Rockets, dinosaurs and giant monuments, with nearly every museum free. Here's what Washington, D.C. is like with the family and when to go.
Check entry rules on GOV.UK before you book.
Spring brings cherry blossom around the Tidal Basin in late March and early April, and autumn is mild and clear. Summer is hot and humid, so plan museum afternoons. Winter is cold but quieter.
Real spacecraft and the Wright brothers' plane. Book a free timed pass.
Dinosaur hall, a giant squid and the Hope Diamond.
Walk from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial past the Washington Monument.
Giant pandas, big cats and a lot of walking, all free.
Take on an undercover mission as you go round.
Book ahead to see inside the home of Congress.
Yes. The Smithsonian museums are world-class and free, the metro is easy, and there's lots of green space between the monuments.
Four or five nights covers the main museums and monuments at a family pace.
Most British passport holders, children included, apply for an ESTA online before they fly rather than a visa. Check GOV.UK for the current rules.
Yes, the train between them takes about three to three and a half hours.
Put Washington, D.C. on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.