Here at Tours for My Kids we are offering a series of introductory, illustrated talks for children, families and adults. They will introduce London (Rome talks are available on request) if you are planning a visit, but they also provide interesting historical and human ideas and themes which are of interest to all ages.
Have a look through the list and see if anything interests you. And if you would like anything else, then do contact us and we can see what we can do for you!
Crime and Punishment in London
In this rather gory talk we will find out about prisons, executions, punishments and torture in London through the ages. It is not, we’ll be honest, for the faint-hearted, but it is fascinating to hear about the darker side of London, and it might make lockdown and your comfortable sitting room feel a bit more luxurious! And it is not all bad – we will also hear about celebrity criminals in the 18th century like the famous highwayman Jack Sheppard, and we will find out about the creation of the Metropolitan Police – which changed the face of crime in the capital.
(Image: William Harrison Ainsworth, from The Tower of London. Illustrated by George Cruikshank. 1854 (British Library Digital Store 12619.g.31))
London Stories…
In this talk you will be told some of the most famous stories from London’s history, so sit back and enjoy the foundation legends of London, the dramatic story of Boudicca (she’s the warrior woman in the picture) who rose up against the might of Ancient Rome, the story of Dick Whittington who was told he would become Lord Mayor of London three times and, of course, the epic tale of the Great Fire of London. Grab a hot chocolate, get comfy and listen to some storytelling!
(Image: John Tomlinson, after Thomas Stothard, Queen Boadicea, torch in hand at the head of her troops, at the city wall, 1803 (© The Trustees of the British Museum)
Secrets of the City of London
This is an introductory talk on the fascinating secrets of the City of London – we will find little sculptures, works of art, we’ll explore the Guildhall which is the centre of governance for the City, and we’ll discover Roman London and search out bits of the Roman Wall. We will also hear about some of the hidden traditions of the City of London; what happened to animals during World War II, and meet some interesting people along the way!
(Image: Claude de Jongh, View of London Bridge, 1632, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Fund, B2005.4)
A Day out in London! Seeing the Highlights
This illustrated talk will take you on a virtual highlights tour of London, exploring some of the must see sites, which serves as an excellent introduction to a visit to London! We will take a River cruise down the Thames and pass by some iconic sites of London - Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Tate Modern, The London Eye and The Houses of Parliament, popping off the virtual boat to see Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Changing of the Guard. On the way we'll find out about the sites, history and people that make London such a fascinating city to explore!