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TAKING THE KIDS TO LONDON Britain’s Capital is a Brilliant Vacation Destination
By Leah Ingram

Thanks to Harry Potter’s popularity it didn’t take much to convince my 10- and 12-year-old daughters that we would have a smashing good time in London. From Harry Potter tourist attractions to the Tower of London, we discovered London is magical for Muggles like us and filled with spellbinding places.

Wild About Harry

It was at the Kings Cross Railway station where Harry and other Hogwarts students caught the Hogwarts Express. Keen-eyed Potter lovers will recognize the place where Harry first sees Ron Weasley and his siblings disappearing through a brick wall on their way to Platform 9 3/4. You’ll discover the real-life version of Platform 9 3/4—or at least part of it—between the entrances to Platforms 9 and 10 at the station. And you’ll want to have your camera ready for the half a luggage cart embedded in the wall under a sign reading “Platform 9 3/4.”

Other recognizable Potter sites in London include:

1. The Reptile House at the London Zoo where Harry learned he could speak to a boa constrictor in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. (FYI, in England, they call it the “Philosopher’s Stone.”)

2. Leadenhall Market in the city’s financial district through which Harry and Hagrid walk together in the first movie on their way to Diagon Alley to get Harry his school “supplies.”

3. Oxford University, about 90 minutes outside London, is also a must-visit for Harry Potter fans. Upon entering the dining hall at Christ Church College at the esteemed University, you’ll immediately notice its uncanny resemblance to the dining hall at Hogwarts, minus the floating chandeliers and flittering-about ghost spirits.

Sights & Frights

Voldemort hasn’t got anything on the likes of King Henry the VIII, who used the Tower of London for executing his wives and others. The Tower, really a walled castle on the banks of the River Thames, is a place of death, but thanks to the amusing antics of the Beefeaters or Yeomans, who act as your free tour guides, you might actually find some humor in all of this gore.

Our Yeoman met us at the Tower’s front gates and proceeded to tell us about all of the people who’d lost their heads, literally, on the Tower Green. Once farther inside the castle walls, he pointed out Beauchamp (pronounced Beech-um) Tower, death row to the likes of Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey. He described in excruciating detail how many swings of the axe it took to behead some of the “stubborn” prisoners, making my kids wince and giggle simultaneously. He also suggested we check out the graffiti these prisoners had carved into the walls during their time there. Nothing like seeing graffiti tags from death row inmates from 500 years ago.

Even spookier was finding someone with my family name. Wonder what he’d done to land himself there. For those with a strong constitution, the Tower’s torture dungeon is a must. On the softer side, the Tower is home to England’s crown jewels—the real shiny stuff, not someone’s anatomy—including the finery that Queen Elizabeth II wore at her 1953 coronation. Give yourself plenty of time to explore the Tower of London. We arrived late in the day and when we had to leave more than two hours later, because the Tower was closing, there was still lots more we wanted to see.

Other notable sights to add to your London itinerary include:

1. The British Airways’ London Eye, which is really a giant Ferris wheel. Situated on the banks of the Thames, it provides a birds’ eye view of London, including Big Ben and Parliament. A revolution inside one of the Eye’s glassed-in pods takes about 30 minutes. Get there early in the day or you’ll wait on line longer than it will take you for your flight or, as they call it, a ride.

2. The kids will love playing at Princess Diana Memorial Playground’s Peter Pan replica structures, including Hook’s boat and a collection of teepees. (Peter Pan’s creator, JM Barrie, lived nearby.)

3. Big Bus Tour ( www.bigbus.co.uk ), a hop-on, hop-off bus throughout London, it’s an excellent way to spend your first day getting your bearings. Opt for the top-level seating of this double-decker bus, even if it’s raining (they’ll provide free rain ponchos).

Learn The Lingo

Part of the fun of visiting London was learning the terms the British use to describe things. Here is a quick glossary to help cut down on your confusion:

subway: underground pedestrian walkway; take away: take out, as in food; car park: garage; mac: raincoat/rain poncho; still water: regular “flat” water; way out: exit; mobile: cell phone; chips: French fries; crisps: potato chips; push chair: stroller; roundabout/circus: traffic circle.

Text and photos by Leah Ingram of New Hope, Pa. She is the author of 12 books, including “Gifts Anytime: How to Find the Perfect Present for Any Occasion,” “The Everything Etiquette Book: A Modern Day Guide to Good Manners,” and “Tie the Knot on a Shoestring.” For more information about Leah’s work, check out