Quick, the school holidays are coming – where can we take the kids?!


The school holidays are fast approaching, which for parents up and down the country means just one thing – how are we going to keep the kids entertained?


Luckily, London really is a playground, for kids and adults alike – and it doesn’t have to bankrupt you, either. Here at SYC, we have guides and staff members from far and wide, so we asked around the office what everyone’s favourite childhood memories of the city are. Here are some of the ideas we came up with:


A Londoner’s take:


When I was about five, my dad and my nan took me to the Natural History Museum. The plan had been to visit that and the Science Museum in one day – but honestly there was so much to see we barely got through it all! The dinosaur exhibit currently on there is an absolute wonder, even to adults, I couldn’t recommend it enough to young inquisitive minds! The architecture alone is stunning, and the best part is – it’s free!


If you have a little more cash to splash, there are always fantastic shows playing in London – and there are some really great child-friendly shows too. Old favourites like The Lion King and Matilda spring to mind, but there are also special shows like The Gruffalo at the Lyric Theatre tailored with a younger audience in mind. It’s also worth keeping an eye on smaller theatres a bit further out – for example, the wonderful Greenwich Theatre has recently been showing The Tiger Who Came to Tea, and in June will have a performance of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant Show.


A Northerner’s take:


When I was about seven year’s old, my family took me to London for a boat display on the Thames. We got to see what looked like Viking ships, as well as more modern Catamarans – it was a real spectacle. My recommendation would be to take a walk down the South Bank, and just check out what’s going on. You can also take one of the boats for a ride along the river, if you want to get a bit closer and there are some stunning views (the Thames Clipper is included in our Ghost boat or Harry Potter with a boat ride tour!)


Other than that, if you are looking for something cheap and exciting for your children to do over the summer, the Royal Parks are beautiful places for picnics. Bonus: If you go to St James’ Park there are pelicans – see if you can spot them!