If I tell you that my kids love Paddington Bear, it would be an understatement. Not only is the cuddly brown bear a national treasure and as British as fish and chips on a Friday night, he's also found a special place in our home...on the telly every week. If it's not the TV series, my kids will happily watch the Paddington Bear films on repeat, and I know it's only a matter of time before Paddington Bear 3 will be added to the weekly rotation.
With so much love in our house for Paddington Bear (we've even been inspired to have our own Paddington Bear night in like Mrs Hinch), I decided there was no better time to check out the Paddington Bear Experience in London with my children.
What is the Paddington Bear Experience?
The Paddington Bear Experience on London's Southbank is a multi-room, immersive experience. While these 'immersive experiences' have become a huge trend in the last few years, I'm always curious to see what it actually means.
Here, you enter Paddington’s world, meet his family and get transported to deepest darkest Peru (and trust me, it‘s dark!). Throughout the experience, youngsters can take part in a range of interactive activities and fun games which makes it all the more enjoyable.
What can you expect to see in the Paddington Bear Experience?
Your adventures start from the moment you enter Gruber’s Antique Store and collect your train tickets and head into Paddington Station - one of the liveliest stations you'll ever find yourself in. You're greeted by the train staff who sing and dance with you while you wait for your train.
Once the train arrives, you travel through the sights and sounds of London until you reach 32 Windsor Gardens. Here you meet Mrs Bird who's busy putting up street decorations for the Marmalade Festival. She leads you into her home (a fantastic replica from the film) where we hear Paddington causing a commotion next door. As you try and find him, you end up in a messy, paint-splattered living room. This is where the fun and games begin.
As well as making a couple of giant jigsaws, the children are then asked to help Mrs Bird in the kitchen (my favourite bit!) find her lost key, missing cup and saucer sets, sort out her fridge and cake.
It was really fun to see the kids eager to muck in and help out while the grown-ups happily took a step back. I loved the subtle references to Paddington including spotting Marmalade sandwiches, hearing his voice in the room next door and avoiding the dripping ceiling caused by Paddington’s overflowing bath (inspired by that hilarious bathroom scene from the first film).
The entire experience is like a live, interactive game where you have to complete different tasks before moving to the next level. In this case, the next level is Peru (by way of the kitchen larder) and the fun continues with children gathering oranges and making marmalade. The experience ends with a brief encounter with Paddington before heading off to enjoy the festivities at the Marmalade Festival.
How long is the Paddington Bear Experience?
The entire thing lasts just over an hour. The actors do a great job in getting everyone involved before the next group arrives.
How much does the Paddington Bear Experience cost?
Tickets for the Paddington Bear Experience start from £34 for adults and for children aged 2-15 years from £24. Under 2s are free and all tickets are inclusive of a £1.75 booking fee.
Our verdict
I was very impressed by the entire experience and visually, it's fantastic. I was unsure my 9-year-old would enjoy it as much as my six-year-old but he did say, “it was better than I expected” although he did say he would have liked to see all the characters including grumpy, nosey neighbour Mr Curry.
You don’t get very long in the house and sometimes it feels a little rushed as the next group arrives soon after you enter, but the actors do such a fantastic job (special mention to Mrs Bird’s excellent Scottish accent) and really make the experience what it is. Having a bit more time in the house to explore and talk to the actors would have made it that little bit better I felt. Worth also mentioning that a few of the little kids cried when you enter Peru as the doors open with a loud bang and the actors are shouting.
At the Marmalade Festival you're free to linger as long as you like. You can buy sweet and savoury treats get pics with Paddington Bear, play garden games and more. I think this part of the experience could have benefitted from some (or any) characters, as it would have helped create a bit more of a vibrant atmosphere, my kids didn't notice at all; they were too busy tucking into their marmalade sandwiches and having fun playing the giant snakes and ladders game.
Book tickets to The Paddington Experience here.
About the author
Keya Modessa, is our Senior Digital Writer and brings over a decade of experience from the digital realm to Mother&Baby. As a mother of two, Keya understands the joys and challenges of modern parenthood and uses her own experience, to give practical advice. Keya has worked across national publications including glossy women's mags, Food and Travel, and more recently as digital lead for Muddy Stilettos.