Published 10th Sep. 2024
Reading time
Despite our little ones’ protests, education doesn’t have to be boring. Fill holidays with the right amount of hands-on activities, interactive tours and ancient wonders, and watch as learning is brought to life (without them even knowing it). With the help of children’s party people, Sharky & George, we discovered exactly what your youngsters want from a family holiday – and it came with a healthy dose of adventure and immersive fun. So, read on to discover our favourite holidays that’ll blow your little ones’ minds.
From mummified Halloween costumes to Indiana Jones’ adventures, our little ones know a thing or two about ancient Egypt. Satisfy curiosities and transform fiction into fact with a holiday cruising down the Nile aboard the Steam Ship Sudan, stopping at legendary sites along the way. Marvel at the Pyramids of Giza and say hello to the Sphinx, get stuck into hieroglyphic workshops and travel back in time at the Valley of the Kings. Between learning facts on land, relax on board the historic steamboat as it sails from Luxor to Aswan.
During our family event with Sharky & George, when asked what they wanted to see on holiday, 45% of the youngsters said wildlife – and most importantly, the bigger, the better. Whisk the family away to Africa, where games of 'I Spy' swap road signs for rhinos as you embark on guided game drives through Kenya's Maasai Mara or Tanzania's Serengeti. After spotting the Big Five, visit wildlife centres to learn about the importance of conservation and how we can all help to support local efforts.
Raising a budding geologist? Watch as screen times dip to zero (except for those all-important photos) during an epic volcanic expedition to Iceland. Plunge into steaming geothermal pools at the Blue Lagoon before visiting The LAVA Centre, an interactive museum with 360-degree views of Hekla, Katla and Eyjafjallajokull (three of the country’s largest volcanoes). As you journey through Iceland, little and large explorers will gain a deeper appreciation for Iceland's dynamic geology and the forces shaping our planet.
Image by Jean Bernard Desbat.
Dive into the world of gripping Greek mythology on a holiday to ancient Athens. During a private tour of the city, marvel at the most important sites like the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora, asking your clued-up guide any burning questions on mythological history. You can’t know a country without knowing its food, so afterwards, reward hungry stomachs with some hearty Greek gastronomy.
Written by Evie Buller | Header Image by Pie Aerts
Practical advice and inspiration for your next trip
With four teenagers in or entering sixth form, my family have noticed firsthand that A Level study demands not just recall but interpretation. The jump from GCSE to A Level is substantial; essays are longer, critical thinking matters much more and independent evaluation is rewarded. Several experts suggest that examiners across AQA, Edexcel and OCR consistently reward students who demonstrate awareness of competing perspectives, real-world examples and a confident grasp of context.
26th March 2026 - Family Travel
With four teenagers currently moving through the GCSE and A Level years in our household, we have become mildly obsessed with the idea of the ‘incremental gain’. Not in a hot-housing sense. More in the way that any decent sports coach knows that small, cumulative advantages often show up where it matters – in the final scoreline. Because one thing becomes very clear very quickly when you have children doing GCSEs and A Levels across AQA, Edexcel and OCR:
24th March 2026 - Family Travel
It’s no secret that we’re strong advocates of a family sabbatical, so amid the downpours of February, we were delighted to host an event at the Royal Academy discussing just that. Bringing together Thomasina Miers of Wahaca, Walter Kerr of Oppidan Education and, of course, our very own Tom Barber, the event opened the floor for a practical and frank conversation about the best way to take a sabbatical with your children.
26th February 2026 - Family Travel
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
