Top trips in London this half-term

London has so much to offer in terms of culture, so there’s no point wasting time this half-term! We look at some of the best, and most kid-friendly destinations to explore this February half-term. In the past, Minerva tutors and mentors have taken groups and individuals to some of London’s most exciting cultural attractions as part of Me Club, and will be available for bespoke trips over the holiday.

 

For film buffs… Bond in Motion at the London Film Museum

If your kids are obsessed with films, engineering or amazing cars, this is the exhibition for you. Featuring the original cars used in some of the greatest Bond films, as well as assorted other aircraft, boats, motorcycles, costumes, gadgets and guns. It’s perfect for film buffs and petrolheads alike. There’s even never-before-seen concept art and storyboards on the upper mezzanine level. Scott, our Minerva mentor said, “It’s amazing for kids – they had a great time, and the James Bond quiz you pick up at the beginning makes it even more engaging. Loved it!”

 

For future business leaders… Kidzania

An entire indoor city run by kids: it’s either a parent’s dream or a nightmare dystopia, depending on how you look at it. Seriously though, Kidzania is incredible –  you can go and leave kids to play independently for up to four hours (especially slightly older ones), knowing they’re safe, well-taken care of and having a great time. And there’s something for every child – they can take part in up to 60 real-world activities, for ‘work’ and ‘leisure.’ Kids can earn and spend Kidzos (the local currency) and get a taste of adult life (without all the woe, anxiety and despair that accompanies it). It’s all about learning life skills and independence, and has always been a huge hit at Me Club.

 

For the clever and curious… London Museums

Without labouring the point, London is simply home to some of the best museums in the world – and even better, they’re free! The Science Museum, Natural History Museum, British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum – for starters – have incredible collections that can keep kids fascinated all day long. They all regularly run interactive events and tours for young people, and it’s worth seeing what they have on in half-term before going.

Alternatively, you can book a trip with a Minerva tutor who’s a science/history/culture buff, to make the experience even more educational. Depending on your child’s age, these trips can also support their school curriculum in a fun and interactive setting.

 

For bookworms…Harry Potter tours and graphic art

Several companies now offer tours around London, through locations that feature in the Harry Potter books and films. This includes Tower Bridge, Leadenhall Market and – of course – Kings Cross station, with the Harry Potter shop at Platform 9¾. The House of MinaLima also has an exhibition of Graphic Art from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.

Unfortunately, the ‘Harry Potter: A History of Magic’ exhibition at the British Library is all sold out, but for anyone who got tickets, it’ll be a real treat! Or if you’re feeling truly extravagant, you can try and score tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre. Find out more about Harry Potter events in London here.

 

For the imaginative and creative types… Art Galleries

For arty, imaginative and creative kids, London has a wealth of fantastic galleries to visit. Again, many of them are free and offer fantastic activities for kids. As well as the better known ones (National/National Portrait Gallery, Tate London/Modern), there are some phenomenal smaller and lesser known galleries, like the Wellcome Collection and Sir John Soane Museum, which will spark children’s imaginations in a million different directions. Or for more active artists, there’s plenty of art and pottery courses dotted around the city to get involved with!

 

For active and energetic kids… Sport and activity camps

Wherever you are in London, there’s guaranteed to be some great sports camps for kids nearby. Whether you’ve got football fanatics, netball nerds, gym goers or just kids that need to blow off some steam, companies such as Fit for Sport run fantastic half term activity camps all over the city.

 

As well as academic help, if you would like to organise a museum or gallery visit, or any other kind of trip, with one of Minerva’s fun and experienced tutors, for an individual or small group, give us a call on 0208 819 3276, or email us at hello@minervatutors.com. For more awesome half-term ideas, check out Day out with the kids. Have a great half-term!

 

By David Bard

David is a Minerva Pro Tutor who specialises in humanities subjects at A Level and is a trained expert in the 7 + and 11 + exams. Outside of tutoring, David writes blogs about everything that’s trending in education.