No more meltdowns, mess or madness! 20 simple tips for surviving long family journeys

Feeling frazzled at the thought of hours travelling by car, train or ferry? Try these easy, expert-backed ways to keep kids (and adults) calm, fed and smiling

• 17 tips for keeping kids entertained over summer (some are even free)

The phrases “Are we there yet?” and “I’m hungry” provide a soundtrack whenever I travel with my six- and three-year-old daughters. No matter how far we’ve gone, there’s a constant stream of demands for snacks, games, entertainment, stories, songs … the list goes on.

Every summer, we travel to the Lake District, a seven-hour drive. And we regularly holiday in France, which involves long train, ferry and car journeys, so my husband and I have become skilled at managing these.