Map & Family

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2 Days in London – your essential itinerary

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London is packed with culture and colour. This 2 day London itinerary will show you the most iconic landmarks with time to fit in shopping and relaxing too. It’s a local’s guide to the must-see sights and sounds of the UK’s capital city from marching bands at Buckingham Palace to world famous views. Read on for our essential 2 days in London guide.  Read more

Travelling with Teens

Visiting Pompeii, Italy – our top sights

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Travel back to the time of the Romans at the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, destroyed when the volcano Vesuvius erupted in AD79. Our guide includes top things to do in Pompeii, the pros and cons of guided tours and tips on visiting Pompeii from Naples.    Read more

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Family Adventures

A day trip to Procida island: a hidden gem in Italy

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The pretty island of Procida near Naples has some of the most colorful houses in Italy, yet surprisingly it is still a hidden gem. We hopped on the Naples Procida ferry and spent a relaxing day by the sea. Read on for our tips for a day trip from Naples to Procida and a great place to have lunch on a Procida beach. Read more

5 fun Gaudi buildings to see in Barcelona Spain

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You can’t visit the beautiful Spanish city of Barcelona without spotting the unique buildings of Antoni Gaudi. Colourful, curvaceous and creative they won’t fail to stop you in your tracks. Gaudi’s buildings are a highlight of any Barcelona itinerary so here are our five family favourites from a Gaudi tour of Barcelona with teens.

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City Guides

105 Things to do in London with Teens

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Everything you need to know for a trip to London with teenagers.  105 things to do with family from essential landmarks to best London viewpoints, Harry Potter places to Sherlock locations, fun activities and a guide to shopping in London with teens. There’s something here to keep everyone happy! Read more

View of Ponte Vecchio from Uffizi. copyright©2018 mapandfamily.com

Best Things to do in 3 Days in Florence on a budget

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It’s one of the most famous and magical cities in Italy yet you can still enjoy Florence on a budget!  Here’s our guide to making the most of a 3 day city break, including important tips on buying museum tickets as well as best views, free things to do and affordable places to eat.  Read more

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Instagram

  • Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster may be partly under wraps at the moment for restoration work (swipe for a recent pic) but turn around on Westminster Bridge and you have a lovely view of the London Eye and County Hall instead. New on the blog is a post to help you plan a two day sightseeing itinerary in London. It’s a local’s guide - I’ve lived in London for years and my boys grew up here. It includes lots of tips: from how to tackle the super-popular Changing the Guard, to where to stop en route for lunch, shopping, or afternoon tea. The link’s in the profile ⬆️ if you’d like to have a look and please let me know if I’ve missed out any of your favourite London landmarks. #familytravel #visitLondon #visitEngland #loveGreatBritain . . . . .
  • This is Corricella, a fishing village on the island of Procida. It seems to be a hidden gem in the Bay of Naples because it was quiet and serene on a sunny weekday in September. Perhaps all the other visitors were on nearby Capri. Film crews know about it (see The Talented Mr Ripley and Il Postino). And so do the people of Naples who bring their boats or hop on the ferry for the short crossing. We hope it stays this way. Check our blog post ⬆️ link in profile, for where to go for a swim and lunch 🌊⛱ #familytravel #procida #visititaly #naplesitaly . . . . .
  • Westminster Abbey looking glorious in the London sunshine this week. The Abbey is on my must-see London sights list in our mega-post on 105 Things to do in London with Teens (not just teens of course, lots of the tips are relevant for anyone visiting London). Link in profile ⬆️. A big thank you to all the travel exhibitors I chatted to at the @travmedia_uk event at the @QEIICentre where I got the chance to snap this photo. We talked about cultural exploring, travel with teens, travel with grown-up children and multi-generations, that unsatisfactory term ‘empty nesters’ and lots more about destinations all over the globe. Very inspiring and lovely to have the opportunity to talk to these experts and travel bloggers together. #familytravel #westminsterabbey @lovegreatbritain #mycityloves . . . .
  • El Drac, a large mosaic lizard fountain, presides over Park Guell in Barcelona as well as featuring on a thousand postcards. It’s just one of the many colourful creations of visionary architect Antoni Gaudi that won’t fail to stop you in your tracks when you visit Barcelona. Whether you admire them from the pavement or explore the fantastical interiors, Gaudi’s buildings make Barcelona a very special place. As you stroll between the shops look out for curvy Casa Mila and the gorgeously ornate Casa Batllo - which seems to have a dragon sitting on the roof. And a visit to the still unfinished but glorious Basilica of the Sagrada Familia is a must-do. Check our post to see the surprise that awaits you inside and our round up of 5 unmissable Gaudi sites in Barcelona. The link’s in my profile ⬆️. #familytravel #travelwithteens #visitbarcelona #parkguell . . . . .
  • Dramatic Predjama castle in Slovenia, built in the mouth of a cave, is the former home of a legendary Robin Hood-style robber knight of the 15th century called Erazem. Beneath the castle lies the huge natural cave system of Postojna. A little train carries visitors 2km underground to see chambers big enough for a symphony orchestra to perform and amazing stalactites. The caves are also home to amphibians called olm which can live up to 100 years. Back in the day locals believed they were the young of a dragon who lived under the castle. It adds up to a great family day out that should keep teens amused too. Click the link in my profile ⬆️ to find more ideas for a summer family trip to Slovenia that includes hiking and biking in the glorious Julian Alps. 📸Thanks to Sarah-Jane and family for the photo and for telling us about their trip. #familytravel #travelwithteens #predjamacastle #ifeelsLOVEnia . . . . .
  • This is lovely Turin in northern Italy. A friend spent a few days there with her family on a road trip to the Italian lakes and says it was a bit of a revelation. Elegant architecture, beautiful wide streets, grand arcades of shops, historic cafes and airy piazzas. The landmark here is the Mole Antonelliana, now home to a cinema museum, restaurant and a viewing platform (with a glass lift!). There’s a post about this family summer trip with teens around the Lakes, including Turin, up on the blog, link in profile ⬆️ #familytravel #travelwithteens #turinitaly #moleantonelliana . . . . .
  • When the volcano Vesuvius obliterated the Roman town of Pompeii, Italy in 79 AD under dense layers of ash it became frozen in time. Now 2000 years later visitors can see the roads, shops, bakeries, bath houses and the interior decor trends of the poshest establishments. There’s graffiti on street walls, astonishing mosaics plus some unexpectedly explicit art! Check out the blog, link in profile⬆️, for tips on whether or not to take a guided tour and our own highlights of a half day visit in September. #familytravel #travelwithteens #pompeii #visitnaples #campania . . . . .

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