased reviews based on their own experiences of their chosen holiday venue. Booking sites such as Millennium Hotels also allow users to search for family friendly holiday homes and London hotels, with cots and single rooms available.

Once you’ve found yourself the perfect place to stay, finding enough child friendly entertainment to last you throughout the duration of your stay ought to be a piece of cake. Many of London’s most popular museums, such as the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, are well equipped to welcome children into their environs, providing challenges, games and a host of educational activities to keep them entertained.

From 3D or IMAX cinemas through to family zoos, from child friendly musicals to giant dinosaur skeletons, a family trip to the city can be one of the best ways to expose your children to some of Britain’s brightest cultural attractions.