Culture trip

With a city break, you can enjoy family time while also sneaking in some learning for the little ones. Words: Kerry Ryan

No matter which key stage kids are at, a short trip to one of these five destinations - all easily accessible from the UK can expand young minds and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Rome, Italy

To stroll through the streets of Rome is to become intimate with the ancient world. Kids can follow in the footsteps of gladiators at the Colosseum, one of the largest amphitheatres in the world, and explore the Forum, the centre of Roman public life for centuries. After tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain and making a wish, visit Vatican City and take in Michelangelo's world-famous frescoes. As well as famous gelaterias and pizza spots, the Eternal City has plenty of green spaces where families can rest and recuperate. The Parco del Colle Oppio has excellent views of the capital and is the site of the Baths of Trajan, one of the largest thermal baths built in ancient Rome.

Oslo, Norway