Map & Family

A Family Travel Resource

Christmas at Kew Gardens London for families

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Take a twilight winter walk along a magical trail of sound and light.  Stop en route to toast marshmallows or sip a warming toddy.  To round off the year here’s a taster of the annual December nighttime treat at Christmas at Kew Gardens, London.

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  • A happy birthday to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who is 98 today. The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, unfazed by the rain, galloped across Hyde Park at noon to deliver a 41 gun salute in honour of the occasion. The bells of Westminster Abbey rang and a 61 gun salute followed at the Tower of London an hour later. The @KingsTroopRHA have been busy this week what with Beating Retreat, Trooping the Colour and several gun salutes. Today’s was one more wonderful display of tradition, skill and London pageantry 🇬🇧. #royalfamily #visitlondon #horsegunners
  • 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 . . . . .

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