Family Fun in London & Oxford: Wizards, Dinosaurs & Royalty - 12 Days

Day 1: Arrive in London, "Horrible Histories" Cruise along the Thames

Welcome to England! Upon arrival at the airport, you and your family will be met by your driver and transferred to your central London hotel. England's capital is a dynamic, family-friendly city filled with inspiring museums, parks, and attractions for kids of all ages and interests. Once you've checked in to your hotel and settled in, it's time to start your UK adventure with a cruise along the River Thames.

No ordinary river cruise, this 45-minute tour is based on the award-winning children's BBC TV show and book series "Horrible Histories." As you glide along the Thames with your family, your guide will enthrall the kids (and adults) with London's history as you see sights, including the Tower of London, London Bridge, the Palace of Westminster, and more. Expect gruesome, witty stories that capture the kids' imaginations with a re-telling of London's history that will inspire them for the rest of the trip.

Day 2: See "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" at the West End

It's your first full day in England's capital, and you have the morning to discover London at your own pace. A great way to see the city and stave off any complaints of tired legs is to board a Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus. These open-topped, double-decker tour buses follow a specific route around the city, hitting the key attractions. Best of all, you and the kids can get off at any stop, such as the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, or Piccadilly Circus, to walk around and snap pics. Then, when you're ready, wait for the next bus to arrive, hop on, and continue your sightseeing adventure!

Later on, you and your family are off to the famous West End theater district to see the award-winning "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, this exclusive adventure, which takes place 19 years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, premiered in 2016 and has racked up an impressive 22 awards in the UK alone. As the Hollywood Reporter put it, get ready for "thrilling theatricality and pulse-pounding storytelling."

Day 3: Buckingham Palace, Family-Friendly Tour of the British Museum

This morning, you'll visit one of London's top attractions and one of the world's most famous homes—you're off to Buckingham Palace! As the primary residence of England's royal family since the turn of the 18th century, you and the kids will witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Meet your guide, who'll ensure you arrive at the right time to avoid the mass crowds and see the marching guards dressed in their famous black fur caps and red tunics. The symbolic ceremony sees the King's Guard hand over responsibility for protecting the palace to the New Guard. 

Afterward, stop for a bite to eat and inspire the kids with a visit to the British Museum, whose exhibitions and collections detail two million years of history and culture. On a private tour, you and your family will hunt for clues and hints as you discover the museum's highlights, aided by your fun and knowledgeable guide. Discover treasures such as the famous Rosetta Stone, which the French and English used to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs, and travel back to Ancient Greece to see marble sculptures and statues from the Parthenon.

Day 4: Chauffeured "Harry Potter" Tour of London, Rooftop Cinema Experience

Fans of the boy wizard are in for a treat today as you and your family follow in the footsteps of Harry and friends with a two-hour "Harry Potter"-themed tour around the capital. To make the experience extra special, you'll also have a private chauffeur, along with your guide, to help ferry little legs across the city. Start at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, where the Weasley's Ford Anglia takes off in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," and see key sights mentioned in the tales, such as London Zoo, where Harry makes a window disappear in the Reptile House, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square.

The tour finishes at the iconic King's Cross Platform 9 ¾, where your guide will help choreograph you and your family for the perfect shot. In the evening, you'll combine views of the world-famous London skyline with an open-air rooftop cinema experience. Sit back and relax in your comfy deck chair (blankets are provided if the weather's nippy) while you and the kids snuggle up and watch an iconic movie with state-of-the-art wireless headphones. Your backdrop is the city skyline with views over landmarks such as Big Ben, The Shard, and St Paul's Cathedral. 

Day 6: Dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum 

You've ticked off London history, cuisine, and royalty, and today, you and your family will delve into the natural world with a guided tour of the Natural History Museum. Perfect for kids of all ages, the museum has 36 permanent galleries spread over four zones that explore the history and evolution of our planet. Little ones will undoubtedly make a beeline for the Dinosaur Gallery to see the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, while the whole family will be astonished to see the jaw-dropping blue whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling and measuring 82 feet (25 m) in length.

While you could easily spend the whole day at the Natural History Museum and only see a fraction of the exhibits, there's plenty more to see nearby, too. Visit the Science Museum, where younger children can explore the concepts of construction, water, light, and sound through play, and older kids and teens can interact with scientific phenomena in the Wonderlab area. Meanwhile, the V&A Museum is the perfect spot for art, fashion, and design-obsessed teens (and adults). Cap your day with a short walk to the Harrods Food Hall, where you'll find everything you need for a luxe family picnic in Hyde Park.

Day 7: Visit Warner Bros. Studio, Tour the "Harry Potter" Film Set

The "Harry Potter" theme continues apace this morning with a behind-the-scenes tour of the fantasy films' sets at the Warner Bros. Studio. Your foray into the wizarding world starts just where Harry's did, in the cupboard under the stairs. Then, after an introductory video featuring favorite cast characters, you'll be welcomed into the Hogwarts Great Hall, where no detail has been spared. With the dining table set for a feast, you'll see the costumes and wigs worn by prominent cast members and witness the talent, craftsmanship, and imagination that went into bringing this beloved world to life. 

