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Traveling to iconic cities like London, Paris, or Rome can be a transformative experience, especially for those who are curious about history, culture, and the rich stories embedded in every corner of these cities. When my family and I visited London and Paris a couple of years ago, I realized that the enjoyment we derived from the trip was not just from seeing the famous landmarks, but from the stories and history we had immersed ourselves in advance. It’s easy to see a city like London as “just another stop,” but when you prepare, learn, and educate yourself about the destinations you’re visiting, the trip becomes far more enriching.

It reminds me of something I often tell my kids and something I used to share with my students: you don’t need to know how a computer works to use it or how a car engine operates to drive. But when you do understand these things, you marvel at what the technology can accomplish. The same goes for traveling. You don’t have to learn about a city before visiting in order to enjoy it. You can still admire the sights, taste the food, and take in the atmosphere. However, when you take the time to educate yourself beforehand, you gain a much deeper appreciation for the places you visit. It’s like unlocking a whole new layer of experience. You start to notice the little details that others might miss, the significance of a statue, the history behind a street name, or the reason why certain architectural styles were favored at certain times. This level of understanding can transform a trip from a simple sightseeing tour into an engaging adventure, where every corner tells a story, and every step deepens your connection to the past and the present.

This perspective on traveling stood in stark contrast to a recent conversation I had with a friend who traveled from London to Ireland and Scotland. She mentioned that while London was “okay,” she found the beauty of the Irish and Scottish landscapes far more captivating. Of course, the rugged beauty of Scotland and the stunning coasts of Ireland are undeniable. However, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much my own experience of London had been shaped by the history I knew and shared with my family before our trip in 2022. Traveling to cities like London or Paris is about more than just seeing the sights; it’s about connecting with the stories that lie behind them. For that matter, any city in the world, whether it’s a well-known European capital or a smaller town, has its own history, background, and unique things to learn. Exploring these hidden layers can enrich your travel experience, no matter where you go.

Preparing for Our Journey

Before we embarked on our trip, I made sure to educate my kids about the rich history of both London and Paris. Our son, a fan of Agatha Christie and the Poirot TV series available on Britbox, was thrilled to explore the city where many of her mysteries were set. As a special surprise, I purchased tickets to see The Mousetrap, the world’s longest-running play, which has been captivating audiences in London since 1952. The performance we attended was the 28,914th, and as we sat in the audience at St. Martin’s Theatre in London’s West End, I turned to my kids and said, “Do you know how many famous people have come here and enjoyed the same play you’re watching tonight?” It made the experience even more special for them, knowing they were part of a long tradition shared by generations of theatergoers. And like millions before us, we also needed to figure out who the killer was before the end of the play!

We also dove deep into the world of Sherlock Holmes, preparing to visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street, which was conveniently just around the corner from the Airbnb where we stayed. But our historical journey didn’t stop with fictional detectives. While crossing the Thames for the first time near Big Ben and Westminster Palace, I shared with my kids the story of Julius Caesar’s historic crossing of the river. Though the actual crossing is believed to have taken place farther upstream, near what is now modern-day Kingston or Brentford, the story added a magical layer to our experience, connecting us to the river’s long and rich history. 

Every Corner Has a Story

London is a city where history echoes through every train station, every bus stop, and every iconic building. One of the highlights of our visit was walking down Abbey Road, the legendary street where The Beatles recorded their famous album. This walk was charged with anticipation after years of listening to The Beatles, and just before the trip, we had watched the documentary Get Back on Disney+, which only deepened our appreciation for the cultural significance of the city and the history of such an iconic rock band.

Another wonderful experience was walking into Trafalgar Square, a place that held special meaning for my kids because months earlier, we had completed a Lego set of the square together. Seeing it in real life was thrilling, but the excitement didn’t end there. We went inside the National Gallery, exploring the very building we had constructed as a model, and admired works by Leonardo da Vinci. They particularly enjoyed The Virgin of the Rocks and The Burlington House Cartoon, masterpieces they knew well, as they had already developed an interest in Leonardo from the book I wrote about him a few years ago. This connection to both the art and the experience made the visit even more meaningful for them.

Another incredible stop was Westminster Abbey, one of the most historic and beautiful buildings in the city. Walking through its halls, we marveled at the stunning architecture and the burial sites of numerous famous historical figures, from monarchs to poets. My kids, always curious, were fascinated by the stories of kings and queens who had been crowned and laid to rest there, sparking questions about British history and tradition. They were especially struck by the sight of the Coronation Chair, which at first glance seems like just an old wooden chair, but it is the centuries of royal coronations that have taken place on it that truly make it a throne.

