Family Fun in London & Oxford: Wizards, Dinosaurs & Royalty - 12 Days

Day 1: Arrive in London, "Horrible Histories" Thames Cruise 

Welcome to England! Upon arrival at the airport, you and your family will be met by your driver and transferred to your central London hotel. England's capital is a dynamic, family-friendly city filled with inspiring museums, parks, and attractions for kids of all ages and interests. Once you've checked in to your hotel and settled in, it's time to start your UK adventure with a cruise along the River Thames.

No ordinary river cruise, this 45-minute tour is based on the award-winning children's BBC TV show and book series "Horrible Histories." As you glide along the Thames with your family, your guide will enthrall the kids (and adults) with London's history as you see sights, including the Tower of London, London Bridge, the Palace of Westminster, and more. Expect gruesome and witty stories that capture the kids' imaginations with a retelling of London's history that will inspire them for the rest of the trip.

Day 2: See the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Afternoon Sightseeing

This morning, you'll visit one of London's top attractions and one of the world's most famous homes—you're off to Buckingham Palace! At the primary residence of England's royal family since the turn of the 18th century, you and the kids will witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Meet your guide, who'll ensure you arrive at the right time to avoid the mass crowds and see the marching guards dressed in their famous black fur caps and red tunics. The symbolic ceremony sees the King's Guard hand over responsibility for protecting the palace to the New Guard. 

After parting ways with your guide, take the rest of the afternoon to settle in and explore at your family's preferred pace. If sightseeing is at the top of your list, a great way to discover the city and stave off any complaints of tired legs is to board a Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus. These open-topped, double-decker buses follow a specific route around the city, hitting the key attractions. Best of all, you and the kids can get off at any stop, such as the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, or Piccadilly Circus, to walk around and snap pics. Then, when you're ready, wait for the next bus to arrive, step aboard and continue your adventure.

Day 3: Family-Friendly Tower of London Visit, Tasting Tour of Borough Market

You cruised past the Tower of London earlier in the trip, and today you'll get to venture inside with a family-friendly tour. Built in 1078 by William the Conqueror, this landmark has served as a castle, a royal palace, a prison, and a place of execution. As you and the kids explore the ancient corridors, your guide will help bridge the gap between history and imagination with tales of ravens, ghosts, and Tudor kings and queens. You'll also get to see the priceless Crown Jewels and end the tour with a memorable family pic alongside a Yeomen Warder (Beefeater), whose rank has guarded the tower since Tudor times. 

If you've worked up an appetite at the Tower, you're in luck—you're off to the nearby Borough Market next, a covered food market filled with over 100 artisan stalls from all over the globe. With the help of an experienced local guide, you'll wind your way through the stalls, sampling everything from freshly cooked Indian appetizers to Argentine empanadas. Stroll beneath the Victorian railway arches and hear how the market has evolved (since the 12th century!) while you feast on fresh produce and introduce the kids to new flavors, as well as plenty of sweet treat options and crowd pleasers. 

Day 4: Family-Friendly British Library Visit or Chauffeured "Harry Potter" Tour 

Choose today's itinerary based on your family's interests. Curious kids will love a visit to the British Museum, whose exhibitions and collections detail two million years of history and culture. On a private tour, you and your family will hunt for clues and hints as you discover the museum's highlights, aided by your fun and knowledgeable guide. Discover treasures such as the famous Rosetta Stone, which the French and English used to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs, and travel back to Ancient Greece to see marble sculptures and statues from the Parthenon.

Fans of literature's famous boy wizard can opt for a two-hour "Harry Potter"-themed tour around the capital. To make the experience extra special, you'll also have a private chauffeur, along with your guide, to help ferry little legs across the city. Start at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, where the Weasley's Ford Anglia takes off in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," and see key sights mentioned in the tales, such as the London Zoo, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square. The tour finishes at the iconic King's Cross Platform 9 ¾, where your guide will help choreograph you and your family for the perfect shot.

Day 6: Natural History & Science Museums, Ampersand Science Afternoon Tea

You've ticked off London history, cuisine, and royalty, and today, you and your family will delve into the natural world with a guided tour of the Natural History Museum. Perfect for kids of all ages, the museum has 36 permanent galleries spread over four zones that explore the history and evolution of our planet. Little ones will undoubtedly make a beeline for the Dinosaur Gallery to see the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, while the whole family will be astonished to see the jaw-dropping blue whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling and measuring 82 feet (25 m) in length.

While you could easily spend the whole day at the Natural History Museum and only see a fraction of the exhibits, there's plenty more to see nearby, too. Step next door to the Science Museum, another fantastic London institution, and watch as the kids delight in the vast number of interactive displays that encourage exploration, problem-solving, and creativity, and there's plenty to keep teens and adults enthused, too. Don't miss the Wonderlab gallery, where you and your family can watch spectacular live science demonstrations. 

It wouldn't be a trip to England without at least one afternoon tea, and you'll even manage to keep the science theme going as you head to the nearby Ampersand Hotel for a midafternoon feast. Take your seat in the Drawing Rooms, and you'll be served an elegant and creative spread that delivers refined sandwiches, scones, cakes, and pastries with interactive flair and an imaginative twist! Sip on Champagne and nibble indulgent bites while the kids tuck into the Ampersand's award-winning Sci-Fi Tea.

