DID you know that Buckingham Palace has its own cinema, post office and even a mini bank?
I didn’t. Nor did the handful of punters and their kids behind me, who were now all gawping with fascination at the extravagant building from their shiny bus seats.
Claim 25% off children’s tickets for the The Original London Kids Tour
The royal premises is certainly a spectacular sight to behold with its grand curved arches and towering bronze statue.
And we’ve got one of the best views in town: from the upper deck of an open-roofed London bus.
The Original’s London Kids Bus Tour may be aimed at youngsters, but there are enough juicy facts in there to keep adults hooked on their guide’s every word as they tour the capital’s most recognisable landmarks.
And right now Sun readers can save 25% on children’s tickets by clicking here, with ages two and under going free.
In just under an hour, my niece and I had ticked off Big Ben, Downing Street, the London Eye, and of course the residence of King Charles.
His Majesty wasn’t at home, though. “You can tell from the flag’s position,” our guide explains. “If it’s flying high, he’s in the building.”
That’s one fact I did know.
We also learned the stories behind the four grand lion statues in Trafalgar square and how Nelson’s Column was built to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, hundreds of years ago.
Facts were cleverly sandwiched between fun sightseeing tasks for kids, like spotting the golden pineapples on top of Lambeth Bridge.
Kids had to use their noggins, too, to answer age-appropriate quiz questions such as: “What’s the name of that big clock over there?”
Claim 25% off children’s tickets for the The Original London Kids Tour
I’ll give you one guess as to where our guide was pointing.
And just as we were gazing up at the mighty Big Ben he roared into action, bellowing his tuneful chime.
That’s the other brilliant thing about these tours, each one is perfectly-timed to include key moments like this.
On top of Big Ben’s gong, we heard the merry jingle from Fortnum & Mason’s grand clock on Piccadilly and watched from a distance as visitors piled into pods on the mighty London Eye.
“That is SO high,” my niece squealed, pointing excitedly at the big wheel.
This monument is actually taller than Big Ben, our guide highlights. Those trivia facts just keep on coming.
When we clamber off after an exhilarating hour, a free activity booklet will keep kids faces from going sour.
It’s loaded with mini tasks like spot the difference, word searches and dot-to-dots, all leaning on their new-found knowledge of the capital.
Something to keep them busy while parents grab a coffee.
I can’t think of a better way to see the sights, either, than from the comfort of a classic red double-decker (don’t panic, the upper deck is partially roofed for when the weather takes a turn).
There’s plenty of space on board, too.
We were visiting on a maximum-capacity day and there were still lots of free seats scattered around.
At £24pp it’s cracking value, too. And now you can bag yourself an even bigger discount, with 25% off children’s tickets.
The best part? You can also claim seven other freebies as part of the offer.
Your ticket for The Original Tour also includes a Hop-On Hop-Off River Thames cruise, where you can soak up the sights from the water.
Plus you’ll get access to six self-guided walking tours via The Original Tour’s partner app.
That’s three ways to see London for the price of one – all of which are child-friendly, hassle-free and put together by experts.
Claim 25% off children’s tickets for the The Original London Kids Tour
Prices correct at the time of publication.