As we strolled through the Soho neighborhood, I made sure to point out the replica of a historic water pump on the corner of Broad Street and Cambridge Street. It was at this very spot in 1854 that physician John Snow discovered the source of a deadly cholera outbreak. I told my kids how Snow’s quick thinking (convincing officials to remove the pump handle) saved countless lives and led to global efforts to improve sanitation. This simple water pump marked a major turning point in public health, a reminder that even small, unnoticed places can hold deep historical significance.

Our journey also took us next to London Bridge, where I couldn’t resist singing the old nursery rhyme and explaining to my kids how the bridge has stood as a testament to the city’s resilience through centuries of rebuilding and reinvention. Each iteration of the bridge has played its part in London’s story, connecting both sides of the Thames through the ages. I also told them about the Great Fire of London in 1666, when much of the city was destroyed quickly due to the wooden materials used in construction at the time. Although London Bridge itself survived, the surrounding areas were heavily impacted by the fire.

One of the most fascinating stops was the Tower of London. Walking through the ancient walls where so much history (both grim and fascinating) had unfolded felt almost surreal. My kids were particularly captivated by the idea of the Crown Jewels, and we found ourselves diving into a conversation about British royalty, the significance of the regalia, and the many rulers who had lived and died within the fortress. King Henry VIII, with his dramatic reign and many wives, has always fascinated me personally, but I kept those details to myself, thinking they might be a bit too gruesome to share with my kids. The Tower’s imposing presence left an indelible mark on us all, reminding us of the often turbulent history of England’s monarchs. My youngest son was especially excited to visit, as the Minions movie, which we had watched before the trip, features a thrilling heist at the Tower, with the minion Bob becoming king after pulling out the Sword in the Stone (also a Disney Movie we watched before the trip), making the experience even more memorable for him. Of course, he also knows that the Sword in the Stone is part of the myth of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, a story that has fascinated generations but isn’t based on historical fact.

A lesser-known but equally captivating stop was the Roman Gallery at the Bloomberg London building, where we learned about the excavation of Roman artifacts. Among the discoveries were ancient wax writing tablets, including 405 fragments found on the site. My kids were fascinated by the idea that these ancient tablets, some dating as far back as January AD 57, contained financial and legal records from Roman Londoners. I told them how these artifacts provide a unique glimpse into the lives of people who lived in the city almost 2,000 years ago, connecting us to a distant past that still echoes through modern London. Not to mention the wonderful day spent at that British Museum with its wonderful exhibitions, including the Rosetta Stone and the Egyptian Mummy collection.

Each of these moments, from historic buildings to small corners of the city, added layers of richness to our experience. London, with its vast history, became a living classroom where every step we took told a new story.

From Fish and Chips to Meat Pies

It wasn’t just the famous landmarks that captured our attention, the everyday culture of London became a source of fascination as well. Stopping for fish and chips became a regular event, and I shared with my kids the story of how this simple dish became a staple of British cuisine, tied to the country’s maritime history and the rich fishing grounds of the North Sea. The cod and haddock we ate were once abundant in the North Sea, and the development of Britain’s fishing industry made fish and chips an accessible and affordable meal. Sitting in a traditional British pub, eating meat pies, bangers, and mash, felt like a culinary journey through history, and it was another experience that we really enjoyed.

One morning, we treated ourselves to a classic English breakfast at E. Pellicci, a family-run café in East London with a long history dating back to 1900. The place has been serving its legendary Full English Breakfast for generations, and its enormous portions left my kids wide-eyed with amazement. Our plates were piled high with eggs, beans, toast, sausages, and the quintessential black pudding. As we sat there enjoying our meal, I shared with my kids the history of the café and the working-class neighborhood it’s located in. For many years, locals would start their day with a big meal here before heading off to do hard manual labor, or sometimes, it would be the only meal they’d have after finishing a long shift. The café’s rich history and hearty food provided the perfect setting to reflect on how meals like this connect people to the past, and it made the experience all the more meaningful for us. By the way, the service is amazing, and they make you feel like part of the family. London’s sights, sounds, and flavors were part of a larger story, and sharing that story with my kids turned every meal into an educational experience.

