It’s hard not to feel cool (and a bit Austin Powers) whizzing around London in an iconic Mini Cooper. Especially when strangers stop to take pictures. The boys were waving like local celebrities on our London Kids Mini Cooper tour** with smallcarBIGCITY.
Our chauffeur Jay had told us we might get some extra attention, particularly from the older generation of Brits. ‘People of a certain age would have learned to drive in a Mini,’ Jay said. But they stopped making these beauties in 2000. ‘Every time a Mini dies, this one becomes a bit more valuable.’
Jay is something of a London expert and gave us an excellent ‘backstreets’ tour of our home city. He shared loads of fascinating facts about the Capital. He also told one deliberate lie that made for a fun guessing game at the end of our trip.
London Kids Mini Cooper Tour
The London Kids Mini Cooper Tour is a door to door service. They’ll pick up and drop off at any central London location of your choice. Jay met us outside St Pancras Renaissance hotel in a stunning white Rover Mini Cooper named Daisy. All smallcarBIGCITY cars have names, as well as tons of personality!
The kids were gifted with a set of Beatrice and the London Bus books and a London map. The smallcarBIGCITY London for Kids Mini Cooper Tour runs in partnership with Daily Fairy Tales, publishers of the sweet series about Beatrice and a talking bus. The books feature places, vehicles and buildings you’ll see along your journey.
I let Ezra have the front seat and sat with a grinning Jed in the back. It was tight getting in and out but there was good leg room and we felt comfy throughout. Whenever we get in a car, the boys are quick to wind down windows, so Jed was excited to have our sun roof open. We stopped every 20 minutes or so to stretch our legs and take photos.
Our favourite stop-off was graffiti hotspot Leake St tunnel, where the babes put their ‘tags’ on the wall.
Our 2 hour tour also took us around the City of London, past the Shard, the Golden Hinde and Shakespeare’s Globe, through the enticing smells of Borough Market. Then west to Buckingham Palace, and along the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park.
Once our driver learned we were Harry Potter fans, he also showed us locations that inspired Diagon Alley and other key movie scenes.
Jay was chatty and informative throughout and had a great rapport with the kids. It felt like driving around town with a friend. On request, he dropped us off in Notting Hill and with a ‘Toot Toot’ our London Kids Mini Cooper Tour was over. Cheerio Daisy, it was a fab ride!
Babes about Town has experienced London from the top of the O2, from the London Eye at night, even from a speedboat. But I’d have to say the Mini Cooper tour has been my favourite way to see the Capital with fresh eyes. Totally groovy baby.
smallcarBIGCITY offers a variety of bespoke Mini Cooper tours including Landmarks of London, Banksy & Street Art and their super popular The Italian Job tour. They also hire out cars for films, location shoots, weddings, you name it. Visit smallcarbigcity.com to book your ride.
London Kids Mini Cooper Tour (Babes Review)
Ezra, age 11
‘I thought it was very enjoyable. It was very nice to see lots of famous attractions while feeling very cool in an old school (that’s rhyming) Mini Cooper. We had a lot of older people waving to us because they were very familiar with the car. The driver (Jay) knew all about London and didn’t even use a sat nav. He told us loads of facts and he told us that one of them was a lie and we had to guess which one was the lie. Jed guessed right — maybe with a little help from Mum! The car was very small but it was cosy. I’m usually car sick but I was so distracted that I wasn’t car sick at all. And also we took several breaks out of the car to look at the sights. I would give it a 10/10 rating and it’s suitable for any age!’
Jed, age 8
‘I think it was really well done and I learned that one of the roads we drove on used to be a river! I also liked how instead of opening the windows, the top of the car opened to let in some air. We got to go to the graffiti tunnel and we got to write on the walls. We also got to stop to take some photos and I guessed the lie that our driver told. I’d give it a 10 out of 10 rating and the driver gets 5 stars.’
**Win a London Kids Mini Cooper Tour worth £214!**
As part of our Babes Lucky 7 series celebrating 7 years of the blog, we have a special giveaway for one lucky reader. Enter to win a London for Kids Mini Cooper Tour (for a maximum of 3 riders) worth £214! As you can tell by our review, we had an amazing time and this is a brilliant day out suitable for adults and kids of all ages. NB: The Mini can only fit three passengers plus the tour guide, so if you’d like to bring more people along on your journey you’re welcome to book an additional car (standard charges apply). Entry is simple via the Rafflecopter form below, best of luck!
**press trip
London Kids Weekend Scoop (Apr 20-23, 2017)
I’d love to try the Italian Job Tour in a classic Mini. Looks very cool
I’d like Lulu to show me the sites in the London’s Best Bits tour. Not sure my daughter would handle much longer.
What a fantastic way to see the city I love this idea
We used to play ‘Spot the Mini Car’ with our son as he loves them so much :) this would be amazing – We are also Harry Potter Fans so would love to try the Harry Potter Tour x
I would love the Italian Job Tour in Jules.
It would have to be the Italian Job Tour in the classic Mini Cooper.
Lulu and the best bits tour, wow. amazing fun so different, thank yo x
the italian job
Great idea- would love to do this!
Would love to see all the Harry Potter bits in London
The Italian Job in Lulu
The Italian Job tour in a classic Mini :)
The italian job sounds great and with a birthday on 11th November it would have to be poppy !
Londons best bits in lulu
I would love to go on London’s Best Bits tour. The Street Art in the Leake Street Tunnel sounds so interesting.
id love to do the best bits of London in a mini Cooper
the Italian Job Tour
Looks amazing! What a great prize! X
Lulu & The Italian Job
I’d love to travel in Betty – she is such a beautiful colour! I’d definitely do mine with the kids – they would think this was such a cool treat so it would have to be the Kids Tour or the Harry Potter one.
Italian tour, in a mini! looks awesome
I would love it in the red mini <3
the italian job in lilly
Would love to do the Best Bits Tour in Lulu :)
Italian Job Tour In Mini would be amazing
would also like to do the London by night and I love Lilly the car she is the classic
I like the Lulu car as it’s my favourite colour, and and I wish I could have one of their full on tours with lunch and coffee included..
I would love to do The Italian Job tour in a classic mini, can you get any cooler???!
No brainer. The Italian Job Tour in the classic Mini Cooper!
I’d love to try the Banksy & Street Art tour in mini :)
What a fab idea for a day out! I’d love the Italian Job tour in a classic mini cooper.
A tour of Rome in an old classic fiat would be awesome !
love the mini cooper! its my fave car ever
love to go on the harry potter tour too
Italian job in classic mini Cooper
I would love the Italian Job Tour in Jules.
It would have to be London’s best bits in Valerie. My children are MINI COOPER S obsessed! Thats all my son wants when he can have a car!
Banksy & Street Art Tour
Amazing prize! I would love to go on the Italian Job Tour
The Italian job car would be awesome
The London Job Treasure Hunt Photo Challenge in minis sounds good fun! The tours are a great idea, did similar in Berlin in a Trabant on a stag do and had a great time!
The Italian Job in a classic mini
Would love to try the Harry Potter tour! All of the cars look cool but love lilly!
I would love to try the Banksy & Street Art tour in mini
The Italian job in the mini cooper :D