LONDON FOR KIDS

London has its fair share of ghost tours for the young and young at heart, but there’s also a lot of interesting activities to capture the imaginations of the youngest travelers. Travelife picks the best of London tours for children for a day of learning about culture and history, combined with fun and adventure.

OPEN-TOP BUS KID’S CLUB

Join the Open-Top Kid’s Club for an amusing exploration of London. It may not be a magic school bus headed to unimaginable destinations but every thrilling ride revisits the past in a fascinating approach complete with commentaries especially designed for children and a specially designed kids’ pack. It’s history made for kids. Great for family excursions, it’s the perfect educational experience to stir up appreciation for history and culture. www.theoriginaltour.com

LONDON DUCK TOURS

A quirky way to transport little wanderers, the refurbished military craft of London Duck Tours will take everyone aboard to some of the city’s most famous sites by land and river. Sail across the Thames River and then drive through London’s quaint roads and grand avenues to see the beauty of the Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, London Eye and other legendary landmarks. The kids will certainly be thrilled. www.londonducktours.co.uk

HARRY POTTER TOURS

No need to utter incantations or cast a spell to breakthrough enchanting walls. With the Harry Potter themed trip by London Taxi Tours, you can saunter along the charming halls that stimulated the imagination of J.K. Rowling. More than just reading through the riveting pages of the novels, you can now discover the magical world of witchcraft and wizardry even without a broom or a ticket to the Hogwarts Express. There’s a three-hour Harry Potter tour of London that takes in key sights like Kings Cross Station (which is where Harry catches the Hogwarts Express for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry) and Australia House on the Strand (Gringott’s Bank); and an intensive ten-hour trip to Oxford and Lacock in a black taxi cab. You’ll see the places used for the classrooms and corridors of Hogwarts, as well as the entrance to the Great Hall where Mrs. McGonagall met Harry for the first time. www.londontaxitour.com