Ladies, let’s be honest: your kids are not interested in exploring historical sites. As soon as the words museum or ancient buildings come up, they would roll their eyes, thinking it is some uphill battle. Of course, a historical tourism family activity is a great learning experience, but it just is not the forte of young children. 

Kids today need thrill, action and engagement with their lives, instead of the same old dusty exhibitions. Unlike us, they are not interested in reading the artefacts and the history behind them. But there are various transformative ways you can make kids genuinely interested in the historical sites during a London trip.

London Bridge at night.

Plan Your Travel Ahead Of Time

One of the most overlooked aspects among most travellers is travel planning. You might want to visit every historical site within the vicinity of London, but that is not possible with young children on board. A good rule of thumb is to limit your day to only a few attractions that match the preferences of your kid group to allow them to feel interested and engaged with the overall journey.

On top of that, your travel planning must also include good transport to reserve the energy of the kids for the historical-themed tour of London. Seriously, you do not want to make them feel dull or bored at Buckingham Palace or St Paul’s Cathedral, just because you have been taking the public transport to access different attractions. 

Instead, you can hire a minibus in London to easily transfer between destinations with kids and other family members. This mode of transport is not only convenient for a multiple attraction road trip but also cost-effective compared to the public commute.

Start With Telling A Story

Do not start your tour with dates for Westminster Abbey’s coronation history since 1066, as children can get quickly bored with dates. They are more interested in the Kings and their influence on England. You can tell them stories about Shakespeare and the Henry VII Chapel. 

Tell them all about the coronation chairs and hall where the king would host the hearing for grievances and announcements. Just skip the architecture, and let them freely roam around all while hearing the tales about brave knights.

Especially, kids will be highly engaged in the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. If you are interested, various tourist attractions also host guided tours, tailored for kids to provide them with a more in-depth learning experience. 

Turn Your Visits Into Adventures

We love this one. Turning your historical site visits into smart adventures, like treasure hunts or an oral pop quiz, can be highly creative and engaging. Passive sightseeing can eventually get boring. But do not worry, as there are various destinations where you can make your visit an active exploration.

All you need to do is give the kids an activity, like a Scavenger Hunt, based on the site you are visiting. For instance, if you are at the British Museum, you can go for the tailored trail of “Twelve Objects To See With Children,” which guides them to all the creative exhibits. Give your kids a checklist to discover artefacts like Egyptian mummy cases, coins, and more. 

Make Historical Figures Come Alive

Kids love being kings and knights, and you should let them be. And when it comes to attractions of the historical figures, London is the perfect city to visit. You see, children connect with people and will be more interested in hearing about the fabulous military expeditions of different kings and how knights slay dragons.

You can add different role-playing opportunities for children at destinations like the Tower of London or Kensington Gardens. Ask them to imagine a knight preparing for battle with a beast or a king on a military campaign. Now you can just relax, as kids can go on about their adventures with a backdrop of historical buildings and surrounded by thousands of stories.

Plan For Short Attention Span

We often forget that kids have a much shorter attention span of 15-20 minutes in a single activity. As said earlier, you do not have to force them with you on a destination spree per day, as it can greatly impact their health too. You can choose 2 to 3 highlights at a few historical sites to keep their attention hooked instead of making things boring.

Also, make sure to add snacks, juices, and outdoor time to boost the energy and confidence in young children. For instance, the British Museum features a beautiful Great Court along with a cafe to recharge with your family. Taking breaks not only allows everyone to restore their energy levels but also allows kids to absorb everything that they have learned throughout the day.

Final Words

Travelling with kids for history-themed tourism requires careful planning and creativity to create a learning experience. Since kids can get bored really quickly, you will have to make the tourism activity instead of a passive exploration. 

You do not have to make your kids interested in history in a day. Start with a small and creative willingness to generate curiosity for different kingdoms and ancient adventures among them. And do not forget to document these with family photography and travel journals throughout the trip.