Taking the Kids: Following in the footsteps of royalty
Just don't expect to get anywhere near where the royals live -- just as you won't get anywhere near the private quarters in the White House. Having visited both, I think Kensington Palace, one of Britain's Historic Royal Palaces, is a lot more fun with daily interactive adventures with a character from history (and a special Family Trail scavenger hunt (download the app before you visit or pick one up when you arrive).
Anyone who has ever visited historic homes with kids knows it's a lot more fun when the kids are engaged. (Come the last Sunday of every month for Storytastic Sunday with Make History workshops, special activity bags and, of course, stories. If you plan to visit many of London's top attractions, consider a London Pass, which gets you more than half off on top attractions and allows you to bypass the lines).
Fun fact: During the 18th century, no one could leave the king without permission -- not even to go to the bathroom. Some ladies carried a tiny chamber pot they could use under their huge skirts.
Queen Victoria grew up at Kensington Palace. She later described her childhood as lonely and unhappy as she wasn't permitted to play with other kids or even sleep in a room by herself. Her dolls -- more than 100 -- were supposedly substitutes for playmates.
Ask your kids how they would have liked that -- and then to suddenly become a very powerful queen at age 18. The "Victoria Revealed," exhibit tells the story of the woman who transformed Britain during her 63-year reign with displays of things she loved, from her big doll house to the spectacular jewels given to her by her beloved Prince Albert.
"Diana: Her Fashion Story," featuring some of Princess Diana's most iconic outfits, continues to sell out. Garden tours are also popular, though the kids will like just running around the expansive grounds, especially if you've got more castles on the agenda.
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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow "taking the kids" on www.twitter.com, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. Looks for Eileen's new travel book "The Kids' Guide to Maine," available now.)
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