The tour continues to many more familiar sets with plenty of famous characters. You'll stop at the Forbidden Forest, see masked Death Eaters, visit Aragog's Lair, walk along iconic Platform 9¾, and step inside the Hogwarts Express. The kids will be bowled over when you finally reach Diagon Alley, home to dusty Ollivanders Wand Shop, where inside, you'll find 17,000 individually labeled wand boxes.

Day 8: Train to Oxford, Chauffeured Punting Trip & Picnic 

Today, you'll head to London's Paddington Station for a one-hour train ride west to Oxford. Dubbed the "City of Dreaming Spires," the town is home to one of England's oldest and most prestigious universities. Once you've checked in to your hotel and settled the kids, you'll head down to the riverbank for a relaxing tour of the city along the River Cherwell. You'll travel on a chauffeured punt (flat-bottomed riverboat), gliding gently along the water and passing the city's iconic sights as you and your family enjoy a light lunch from a picnic hamper.

Your knowledgeable chauffeur will point out landmarks such as Christ Church College (where Lewis Carroll taught in the mid-19th century and wrote "Alice in Wonderland"), the lush Botanic Gardens, and the playing fields of Magdalen College. Afterward, you'll return to the boathouse, where the rest of the afternoon is yours to relax back at the hotel or head out for dinner at one of the town's family-friendly restaurants. 

Day 9: "Harry Potter" Tour of Oxford University & Bodleian Library

If yesterday was all about seeing Oxford's college backs from the water, today's half-day tour focuses on the famous university's interior, weaved together with a family-friendly "Harry Potter"-themed tour. You'll start with a visit to the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest in Europe; it's home to over 13 million books. See the Bodleian's historic rooms, including Duke Humfrey's Library and the Divinity School, whose historic interiors and Gothic vaulted ceilings have featured in the film versions of J.K. Rowling's much-loved books. 

After exploring the libraries, you and the kids will tour New College and Christ Church while your guide reveals behind-the-scenes stories about the production and actors and the many similarities between Oxford and Hogwarts. Then, follow in the footsteps of Harry, Hermione, and Ron as you wander the staircase at Christ Church, which leads to the college's Tudor Dining Hall, whose resplendent interior is filled with ancient portraits that inspired the Hogwarts Dining Hall. Along the way, you'll learn the colleges' history and test your Hogwarts knowledge with a themed family quiz. 

Day 10: Visit Blenheim Palace & the Marlborough Hedge Maze, Tour the Cotswolds

Today, you'll get to explore the quintessential countryside around Oxford, notably the famous Cotswolds: a rural area just over an hour's drive west of the city that enjoys Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status. First, though, is a trip to Blenheim Palace. Meet your driver after breakfast and set off on a short 25-minute drive north of the city to Woodstock, a charming village home to the 18th-century estate. The stately home is the Duke of Marlborough's seat and Sir Winston Churchill's birthplace.

You'll have several hours to explore the estate's gilded rooms and priceless collection of artwork, tapestries, and antique furniture. And if the kids start clamoring for a run-around, fear not! Along with the winding Marlborough Hedge Maze, the estate has some 12,000 acres (4,856 ha) of manicured gardens and countryside to explore. Once the kids have tired themselves out, hop back in the car and embark on a tour of the Cotswolds. 

In the company of your knowledgeable guide, you'll explore the area's rolling green hills, thatched-roof cottages, and ancient church towers. Task the kids with spotting historical landmarks from the Roman Britain era and stop to visit the picture postcard villages of Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, and Bourton-on-the-Water. At the end of the day, you'll return to Oxford for your final night in the city.

Day 11: Train to London, Family-Friendly Tour of Tower Bridge & Tower of London

After a whirlwind few days in Oxford, it's time to catch the train and return to London. Check back into your hotel, and there's one last treat in store: a family-friendly tour of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Built in 1078 by William the Conqueror, this landmark has served as a castle, a royal palace, a prison, and a place of execution. As you and the kids step back in time and explore the ancient corridors, your guide will help bridge the gap between history and imagination with tales of ravens, ghosts, and Tudor kings and queens.

Of course, you'll also get to see the priceless Crown Jewels, including the Sovereign's Scepter with Cross, which has been used at every coronation since 1661 and was transformed in 1910 by adding the breathtaking Cullinan I diamond. See if the kids can guess its size—at 530.2 carats, it's the world's largest colorless cut diamond. End the tour with a memorable family pic alongside a Yeomen Warder (Beefeater), whose rank has guarded the tower since Tudor times. Part ways with your guide, and the evening is yours to settle down with the kids at your favorite restaurant and toast your British adventure.

Day 12: Depart London

Your family holiday in England has come to an end. Round up the troops and meet your driver, ready for your transfer to the airport and flight home or onward journey. Safe travels!

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