Britain for Families: Castles, Dinosaurs & Vikings

Today the whole family explores historic London. You visit the mighty Tower of London, a great riverside fortress that has been royal palace, prison and treasury, meeting the colourful Yeoman Warders in their splendid uniforms, spotting the famous ravens that guard the tower, and gazing on the glittering Crown Jewels, with plenty of tales of knights, kings and daring escapes. You cross elegant Tower Bridge for wonderful views, then take a relaxing cruise along the River Thames, gliding beneath its famous bridges past the Houses of Parliament and the Shard. For a bird's-eye thrill, you ride high on the London Eye. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, heads full of history and adventure. This evening, enjoy a fun family supper. Rest well, ready for dinosaurs and rockets at London's amazing museums tomorrow.

Today London delights young explorers. You visit the wonderful Natural History Museum, coming face to face with towering dinosaur skeletons, a life-sized blue whale and dazzling gems and creatures from around the world, then head next door to the Science Museum, full of rockets, engines and hands-on experiments to push, pull and marvel at, both free to enter. There is Harry Potter magic to enjoy too, from discovering Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at King's Cross to spotting film locations, with the option of a magical Warner Bros Studio Tour to see real sets and props. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, buzzing with excitement. This evening, perhaps enjoy a family-friendly restaurant. Rest well, for tomorrow you visit a mighty medieval castle full of knights, then journey north to the Viking city of York.

Today you leave London and travel north, stopping at a mighty medieval castle along the way. At spectacular Warwick Castle, one of Britain's finest fortresses, children climb the ramparts and towers, watch thrilling live shows with knights, birds of prey and a giant trebuchet, explore dungeons and grand state rooms, and step into a world of jousts and sieges. Suitably thrilled, you continue north to the historic city of York, ringed by medieval walls, arriving in time to settle into your hotel. As the day ends, you take a first evening stroll through York's atmospheric old streets, perhaps down the crooked Shambles, said to have inspired Diagon Alley. This evening, enjoy a hearty Yorkshire dinner. Rest well, ready to travel back to the age of the Vikings tomorrow before journeying on to Edinburgh.

This morning the family explores York and its Viking past. At the famous Jorvik Viking Centre you travel back a thousand years, riding through a reconstructed Viking street complete with sights, sounds and smells, and meeting the fierce Norse settlers who once ruled the city. You marvel at the soaring York Minster, wander the crooked medieval Shambles, and can see the mighty steam engines, including a Harry Potter-style locomotive, at the National Railway Museum. In the afternoon you board a comfortable train and speed north across the border to Edinburgh, watching the countryside slip by, and arrive in the dramatic Scottish capital in time to settle in. As the day ends, Edinburgh's castle-crowned skyline greets you. This evening, enjoy a fun Scottish supper. Rest well, ready to explore Edinburgh's castle, ghosts and volcano tomorrow.

Today the family explores thrilling Edinburgh. You climb to Edinburgh Castle, perched high on its volcanic rock, hearing tales of kings, sieges and the crown jewels, and, at one o'clock, jumping at the boom of the famous One O'Clock Gun. You enjoy the magical illusions of the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, with its mirror maze and rooftop views, and, for the energetic, climb Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano, for wonderful panoramas over the city. As dusk falls, you set off on a thrilling ghost tour through the shadowy closes and hidden underground vaults of the Old Town, shivering at spooky tales. The drama and fun are captivating. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, full of stories. This evening, enjoy a final family dinner, reflecting on your adventure. Rest well ahead of your departure tomorrow.

After a final morning in exciting Edinburgh, perhaps a last stroll along the Royal Mile or some souvenir shopping, you are transferred to Edinburgh Airport for your onward departure. The family leaves having experienced the very best and most fun of Britain, from the Tower, dinosaurs, museums and boat rides of London and a mighty medieval castle full of knights to the Vikings, minster and steam engines of York and the castle, ghosts and volcano of Edinburgh, with Harry Potter magic throughout. The memories stay vivid long after you land, the glittering Crown Jewels, the roaring dinosaurs, the Viking ride at Jorvik, the boom of the castle gun and the spooky ghost tour. Britain offers history, adventure and easy family fun in abundance, and the whole family departs already dreaming of a return to this brilliant and magical island.