As it gets chillier and the days get shorter, those of us with young families will want to plan some exciting escapes from the house. Happily, the capital is brimming with events and activities to warm up those cockles and entertain the most objectionable child. Many of these events are free too.

Forget knitting and false teeth, the new generation of grandparents are out and about and living it up. A few years ago, retired American tourists started displaying bumper stickers that declared, "We're spending the kids' inheritance". And what started as a joke has become a reality.

It will come as no surprise to most parents that the two most stressful things when travelling with a young family are keeping the children content and packing all their stuff, according to new research. Happily a little bit of forward thinking can help relieve this stress.