More Than Just a Train Ride

Another memorable moment of our trip was taking the Eurostar from London to Paris. I shared with my kids that this incredible train reaches speeds of up to 186 miles per hour (300 km/h), making it one of the fastest ways to travel between these two iconic cities. They were even more amazed when I told them that part of our journey would take us under the English Channel through the Channel Tunnel, an engineering marvel stretching over 31 miles (50 km) beneath the sea. I explained that the tunnel took six years to build, from 1988 to its completion in 1994, and required over 13,000 workers to make it a reality. Sadly, during this immense project, ten workers lost their lives, a sobering reminder of the dangers involved in such ambitious engineering feats. I compared this to the construction of Roman aqueducts, which also involved incredible feats of engineering, like the Pont du Gard in France, built nearly 2,000 years ago to transport water across great distances. Just as the Romans pushed the boundaries of what was possible in their time, the Channel Tunnel represents modern engineering’s triumph over natural obstacles. My kids could hardly believe we were traveling underwater, and it made the experience all the more exciting.

Before we boarded, we visited King’s Cross Station, where we took pictures at the famous Platform 9¾ from the Harry Potter books. My kids were thrilled to experience a bit of the magic firsthand. Afterward, we walked over to St. Pancras International, where the Eurostar actually departs. They were excited to recognize the beautiful exterior of the station, which was used in the Harry Potter films as the backdrop for the Hogwarts Express. This connection to the magical world made the journey even more special for them.

Before arriving in Paris, I made sure to share the historical significance of the sites we were about to visit. From the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame (which was closed due to renovation due to the recent fire), we read about their construction, their cultural importance, and their connection to the history of France. The kids were especially interested in the Louvre, home to some of the world’s most famous art, and we spent hours wandering its halls, admiring masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and comparing the other version of The Virgin of the Rocks to the one we had seen in London’s National Gallery. For many experts, the Louvre’s version is considered the superior of the two, as it showcases Leonardo’s mastery of the sfumato technique at its finest. This comparison gave the kids a unique opportunity to observe the evolution of Leonardo’s artistic approach firsthand and deepened our discussion on different periods of art history.

The Value of Educating Ourselves Before Traveling

My experience traveling to London and Paris with my family reinforced one simple truth: educating ourselves about the places we visit enriches the entire journey. By learning about the history, culture, and stories behind each landmark, we were able to appreciate every moment and see beyond the surface of what the cities had to offer.

London, in particular, is a city that rewards the curious traveler. It may not have the romantic allure of Paris or the ancient grandeur of Rome, but it offers something entirely unique: layers upon layers of history, culture, and tradition waiting to be uncovered. London is more than just an “okay” city; it’s a dynamic and constantly evolving metropolis where the old meets the new at every turn. London invites you to dig deeper, sparking curiosity and making each visit a journey of discovery. For us, the key to enjoying our trip was not just visiting these places but understanding their significance. As a family, we connected with the city in a way that felt personal and meaningful, and it sparked a curiosity in my kids that continues to this day.

Recently, my youngest was watching some of the photos from the trip on the screensaver of my computer, and he mentioned that he wanted to go again because he remembered certain places we didn’t have time to visit. I would love to do it for that reason and have already started planning the trip using artificial intelligence tools to help create the perfect itinerary full of additional learning.

Traveling in the Age of Generative AI

With the rise of artificial intelligence tools, we’ve been using them to help us plan our trips more efficiently. Last year, we planned a whole trip to Washington, DC, using ChatGPT. With this tool, we were not only able to find the best flight options to maximize our time in the city, but we also mapped out our visits to the museums using mostly public transportation, like the Metro. ChatGPT and customs GPTs that we designed helped us create a detailed document with all the places we were going to visit. As a personal touch, I also shared with my kids about The Lost Symbol, a novel by Dan Brown that uses Washington, DC, and its rich history as the backdrop for a thrilling adventure featuring the character Robert Langdon. The story brings many of DC’s famous landmarks to life, from the U.S. Capitol to the Library of Congress and the Washington Monument, sparking even more excitement as we explored the city. I told ChatGPT to create an interactive story with questions and multiple answers for a trip, which you can download here. You can try the same using our system below. Just choose a city and tap the Explore button, and it will tell you about the city you selected and will choose three important landmarks to tell you about. Then, it generates three multiple-choice questions about the selected landmarks.