"The Name's Bond" Bond at Madame Tussauds British Tours Ltd: Kids Some of the most popular sights for children in and around London that come highly recommended not just by us and our personal tour guides , but from the hundreds of families who have enjoyed personal sightseeing with British Tours Ltd.

London

The famous Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is well worth a look and gives children a chance to see the Queen's soldiers take part in this historic ceremony The Tower of London - The Tower is full of stories of intrigue, execution & murder. Its 900 years of existence has been a palace, a prison and a setting for many famous executions - including two of Henry VIII's unfortunate wives. Yeoman Warders (or Beefeaters) still patrol the grounds and can tell a few tales of ghostly happenings at night... 'Spooky' Virtual Reality Image of The Tower of London at Night London Zoo - opened in 1828 this is one of London's most popular attractions for all the family. Children can watch the Keepers feed the animals and can also take part in one of the exciting and informative shows featuring some of the zoo's most intriguing residents... Madame Tussauds - Wax portraits of famous and infamous world figures on display in such settings as The Garden Party and the Grand Hall. An exciting new addition is the 'Spirit of London' where you can travel in a 'time taxi' to experience the capital's fascinating history. There is also the renowned Chambers of Horrors - recreating some of the most horrific scenes of crime and punishment from London's history... Hamleys Toy Shop - London's famous toy shop - small and big kids alike will enjoy looking at (and playing with) the amazing range of toys, games and books on sale. London Dungeon - This world-famous horror museum has state of the art special effects depicting scenes of torture, death and murder in spine-chilling detail. The London Dungeon is not recommended for children under the age of 10.

Museums for Kids

Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood - This branch of the Victoria & Albert Museum is dedicated to toys from the seventeenth century to the present day. Pollock's Toy Museum - This fascinating museum is devoted to puppets and stages from Pollock's theatres. Toy theatre performances are held during school holidays. The Natural History Museum - See the Dinosaurs at this beautiful museum which combines interactive displays with traditional exhibitions showing how life has evolved on our planet, a lifelike, animatronic T-Rex, a magnificent collection of fossils and more. The Cabinet War Rooms - Any child interested in history will be fascinated with Sir Winston Churchill's underground headquarters during the Second World War (pictured right). See 21 historic rooms including the Cabinet Room, transatlantic telephone room, map room and Churchill's bedroom. The Science Museum - An exciting and innovative museum that has many interactive displays which enable children to take part in scientific experiments themselves. The London Transport Museum - This museum tells the colourful story of travel, people and the growth of London. As well as the unique working exhibits, historic vehicles and famous London Transport posters, there are special exhibitions and family activities at times. Imperial War Museum - Although this fascinating museum has an impressive display of 20th century tanks, artillery, bombs and aircraft, it also manages to provide a thought-provoking and poignant insight into how war has affected everyday people throughout the 20th-century, by using impressive displays and personal exhibits. Particularly educational for children is the First World War front-line trench and a blitzed London street from the Second World War. Virtual Reality Image of the Imperial War Museum - The Blitz Experience

Parks

Regent's Park - as well as housing the famous London Zoo, this park is surrounded by beautiful buildings and you can stroll around the rose garden or watch the open-air theatre in the summer. Kensington Gardens - set in the grounds of Kensington Palace - once Princess Diana's London residence - these beautiful gardens are now home to an imaginative children's adventure playground, dedicated to her memory. Hyde Park - The Serpentine lake, where you can go boating, is one of the highlights of this park which also has restaurants, an art gallery and the infamous 'Speakers' Corner'. St James's Park - Come here to feed the ducks and swans, or watch the pelicans at play! Hampstead Heath - This beautiful open space is located in the midst of north London and nearby Parliament Hill offers stunning views of St Paul's, the City and the West End. Richmond Park - This is the biggest royal park in London and offers children the opportunity to see roaming deer and for parents to take in the magnificent river views. Golders Hill Park - Perfect for the whole family, this park has an attractive walled garden, a deer enclosure and children's zoo.

Teenagers London

Camden Town and Market - An exciting and colourful market that sells a wide range of fashion, arts and crafts and other interesting bric-a-brac - a must for the fashion-conscious young shopper who likes to pick up a bargain... Covent Garden - The open-air cafes and bars, its famous piazza, street entertainers, stylish shops and markets make Covent Garden a definite hit for the young and young at heart. Notting Hill - Since the hit comedy film 'Notting Hill' with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, people are flocking to this 'hip' part of London to sample the cafes, shops, markets and unique atmosphere of this London village. The Trocadero - This urban indoor theme park in one of the largest in Europe and offers the latest in high-tech and virtual reality entertainment. The Rock Circus - Situated in the Trocadero, the skills and artistry of Madame Tussaud's wax works combine with the technology of the future to tell the story of rock and pop from 1950s to present day.

Outside London

Hampton Court - Built in 1514, this beautiful Palace situated along the River Thames, was a favourite residence of the infamous Henry VIII. Five of his wives lived here and the ghosts of two (Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard) supposedly haunt it. Parents can literally 'lose' their kids for an hour or so by letting them try their luck in the famous maze, whilst you can stroll about the stunning gardens. Costumed guides take you on a fascinating tour of the State Rooms and can explain in detail the rich history and events which surround them, plus a visit to the Tudor Kitchens and the world's largest grape vine is a must... An advantage of Hampton Court & Windsor (below) are that they are not that far from central London. Virtual Reality Image of the King's Guard Chamber at Hampton Court Palace Hever Castle - This romantic 13th-century moated castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn - Henry VIII's ill-fated second wife. Especially appealing to children are the two exciting mazes including the Water Maze and the Hedge Maze, plus the Miniature Model Houses Exhibition and the variety of special events throughout the season including jousting, falconry and archery. Virtual Reality Image of Hever's Inner Courtyard Windsor Castle - For any child with an interest in the British Royal Family a visit to England's largest royal residence provides an unrivalled insight into 900 years of history - all in a single day. With magnificent State Apartments, St. George's Chapel, burial place of Kings and Queens, and Queen Mary's Dolls' House, exquisitely perfect to the tiniest detail, there is plenty to see and do for the whole family. Virtual Reality Image of Windsor across the Thames Warwick Castle - situated on the banks of the Avon, is one of the finest medieval fortresses in England and is a real hit with the young and old alike. Using waxwork exhibits to bring to life the rich history of the castle, it shows imaginatively scenes from its time as a medieval household preparing for battle, plus the Castle as a venue for a royal party in 1898. Kids will also love the gruesome dungeon, torture chamber and ghost tower, whilst parents cannot fail to be impressed by the stunning 60 acres of grounds landscaped by Capability Brown in the 18th century. (Jouster at Warwick Castle pictured left). Please note that this is a long day tour from London - 11 hours including Stratford. Legoland is a theme park dedicated to the imagination and creativity of children aged 2 to 13 and is set in 150 acres of beautifully landscaped parkland. There are themed playscapes, building workshops, interactive rides and shows plus the wonderful Legoland model towns from around the world. You can combine a visit to Windsor Castle or Hampton Court with a visit to Legoland. Oxford University will please the kids more than ever before. Many of the scenes in the Harry Potter films were set there including Hogwarts' library, hospital, dining room and the staircase (pictured right). Please note that there is a minimum age for admission to the library. Virtual Reality Image of Hogwarts Dining Room - modelled on Christ Church Oxford Many of the British Tours tour guides specialise in tours for children & families. Your guide will collect you by car or minibus from your London hotel. more day tours ... British Tours Ltd, London © All rights reserved.