First of all, all these London posts are horrifically overdue. I'm talking a year overdue. We visited London for the first time together in Easter 2016, so that's why Smix looks younger in the photos.

All my photos were stuck on my old iPhone 4, and I've finally got the first visit transferred to my iPad Pro to actually be able to share them. Then I've to try to get August 2015's visit moved over too!

Anyway, the reason I wanted to blog was to share with you the things we got up to on our visit. A family friendly guide to a break in London, what's worth spending money on and what's a rip off? Will your child even be interested in the event or tour you've booked? If it's the London Duck Tours, then the answer is yes- they'll love it.

I had been to London a handful of times over the years, but this was Smix's first time there, so I thought starting with a tour to see the sights would be handy.

We got our train from Gatwick airport into London, then to Waterloo, the nearest station to the Duck Tours terminal. It's on the road beside the London Eye, so if you just leave the station and walk towards the Eye, which you can't miss, you'll find the Duck Tours.

They advise booking online, which means you will definitely get a tour on the day of your visit, however if you want to try last minute you can always purchase a ticket at the depot. Prices are adult £27, child £19 or family £79. The tour isn't recommended for under-3s, but at the same time there was no reason I saw that a sleeping baby couldn't come on board, and it's up to yourself to decide that sort of thing. Luggage and prams are stowed at the depot for you to collect on your return.

Your duck tour lasts about 75 minutes, with 30 minutes on the river. You have a driver and a tour guide. Our tour guide was very jolly & joked with us during the tour.

You'll get to see many of the best tourist sights, including Westminster, Big Ben, Trafalger Square and The Ritz. Smix was excited because the guide pointed out a location from the Paddington movie.

Then it's time to hit the water. This is the exciting part. You approach the muddy, brown water beside the huge MI5 & MI6 buildings and splash!

You drive slowly through the water past the huge MI5 building. If you are a major James Bond fan, there is a special Bond themed tour you can take with them too.

You won't get wet, but if you are wary you can zip close the windows beside your seats. You can get some amazing photos of the sights from the river, that you wouldn't be able to photograph otherwise.

The tour concludes with a sneaky peek at Buckingham Palace from the side.

So is the tour worth going on? If you have kids aged six and up, it's a total yes. You cover many of the big tourist spots that a regular bus tour would hit, but you have the added novelty of taking to the river. The tour guides are funny, engaging and make the trip educational for all.

I would definitely recommend Duck Tours, and I would most likely go again if Smix wanted to give it a whirl around river next time we visit too.

So much to do, so little time! Smix & I have booked an overnight stay in London for Easter time. I've been three times since he was born, but he's never came along with me.

Because I went a few times (blog award trips), he has always associated London with fantastical toys. This is because I would bring him a quirky toy each time, something he couldn't see in the shops here.

So I knew he would be excited at the idea of going himself, but I wasn't quite ready for the reaction I got. we were driving away from school and he wound his window down and yelled 'I'm going to London' to anyone he knew. You'd think no-one had ever been on holiday before.

Then he came home and built some London landmarks in Minecraft PE. I've also been bombarded with questions such as, 'How long are days in London?' & 'Do they use paper money for £1 or coins like us?'. Godlovehim.

This is why I DO have to take him places. We never travelled as a family before the separation- we went to Paris Disney paid for by my parents for a huge trip for my Dad's 60th, 4 1/2 years ago, and any local overnights were sought by me in a blogging exchange fashion. I remember my parents took us to Portugal every year for a fortnight- it seems everyone's families could afford that back in the 80s. Travel broadens the mind they say, so one of my attempts of being a good parent is to make sure Smix gets to see more than just NI. My circumstances don't allow for more than two days mind you. The M.E. is going to hit me like a tonne of bricks after this, I know that. But Smix's knowledge is worth it, and I'm hardly complaining about having a holiday either!

So I have some ideas of tourist attractions to definitely include, but locals or other parents- I would love any advice or tips offs on lesser known events or novelty restaurants. Let me know on Twitter @rudedoodle or just shoot me a mail kitschandink@me.com

Oh! Also is The Shard suitable for kids or would they be bored?

Thanks!