KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT VACATIONING IN U.K.

From medieval castles to horseback riding, there’s a lot to do, writes Rick Steves.

Imagine being a kid forced to spend a big part of your summer vacation with robo-tourist Rick Steves (alias Dad). My kids Jackie and Andy did that a lot when they were young. I always considered it a great education for them, but they also had a lot of fun. One of their favourite destinations, Britain, enthralled them with colourful pageantry and evocative historical sights. Here’s what impressed them the most.

In London, the Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard features stone-faced, red-coated, bearskin-hatted sentries changing posts with much fanfare. Kids are particularly fascinated by the Horse Guards, with their colourful dismounting ceremony. At the Tower of London, the Beefeater tour plays off kids in a fun way — mine were captivated by the medieval knight who demonstrated sword fighting tactics, nearly killing his squire. The crown jewels are awesome, and youngsters love the giant dragon made out of old weapons.

For a little cultural history, visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, learn about how and why it was built to replicate the original from 1600, then take in a show. My kids loved the “groundling” tickets; we saw the play right up front, our elbows on the stage.

All around Britain, openair folk museums are fun and enlightening — a magic carpet ride through a culture’s past. Durham’s 300-acre Beamish Museum, which re-creates life in northeast England during the 1820s, 1900s and 1940s, is the best museum of its type. It takes at least three hours to explore the various sections: 1900s Pit Village and Colliery (a coal-mining settlement with an actual mine), 1900s Town (a street lined with real shops), 1820s Pockerley (a “gentleman farmer’s” manor house, church, and garden), and a 1940s Farm.

Castles are another slice of history popular with the younger set. Just north of Stratford-uponAvon, you’ll find England’s single most spectacular castle: Warwick. This medieval masterpiece, which has been turned into a virtual theme park, is extremely touristy — but it’s also historical and fun, and may well be Britain’s most kid-friendly experience. It’s a fairy-tale fortress that’s entertaining from dungeon to lookout. Kids love the costumed docents who perform fantastic demonstrations of medieval weapons.

Edinburgh Castle is another fascinating and multi-faceted place where you can walk the ramparts, see old-time military gear, and ogle the stunning crown jewels of Scotland. There’s also plenty of ghostly history in Scotland’s capital city. A variety of companies lead spooky walks around town, providing an entertaining and affordable night out for the whole family. For a peek at Edinburgh’s gritty, plague-ridden past, join a costumed performer on The Real Mary King’s Close, an hour-long trip through an excavated underground street near the Royal Mile.

My kids’ favourite outdoor experience was guided horseback riding through the Cotswolds, as Brits have been doing for centuries. They also enjoyed taking tractor rides at the Cotswold Farm Park, which houses endangered breeds of native British animals. The Cotswold Falconry Centre has dozens of eagles, falcons, owls and other birds, and a hair-raising demonstration, with birds of prey swooping a few centimetres above your head.

To show the kids a lesserknown side of Britain’s past, visit Blackpool, a resort town that grew up with the Industrial Revolution. In the mid-1800s, entire mill towns would close down and take a two-week break here. Now it’s a faded and sticky mix of Coney Island, Las Vegas, and Denny’s. Some people love it — among them, my kids — and others hate it.

With so much history and tradition to discover, taking your kids to Britain is an unforgettable vacation. Plus the kids get to take home a great souvenir — a better grasp of the richness of history and a deeper understanding of the vastness of our world. In my book, that’s good parenting.