The suitcase is already packed because we’re so excited about today’s post. In an exclusive article for angels & urchins, David Wickers, award-winning travel writer and editor of 101 Holiday Ideas, makes a compelling case for the attractions of a city break with kids in tow.

THE PLACE: Paris
Although traditionally considered a rather sophisticated, grown-up, sexy sort of place, Paris is also a fun destination for children, easy to get around and a cinch to reach from London. Top stops for children include the Musée d’Orsay, with perhaps a focus on the Degas ballet pastels and his bronze little dancer, plus Whistler’s Mother (which they may have seen in Bean, The Ultimate Disaster Movie). In summer, there’s also the Big Wheel in the Tuilleries, plus the old fashioned funfair – the Jardin d’Acclimatation – in the Bois de Boulogne, the Cité des Enfants in the Parc Villette science centre, the ultimate hands-on attraction and, of course, Disneyland, an easy ride away on the RER A line.
Downsides: The children will need that school French just to order an ice cream, tee hee!
How to go: Kirker (020 7593 2283) has 3 nights at the hotel La Tremoille just off the Champs Elysees from £631pp, including first-class Eurostar tickets and private transfers.

THE PLACE: Rome
With ‘The Romans’ such a favourite school topic and the Eternal City oozing with worthy works of art and architecture, a visit can be as educational and you want to make it. As well as classic sights (the Forum, Colosseum and St Peter’s (where you can climb into the dome) be sure to include some lighter options, such as the Bioparco zoo in the Villa Borghese, whose gardens also have rowing boats, bicycle hire, pony rides and a traditional puppet show, the Explora children’s museum plus a few bones in one of the catacombs. The food – pasta, pizza and world champion gelati will also be a winner, so will the Italians, who adore kids.
Downsides: Budget for a few taxis – Rome is tough on little legs.
How to go: As a change from staying in mid city, consider Il Vecchio Borgo, a working farm in a medieval hamlet, only 20km from the centre of Rome with eight self-catering apartments. It costs just £146 a night for four, flights excluded, through Long Travel (who also have city hotels) 01694 722193.

THE PLACE: Amsterdam
With the largest core of historic buildings in Europe, Amsterdam feels more like a stage set for a fairy tale, orchestrated by shower bursts of church bell carillons, loony tunes and classical refrains raining from the city spires, switching on at night like an advent calendar. Child-friendly highlights should include the New Metropolis, a totally interactive science museum where it’s “forbidden not to touch everything”, Anne Frank’s House which manages to convey the reality of the German occupation to other children more than any history book, the Saturday morning Noordermarkt in Jordaan (with superb apple cake at Cafe Winkel), and a trip on the canals – by cruise boat or pedalo – past the hundreds of listed 17^th-century buildings.
Downside: Dog poo, silent trams and cyclists that come at you from all angles.
How to go: BA Holidays (0844 493 0787) has 3 night breaks at the 4-star Arena Hotel, including flights, from £272.50pp.

THE PLACE: New York
NYC is wow, wow, triple wow territory for children (and their parents!). Through their eyes the city is a thrilling theme park. Don’t miss the Empire State Building, as seen in King Kong the movie, the zoo and the ice rink. Horse and carriage rides and the 1900s carousel in Central Park are always a hit, as is the colossal Gap For Kids at Times Square. The Natural History Museum is a treasury of 34 million different items spread over four city blocks; and the Sony Wonder Laboratory, where you get to play with the latest interactive technology, is free. If you’re planning to go this Christmas, add the superb Big Apple Circus to the list too – no seats are more than 50 feet from the ring.
Downsides: Jet lag, plus utter exhaustion from trying to do too much.
How to go: North American Travel Service (0845 122 88 99) has 3 nights at the Hilton from £625pp including flights (with big savings for children under 12 sharing).

THE PLACE: Stockholm
It’s a safe, clean and wholesome seaside city where Swedes clearly seem to put family life on a pedestal. The must-see is Skansen, a huge open-air museum of 150 historic buildings and folk in period costume performing ancient daily tasks. Other sights including the royal warship Vasa, Sweden’s Titanic which sank on her maiden voyage in 1628, the Pippi Longstocking museum on Junibacken where tales of the impish redheaded, pigtailed lass are brought to life, and the 6,000 musical instruments in Musikmuseet, with many available for blowing, plucking, banging and strumming.
Downsides: The short cold days of mid-winter – avoid.
How to go: Specialised Tours (01342 712785/ www.specialisedtours.com) has 3 night breaks at the Clarion Sign Hotel from £525pp including flights.

THE PLACE: Venice
The entire city is one long magical roundabout, the setting pure fairytale. Even the public transport system, scooting along the canals and across the lagoon by vaporetto is like a funfair ride. Hop on number 1, the slow boat which stops at all the landing stages along the Grand Canal. It’s the most glamorous ‘high street’ in the world, lined with fancy-fronted medieval palaces. If you can twist arms and get just one gallery on the agenda, make it the Accademia, one of the great collections of art in the world. The classic sights include the Rialto Bridge, the Basilica of San Marco   and the Doges’ Palace, a Byzantine jewel box. If the weather’s kind you could chug across the lagoon to the Lido, or visit the lace makers on the island of Burano, the glass blowers on Murano. Or splash out on a gondola.
Downsides: The heaving crowds in summer and the chance of the airport getting fogbound in winter. It’s  probably safer to leave toddlers and crawlers at home – all that water…
How to go: Italia Holidays (020 8940 8399) has 2 night breaks in the Locanda La Corte from £389pp including flights.

THE PLACE: Barcelona
Despite the high ratio of late night (or, some cases, early morning) bars and clubs, Barcelona has a range of family-friendly attractions, including its own stretch of sandy Mediterranean beach. Essential indoor ports of call include one of the best aquaria in Europe, with over 350 species, an 80-metre glass tunnel through the shark tank and plenty of petting action (not with the sharks). There’s also a Maritime Museum, housed in the vaulted gothic halls of the 14th century royal shipyards. Universal Studios Port Aventura, one of Europe’s best themed parks, also lies within easy striking distance of the city (an hour by train).
Downsides: Persuading little ones to shift their eating habits to fit in with the locals.
How to go: A 3 night stay at the Casanova by Rafaelhoteles with Sovereign (0871 664 0227) from £369pp including flights and UK airport lounge access.

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