At 5 feet, 3 inches, I’m not a particularly tall person. But as I gingerly folded myself into a classic Mini Cooper for a tour of London’s “Bridget Jones’ Diary” filming locations with Small Car Big City, the thought that immediately popped into my head was, this would be a perfect way for kids to see London. Small Car Big City agrees.
In addition to private guided tours highlighting London’s history, landmarks and culture, the 16-year-old company has curated several family-friendly itineraries in its Mini Coopers, including the two-hour London for Kids Tour, the three-hour Harry Potter London Tour and the three-hour Marmalade Trail London Tour featuring everyone’s favorite storybook-bear-turned-movie-star, Paddington.
I wanted people to feel like they just stepped into a car with a Londoner.
"I wanted people to feel like they just stepped into a car with a Londoner,” said Robert Welch, owner of Small Car Big City. “We have a whole myriad of different subject matters that we cover, but we can tailor any tour to [a family’s] requirements — you name it, we can do it.”
The company offers three kid-friendly itineraries but can customize trips, too.
Credit: 2025 Small Car Big City
Each Mini Cooper can accommodate up to three passengers, but several cars can be booked together, and children’s car seats and boosters are available. All three of the company’s kid-friendly tours have a literary focus, providing parents with the added bonus of incorporating a bit of education into their family vacation. Here’s what travel advisors should know before booking.
London for Kids Tour
On this tour, Small Car Big City has figured out a way to make London extra family friendly by using classic English children’s books such as Beatrice and the London Bus, Paddington Bear and Peppa Pig as its road map.
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As the tour follows each character’s footsteps through London, kids can match the locations, buildings and vehicles in their books to the ones outside their car’s window — and they get to keep the books as a souvenir of their London adventure.
Harry Potter Tour
Wizarding World fans of all ages won’t want to miss the opportunity to visit locations from the Harry Potter books and movies.
Witch-wannabes won’t want to miss the Harry Potter Tour.
Credit: 2025 Small Car Big CityAfter being sorted into houses, families will navigate a “Marauder’s Map of London,” answering questions and placing protective charms on locations from the Harry Potter films, including the inspiration behind Diagon Alley and, of course, Platform 9¾. All witches and wizards receive wands, glasses, house scarves and chocolate frogs, an iconic wizarding confection.
Marmalade Trail London Tour
The young bear born in Peru was introduced in the 1958 book, “A Bear Called Paddington,” but many kids know him from his hit movies, most recently “Paddington in Peru,” which premiered in November 2024.
Families will embark on a tour of memorable moments from the Paddington books and movies — nourished by Paddington’s beloved marmalade sandwiches — as they visit the Brown family’s home, Mr. Gruber’s antique shop and the Natural History Museum. In addition to their sticky snack, explorers receive a bear toy, a red Paddington-style hat and a pop-up book.
