Is the Paddington bear experience worth it? We visited the Paddington Bear Experience in London to find out. As a family of four who are all fans of the Paddington Bear films, we were all excited to step into Paddington’s world. No phones we allowed during the experience so the images in this Paddington Bear Experience review are from the start and the end where photos are allowed. I really enjoyed the phone free element of the day out.
Paddington Bear Experience review
To enter the Paddington Bear Experience you walk through Gruber’s antiques. A fabulous start to the experience. Check in for your train takes place inside Gruber’s.
After checking in, we were given red wristbands for our designated ‘special Service’ slot at 12pm. There was a small themed stall selling giant marmalade lollipops and some merchandise, plus toilets available before the experience started. The recreated Paddington Station, complete with a departures board showing the special service, was a lovely immersive touch. We had a professional photo taken before boarding the ‘train’, which was a group experience with others on the same time slot.
It’s worth noting in this Paddington Bear Experience review that most of the other children seemed younger, mostly toddlers and a few slightly older siblings. Our two felt a little older than the rest of the crowd, but it didn’t spoil their fun. Also, while some families had dressed their kids up in formal or themed outfits, we turned up in our usual weekend gear, totally fine, but something to be aware of!
The ‘Train Ride’
This was one of the few disappointments. The ‘train’ simulates movement, but very slowly, with sliding images outside the windows meant to give the illusion of travel. Even our 6-year-old wasn’t convinced. It didn’t take away from the rest of the experience, but it was definitely the least magical part.
Windsor Gardens & the Browns’ House
Once off the train, we were welcomed into a charming recreation of Windsor Gardens. My eldest was chosen to help ‘Mrs Brown’ put up bunting for the Marmalade Day celebrations.
From there, we moved into the Browns’ house, and the set design really impressed us. It felt like stepping into the movie. Paddington was supposedly “in the bath,” and when we entered the drawing room, we found it completely ‘trashed’ – paint cans, paw prints, and a dishevelled puzzle of Paddington to put back together. This room absolutely delighted my youngest, who was convinced Paddington had caused all the mess. His wide-eyed excitement made the whole thing magical for the rest of us.
Mrs Bird’s kitchen
Next, we were taken into the kitchen and met ‘Mrs Bird’. Each family was given a task. Ours was to help her retrieve a key she’d “dropped down the drain” using a magnetic puzzle tool. It was cleverly done, and the kids were very engaged. There was even a ‘leaky ceiling’ from Paddington’s bath upstairs.
The cellar followed, and this part felt slightly eerie as we were left in a darkened room with no staff member, which might not suit every child. A projected letter from Aunt Lucy appeared on the wall, growing in size as it moved around. It was read out by a speaker. Eventually, a “crack” in the wall opened to reveal a secret portal into Peru. A great theatrical moment and it made both my children jump!
Exploring Peru
This was a highlight. We entered a lush jungle set, helped explorers find a lost map, climbed bridges, and then had a go at ‘marmalade making’ using an interactive machine. It was hands-on, engaging, and not at all rushed.
My 6-year-old was so taken with it, he asked if he could have his own marmalade machine at home!
Back to Windsor Gardens & the Marmalade day party
The animatronic Paddington we met here was absolutely adorable & had a great likeness to the real Paddington bear from the movies; so much so that my son was chatting away to him, totally convinced he was real.
Following this, we were invited to the Marmalade Day party. I had read mixed reviews about this part. Honestly, we enjoyed it. The only downside was meeting a full-sized, costumed Paddington for photos; it broke the illusion created by the animatronic version. A second animatronic version would have been more in keeping with the experience.
The fairground at the end was beautifully done, and we spent about 15 minutes enjoying the traditional-style games and food stalls. The whole Paddington Bear Experience lasted just over an hour, and while it’s not something we’d do again without the children, we felt it was a lovely family day out.
Is the Paddington Bear Experience worth it?
For a themed London experience, we thought it offered reasonable value. The set design was brilliant, the actors were great and the interactive elements were fun.
While there were a few parts that didn’t quite hit the mark (like the train and the photo Paddington), the magic in our children’s eyes made it all worth it and so its definitely a positive Paddington Bear Experience review on the whole. We’d definitely recommend it for Paddington fans with children; especially if they’re swept up in the charm of the films.
If you are looking for something else to do in London, take a look at the best musicals in London.