1. Mazes in historic castles make excellent places for games of chase and are a great way to expend some extra energy and ward off tantrums.

2. Travelling on public transport is a highlight of any trip. Trams in Hong Kong and Lisbon, double decker buses in London, the London underground, ferries in Hong Kong and boats in New Zealand. Cheap, convenient and fun guaranteed!

3. Playgrounds are great places to meet the locals and provide an interesting insight into the culture of a country. Hello playgrounds with security guards in Hong Kong! Plus, they have seats for weary parents and offer free entertainment for the kiddies (who needs to pay for Disneyland!).

4. Toddlers will talk to anyone. I think my little one has made more friends travelling in the past year than I have over my lifetime!

5. Sometimes your children will surprise you and manage to walk slowly and silently through a revered space, such as a religious monument, as you stand poised, at the ready, to intervene with a wild child at any moment.

6. Art galleries can be places of play!

7. Maps and guide books are as good as stories sometimes.

8. Nature is the best playground.

9. Where there is water, there is fun.

10. Starting a ‘collection’ is a great way to entertain little ones. Something as simple as autumn leaves works well (just hope they are not too disappointed when they arrive home in a crumpled, crunchy mess!).

11. Meeting the local animals is always a joy!

12. Cubby houses can be made in the most natural of places.

13. Cafes with outdoor spaces and toys are a travelling parent’s paradise.

14. Even Snoopy World can be endured, and perhaps even enjoyed, when you see the joy it brings to your toddler’s face.

15. Seeing story books come to life before their very eyes is one of the best things about travelling with children. Hello, seeing Big Ben for the first time, or meeting Paddington Bear at Paddington Station! Or seeing the same Tower Bridge in real life that we read about in Ruby Red Shoes goes to London!

16. Impromptu games of hide and seek can be played nearly anywhere.

17. As the day draws to a close, things can get a bit wild! Sometimes it’s best to run it off!

18. Nearly everything can be solved with ice-cream.

19. If all else fails, there is always dancing in the streets!

20. Life, and travel, are best shared with friends.