In summary
A London-based immersive experience where the whole family is invited to explore the world of the beloved fictional storybook and film character, Paddington Bear.
When did we visit?
I visited with my husband and our two sons Odhran, 9, and Reuben, 6, on a Sunday morning at the end of the school Summer holidays. As an indoor attraction, The Paddington Bear Experience is perfect for a visit this October half term, when the weather's less reliable and you might be looking for an activity that's not at risk of being spoiled by rain. With StudioCanal's new Paddington movie soon to be released (8 Nov), this attraction is likely to rise in popularity over the coming months.
Where is it located?
The Paddington Bear Experience is located at Riverside Building, County Hall, right next to Westminster Bridge in London. As we stepped out of Westminster tube station, the impressive Houses of Parliament were directly in front of us, with Big Ben in the Elizabeth Tower. This is a great area for visitors to London to take in lots of tourist attractions that are all close to each other. We crossed the bridge over the Thames, and down steps to the South Bank - home to a host of attractions including the London Eye, Sea Life London Aquarium, the London Dungeon, and Shrek's Adventure, which is another walkthrough immersive experience based on a fictional children's character. If you're trying to choose between this and The Paddington Bear Experience - we've visited both and would recommend the Paddington attraction as we found the sets to be more immersive and the experience more interactive and engaging for kids. Also, if you're visiting with kids during the October half term and plan on spending a whole day exploring London, remember that many restaurants (Bill's, Hard Rock, Real Greek, Pizza Express) do kids eat free over the holidays. Just check there websites in advance as some only do the offer on certain days of the week during the half term. But this can be a good way of cutting down the cost of a day out in London over the holidays.
What does the experience involve?
I don't want to give too many spoilers as this might take from the enjoyment of your experience. But upon arrival, you collect your wristband from the ticket booth and head downstairs to a small re-creation of Paddington Station. The wristbands are colour coded and on the departures board you can check what time your train is due to leave. You're only allowed to take photos and videos in certain parts of the experience. So grab some shots in Paddington Station. A train conductor got our group excited as we boarded our train for an exciting journey to Windsor Gardens. An annual Marmalade Day Festival is due to take place but something has gone wrong, and when we meet Mrs Brown and Mrs Bird, they're in a bit for a flap and need our help. Families need to take part in tasks to help save the day.
The small cast of actors gave a wonderful, high-energy performance, and designer Rebecca Brower has created a fantastic set for that dopamine boost. I kept thinking 'I could live here'. We felt transported into the fictional world. Paddington remains just out of sight but we hear his voice (if that isn't a prerecorded Ben Whishaw then it's someone doing a very good impression!) But when we met an animatronic Paddington at the end of the experience, Reuben let out a little yelp of delight. Director Tom Maller and writer Katie Lyons have created an experience that has all the warmth and cosiness you expect from the Paddington franchise, and the boys looked totally engaged throughout, and were smiling from ear to ear.
What age is it most suitable for?
Firstly, if you're wondering if your child needs to be a Paddington fan in order to enjoy this experience, I'd say no. Neither of my boys are particularly fussed about this character, but they both loved The Paddington Bear Experience. If anything, I think this experience has made them more interested in Paddington and keen to see the upcoming movie. Before our visit, I wondered if Odhran, aged 9, was maybe too old to enjoy it, and if perhaps it was aimed more at toddlers. But I think both Odhran, 9, and Reuben, 6, were within the perfect age range to really enjoy this experience, which excited their imaginations and had them skipping along with smiling faces from one part of the experience to the next. Parents are also encouraged to take part in the challenges along the way, and they'll appreciate the wonderful sets and the charm of the whole experience. There's an area to park your buggy before you board the train. But if you're taking a baby along, remember the sling for carrying them around during the experience. There are toilets with baby change facilities and a cloakroom (£1.50 per item) if you've got a heavy coat or bag you don't want to carry around.
What about food and drink?
At the end of the experience, you arrive at Windsor Gardens for the Marmalade Day Festival. Here there are a few carnival games to enjoy, picnic tables and a cafe selling food (most of which has an orange twist in line with the Paddington theme) and drink. A marmalade sandwich will cost you £5, a hot orange chocolate from £4, soft drinks from £3.20, wine from £6.50, and a can of beer for £5.50.
Is there a gift shop?
Yes. And it's not something you can skip past either as you have to enter and leave through the gift shop, which is Mr Gruber's Antique shop. But it's part if the experience itself, as it's done out beautifully and makes for a nice photo opportunity. You'll have to wait around a little bit before your time is called, so there's little chance of keeping the kids away from the merchandise. You can purchase everything from themed cuddly toys and books, to board games and stickers. If you purchase your tickets online there's an opportunity to buy a cute fluffy headband with Paddington ears for £8. If you purchase the headband in shop, it'll cost you £10.
How long will you spend there?
We spent about an hour and 15 minutes there, between the experience itself, and the part at the end, where you can get your photo taken with Paddington (there are different print out/digital image costs), grab some food and drink, and enjoy a few fairground games.
How much does it cost?
A standard adult ticket costs from £29, and a child (2-15) costs £19. Children under 2 go free. These costs include the booking fee. Prices vary depending on peak and off-peak hours. You can purchase tickets at the venue on the day, depending on availability. But it's worth keeping in mind all the little extras. The Paddington Bear Experience is currently scheduled to run until 30 March, 2025. Book tickets here
Take a Break's verdict
We had a lovely time at The Paddington Bear Experience but after all the talk of Marmalade sandwiches I felt kids should have been given at least a finger-sized Marmalade sandwich and not be charged £5 to enjoy the pleasure. The acting, the script, the set and the experience were all wonderful. It's a unique and lovely family attraction. But the cafe and gift shop are on the pricey side. We'd rate the whole experience a 4 out of 5.