England for families ★★☆

Retaining one of the greatest collections of western art in the world, the National Gallery is a wonderful repository of stories, from the magical to the everyday, from epic tales to biographies, and from the imaginary to the factual.

• Led by an art historian.
• Interactive activities
• Detailed explanation of stories that have inspired painters.

On our journey, we will hear the legends of the Greek and Roman gods, including Mars, the god of war, and Venus, the goddess of love, as well as the fate of Ariadne, who was deserted on an island by her lover, Theseus, and later discovered by the god of wine, Bacchus. We will also see how artists interpreted the stories of the holy books and meet the Queen of Sheba on her journey to test the wisdom of King Solomon with gifts of gold. Or perhaps we will find out the secret of Samson's superhuman strength and discover who betrayed his secret.

As we explore, we will learn to decipher the signs and symbols that give us clues to the meaning of different paintings, including which saint always holds an arrow, and who is dressed in animal skins? Who holds a golden apple, and what does an hourglass symbolize? What does a dog, or a dove, or a horse represent in a painting?

Drawing London is a hands-on tutorial on how to engage and hone your powers of observation and expression. Under the auspices of a professional artist and art teacher, we will start your private tours at your hotel, in central London. Here, we will have an introduction to materials and a demonstration of some basic drawing techniques.

• Led by an artist and art teacher
• Take home your masterpiece!
• Private and fully customizable

One of our most unique walks around London, discover how close the City of London has come to destruction and learn about the life of Londoners during the War. In 1666, the medieval city all but disappeared in the Great Fire of London. The city was rebuilt on the footprint of its predecessor and then seriously damaged again during the Blitz of 1940-1941. One of the worst nights was the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's Day, December 29, 1940, when the warehouses and offices were empty and people were at home enjoying Christmas break. That night, the area around St Paul’s was devastated and those working on the ground dubbed it 'The Second Great Fire of London’. In general, only those buildings with firewatchers on their roofs survived.

• Led by a local historian.
• Includes visits to the Museum of London and St Paul's Cathedral.
• Small group walks—6 people max

Ever wondered about the dinosaurs? They arose from a group of unpromising-looking lizard-like animals and cousins of the crocodiles, and went on to dominate the world for one hundred and sixty-five million years. They were as small as chickens, and as large as double-decker buses. They ate grass, meat, each other and their own children. They were the lions and tigers, the cows and birds, the dogs and cats of the ancient world; they walked the land, swam in the sea and took to the air. And 65 million years ago their story came to an abrupt end.

• Led by an archaeologist
• Learn about dinosaurs in a world class museum
• Hands-on activities for the children

From corgis to stallions, animals have always been important companions to kings, queens, knights, and saints. On this 2-hour walk, we will have an adventurous visit to London's National Gallery to meet tamed dragons, alluring cats, and trustworthy dogs. We'll learn about these beloved animals' relationships with their owners as well as the painter depicting them, and how the stories of history's greatest personalities are often linked to that of their pets.

• Introduces children to art through familiar tools
• Led by an art historian trained to work with children.
• Incorporates activities to stimulate learning in a fun and engaging way.

Edinburgh teems with stories of kings and queens, castles and bards just waiting to be discovered. On this 2-hour tour of Old Town Edinburgh designed for kids we'll travel through time, from a 400-year-old school for orphans, to an imposing castle, to mysterious Victorian rooftops. Along the way, our docent who is trained in inquiry-based learning and comes equipped with various activities, we'll learn to recognize the symbols and characters of Edinburgh.

• Includes Old Town Edinburgh
• Introduces kids to the history of Edinburgh
• Includes the National Museum
• Fun and interactive activities to stimulate learning in an engaging way

The streets and spires of Edinburgh have inspired writers for centuries, from Walter Scott to Robert Burns. Perhaps the most famous lately is JK Rowling who wrote much of the Harry Potter series here, gazing at Edinburgh Castle. In this 2-hour tour of Edinburgh for kids we'll dive deep into Edinburgh's literary history and discover all the places in the city relevant to Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

• Visit Edinburgh that inspired the Harry Potter series
• Hands-on activities for kids
• Learn about the wider literary history of Edinburgh