Day 7:Train to Oxford, Chauffeured Punting Trip & Picnic 

Today, you'll head to London's Paddington Station for a one-hour train ride west to Oxford. Dubbed the "City of Dreaming Spires," the town is home to one of England's oldest and most prestigious universities. Once you've checked in to your hotel and settled the kids, you'll head down to the riverbank for a relaxing tour of the city along the River Cherwell. You'll travel on a chauffeured punt (flat-bottomed riverboat), gliding gently along the water and passing the city's iconic sights as you and your family enjoy a light lunch from a picnic hamper.

Your knowledgeable chauffeur will point out landmarks such as Christ Church College (where Lewis Carroll taught in the mid-19th century and wrote "Alice in Wonderland"), the lush Botanic Gardens, and the playing fields of Magdalen College. Afterward, you'll return to the boathouse, where the rest of the afternoon is yours to relax back at the hotel or head out for dinner at one of the town's family-friendly restaurants. 

Day 8: Oxford University & Bodleian Library "Harry Potter" Tour 

If yesterday was all about seeing Oxford's college backs from the water, today's half-day tour focuses on the famous university's interior, woven together with a family-friendly "Harry Potter"-themed tour. You'll start with a visit to the Bodleian Library; one of the oldest in Europe, it's home to over 13 million books. See the Bodleian's historic rooms, including Duke Humfrey's Library and the Divinity School, whose historic interiors and Gothic vaulted ceilings have featured in the film versions of J.K. Rowling's much-loved books. 

After exploring the libraries, you and the kids will tour New College and Christ Church while your guide reveals behind-the-scenes stories about the production and actors and the many similarities between Oxford and Hogwarts. Then, follow in the footsteps of Harry, Hermione, and Ron as you wander the staircase at Christ Church, which leads to the college's Tudor Dining Hall, whose resplendent interior is filled with ancient portraits that inspired the Hogwarts Dining Hall. Along the way, you'll learn the colleges' history and test your Hogwarts knowledge with a themed family quiz. 

Day 9: Visit Blenheim Palace & the Marlborough Hedge Maze

After over a week of whirlwind tours and sightseeing, today's visit to Blenheim Palace is the perfect relaxed outing. Meet your driver after breakfast and set off on a short 25-minute drive north of the city to Woodstock, a charming village home to the 18th-century estate. Set at the edge of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, this stately Baroque palace is the Duke of Marlborough's seat and Sir Winston Churchill's birthplace. You'll have several hours to explore the estate's gilded rooms and priceless collection of artwork, tapestries, and antique furniture.

You can refuel with lunch or some tea and cakes at the on-site café, and if the kids start clamoring for a run-around, fear not! Along with the winding Marlborough Hedge Maze, the estate has some 12,000 acres (4,856 ha) of manicured gardens and countryside to explore at your own pace, as well as an adventure park with ziplines, slides, and climbing frames.

Day 10: Day Trip to the Cotswolds: Scenic Guided Drive & Steam Railway

Today, you'll get to explore the quintessential countryside around Oxford, notably the famous Cotswolds: a rural area just over an hour's drive west of the city that enjoys Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status. In the company of your knowledgeable guide, you'll explore the area's rolling green hills, thatched-roof cottages, and ancient church towers. Task the kids with spotting historic landmarks from the Roman Britain era and stop to visit the picture postcard villages of Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, and Bourton-on-the-Water.

If there are train enthusiasts in the family, you can also opt to climb aboard a vintage train carriage for a scenic Cotswolds journey on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. This volunteer-run heritage railway offers an evocative journey through some of the most spectacular scenery in the region, winding through a landscape of sleepy hamlets, honey-colored villages, and rolling fields as it puffs its way between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway. At the end of the day, your driver will take you back to Oxford for your final night in the city.

Day 11: Train to London, Free Afternoon: London Parks & Open-Air Cinema

After a whirlwind few days in Oxford, it's time to catch the train and return to London. Check back into your hotel, and the rest of the day is yours to spend as you like. If the weather's fine, grab a picnic and head to one of the city's many green spaces. St James' Park is a great option for families. Shaped over the centuries by Britain's monarchs and bordered by three royal palaces, you'll find plenty of history here and beautiful gardens for the kids to run around. Best of all, you're within walking distance from sights such as Westminster Abbey and every young child's favorite toy shop—Hamleys.

If you don't have an early start tomorrow, you may want to end the penultimate day of your vacation in style with an open-air rooftop cinema experience. Sit back and relax in your comfy deck chair (blankets are provided if the weather's nippy) while you and the kids snuggle up and watch an iconic movie with state-of-the-art wireless headphones. Your backdrop is the city skyline with views over landmarks such as Big Ben, The Shard, and St Paul's Cathedral. 

Day 12: Depart London

Your family holiday in England has come to an end. Round up the troops and meet your driver, ready for your transfer to the airport and flight home or onward journey. Safe travels!

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