Kids in London - Duck Tours for fun learning about London

This had been on my (and my daughter's) list of things to do for a couple of years now and we finally got round to it last weekend.

We arrived promptly just behind the London Eye for our tour. We were riding on Mistress Quickly (all seven ducks are named after Shakespearian women). We started off in Pedler's Quay and were told the story of how some poor bloke found some Roman coins there and became rich.

As we crossed over the river we were given a fast history of London which was founded in 1100 BC as New Troy and renamed Ludum in 130BC (now we know the origins of the name Ludgate where apparently this chap was laid to rest). We learned that London Bridge was built first and then taken past the statue of Boddica who led the rebellion against the Romans and where 70,000 people were killed. Our tour guide told us that many of these were Londoners so she was not sure why we still considered her a heroine!

By Big Ben (and we heard the story of how the great bell in St Stephen's Tower got its name) she pointed out London's first traffic lights and in Parliament Square she pointed out the new statue of Nelson Mandela. We waved at Brian who has a protest camp. We went along Whitehall to see the Centotaph and the lesser known Women's War Memorial ("You can tell it's for the women as it is covered in hats, shows and bags"). At the tour guide's encouragement we all waved frantically at the Horseguards - who didn't wave back.

As we drove through Trafalgar Square our incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide explained how the guy who carved the lion statues had used dogs body (a whippet!) models under a lion's head and noted that the statue of Charles I marked the very centre of London.

Down Pall Mall we peered at all the gentlemen's clubs and heard about Margaret Thatcher being the first woman being allowed into the Institute of Directors in 1979. And we all joined in with the nursery rhyme as we passed the statue of the Grand Old Duke of York. Then we passed St James Palace but no one Royal was home. As we turned up towards Piccadilly we saw White's Club where Prince Charles had his stag night and the Earl of Sandwich famously created our favourite snack food. We were told that tea in the Ritz was £35 and that they cut the crusts off and learned the competing stories for why there are no flower beds in Green Park.

We passed the first Hard Rock Cafe and saw Apsley House which has the address of "No 1 London" and the angel on the top of Marble Arch which is apparently the largest bronze statue. There were tales about intruders as we drove along the walled gardens of Buckingham Palace (and its 300 bedrooms) and waved at the soldiers at Wellington Barracks.

Along Millbank we saw the MI5 building and heard stories about how the tradition of red carpets started at Tate Britain in Queen Victoria's time. And then, near Vauxhall Bridge - and MI5, our driver was replaced by a Thames Waterman and we plunged into the Thames.

I'd always thought that the lion's heads holding rings were for mooring, but was told that they were tidal markers and various sayings "When the lion drinks, London sinks" were described.

Our duck (which were originally used in the D Day landings) was quite noisy in the water so we were left to admire the views of the Houses of Parliament, the Royal Doulton Tunnels and the underside of Lambeth Bridge. We looked at Millbank Pier and tried to see the dolphin that it was designed to emulate. Interestinly, the guide explained how the "Prisoners of Millbank" (POM)were what gave the Australians their name for Brits.

Leaving the water we journeyed up through Vauxhall (and learned why tube stations in Russia are called Vauxhalls) and passed Lambeth Palace where the Archbishop of Canterbury resides. Then past St Thomas' hospital with the stories of Florence Nightingale and finally across Waterloo Bridge which was apparently built by women during the war.

We had a great time. The tour guide and drivers were really friendly and fun. Despite being a born and bred Londoner, I learned loads about the City. And my daughter found the whole thing exciting and interesting - and she laughed a lot too at all the stories. So this is a treat that I recommend heartily to those with kids. A truck that also goes into the water - and brings London history to life.

Ticket prices are £19 for adults and £13 for kids but they do a family ticket (2 adults and 2 kids under 12) for £57.50.