Take the Kids England

Surprisingly, there is not a wealth of published information available advising people of things to do to keep your kids happy while on vacation to the UK. This book seemed to cover the basics: where to stay, what to see, where to eat, where to seek help for medical problems. It touched on customs and traditions as well. I would like to see more books like this available so we grandparents could entertain the children and make travel across the pond enjoyable for them while being a good ambassador to the USA.

We have two toddlers, ages 3 & 4. We take this book whenever we set out on a trip around England. It's so helpful to find child-friendly restaurants (not all pubs will allow children because of alcohol license restrictions), free parks, and fun activities for the kids. Let's face it, even though I could spend a day touring a museum or castle, that's not exactly the kids' favorite activity. We've found petting zoos, nature parks, playgrounds and great restaurants with this book. It's easy to reference and not a bad size for throwing in a tote bag. It's made our days out much more child friendly!

This is a great must-have for those who are planning to take their kids on a trip to England. Whether this is your first time or a repeat visit, this book is invaluable. This excellent Cadogan Guidebook has chock full of up-to-date information on family-friendly sites. This includes attraction descriptions, costs, hours of operation and tips on how to get there. There are also tips on whether sites have special amenities for babies/toddlers. Each section (chapter) is divided according to geographic location - London, the southwest, south, Thames Valley, etc. The authors also rate their favorite or highly recommended spots. As a frequent visitor to the UK, I marvel at how much ground they cover. Everything from gardens, historic buildings, palaces, castles, zoos, parks, amusement centers, beaches, kid-friendly restaurants and shopping areas are covered in great detail. My only complaint with this book is that it is almost completely text - no pictures and few maps. However, the book itself is almost 2 inches thick which really does show how much ground this book covers. This book is an excellent resource for what to see and do on your upcoming trip. If you're into visuals, then I recommend that you get this book and the Eyewitness Great Britain guide. If you're planning to spend most of your time in London and only a couple of days in the countryside, then pick up the London version of this book instead. However, if you're planning to spend a lot of time trekking around London and the English countryside, this and the Eyewitness Guide combined should put you on your way to planning and enjoying a fun-filled family trip to England.

I bought this book two years ago and have now taken it on two trips to England. It's full of really useful information and well organized. It had recommendations regarding places that other books skipped entirely - like Colchester which our family loved. There was not a single place we went to or considered going to that wasn't included, with an accurate overview and kid specific information. Definitely worthwhile.