The Paddington Bear Experience is a day out like no other for kids, and parents, as Katie Amps recently discovered on a trip to London with her family.
Paddington Bear is the best excuse for a London trip with kids
Paddington Bear is a British icon. I mean, he actually drank tea with the Queen at her Jubilee! We Brits love him for his quirky ways, and from his kind heart to his perfect manners, he sets a brilliant example to our little ones!
So, when we had the chance to have a real Paddington Experience recently, we jumped at it! My youngest, Ronnie, is a bit of a Paddington obsessive; he has seen all the films many times and loves watching the cartoons, and I must admit, so do I!
Come and lend a hand with The Marmalade Day Festival
The Paddington Bear Experience in London, was a thrilling journey into Paddington’s world. The multi-room immersive experience guides you through iconic locations from the Paddington stories, allowing you to assist Paddington and the Brown family in preparing for the Marmalade Festival. It’s also conveniently situated in London’s Southbank at the Riverside Building, County Hall, next to the Sea Life London Aquarium, and easily reached by public transport.
Meet the Brown Family at 32 Windsor Gardens
The experience starts with the hustle and bustle of Paddington Station, where guests are greeted by a friendly Station Master and taken on a lively train journey through London’s most famous landmarks all the way to the Browns’ charming house at No. 32 Windsor Gardens.
The Brown family whisk guests into a whirlwind of multi-sensory activities as they need to help Paddington and his family prepare for a very special occasion – The Marmalade Day Festival! The entire adventure lasts just over an hour, and at the conclusion, you can extend your visit with drinks or even a marmalade sandwich and even meet Paddington himself!
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Don’t miss Mr Gruber’s Shop and Paddington Bear treats
With numerous themed rooms to explore, interactive games, character interactions, and many surprises along the way, the adventure culminates in a very special Windsor Garden Street party where visitors can enjoy the Marmalade Day festival. A range of food (including Paddington’s famous marmalade sandwich!) and beverages are available to all, as well as an opportunity to enjoy fun and games with the Brown family. The Paddington Bear Experience will capture the hearts of the entire family, no matter the age.
Paddington fans should also look out for ‘Mr Gruber’s Shop’ which is now open at London County Hall. Inspired by the enchanting antique store in the Paddington stories, Mr Gruber’s Shop gives a first glimpse into what to expect from The Paddington Bear Experience as well as the opportunity to purchase tickets and Paddington merchandise.
We stayed at London Marriott Hotel County Hall
We decided to make a weekend of our Paddington Trip and stayed right next door at the perfectly positioned London Marriott Hotel County Hall. Now this hotel is something else, with stunning river views of the city’s finest landmarks including the London Eye, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament.
Occupying London’s former City Hall that dates back to 1922, the hotel boasts 206 stylish guestrooms and 12 unique event rooms, all of which embody London’s rich history and quintessential British spirit. Just perfect for our Paddington inspired weekend!
They have fantastic family rooms, which are spacious and well-equipped for everyone. We made it a multi-gen affair, travelling with the children as well as grandparents, and there was plenty of room for the five of us, with two large king-sized beds and a super-comfy sofa bed for my eldest.
From marmalade with Paddington Bear to tea with the Twits
We booked in for hotel’s brand-new The Twits Afternoon Tea! This Roald Dahl classic was a firm favourite book of mine growing up, so it was lovely to introduce it to my children in this exciting setting.
The menu is tailored for both adults and children, filled with tasty twists and tricks, inspired by some of Mr and Mrs Twit’s most memorable moments. My youngest, Ronnie, loved the deliciously revolting new take on Wormy Spaghetti, which was, in fact, Hampshire’s Cucumber Worms (his favourite, the cucumber, not the worms) with Cream Cheese on Wholemeal Bread. Mrs Twit’s Bird Pie, (Chicken, Leek & Ham), was so tasty! And of course no afternoon tea would be complete without scones, though in true Twits-style there’s a twist! Guests will get buttermilk or marmite scones, but you don’t know which one is which until you try them!
The Twits Afternoon Tea was served in The Library, overlooking Big Ben and the River Thames, so the backdrop was stunning. Also, the room felt like walking into the storyboard, with nods to the Twits’ eccentric and tricksy ways of decorating and even the menus were upside-down and adorned with classic Quentin Blake illustrations.
Ronnie especially loved sitting in Mr Twits’ chair and playfully wearing his wig, second only to finding the hidden eggs and then hiding them all over again for me to find!
How to plan this London trip
The Paddington Bear Experience
The Paddington Bear Experience child tickets from £19, adult tickets from £29
Where to stay
London Marriot Hotel County Hall, Deluxe King Room (3 adults, 2 children) from £742 per night
Good to know
The Twits Afternoon Tea is served daily from noon to 5pm, £65 per adult and £45 per child (12 and under)
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