A top of the range must do attraction for anyone with kids!
This should be number one on the list of trips for all Primary Schools.
Reviewed by Sarah Bryan
There is only one word that really sums up KidZania London and that is wow!
Located in Westfield London W12 and tucked alongside M&S, this spacious high end shopping centre gives host to KidZania London and is very easily accessible by car or train. Once we were dropped at the “Taxi Lounge” it was seamless to navigate to our destination – we followed the KidZania footsteps all the way to the lift and upon exit into the shopping centre; voila! There was the entrance manned by a very helpful employee who directed us into the attraction and up the escalators.
Ticket prices vary depending on availability and average around £26. It’s advisable to book online in advance for the best prices. Don’t be put off by the cost though, it’s a very unique experience and completely worth it.
The look on our three children’s faces as we entered the checking in area was a sight to behold; their wide eyes gazing in wonder at the huge British Airways plane above our heads. Suddenly we had arrived – we were in an airport and were issued with our boarding style pass tickets and we were excited to begin our adventure. The children and adults were fitted with security tags around our wrists ensuring their safety within the confines of the KidZania world and meaning that only we could check them out. The wrist tags are also scanned at each activity and whenever any photos are taken of your child. I was impressed to learn that should you be separated from your small person, you can scan your tag to see their last checked in location.
During the check in the kids were each given a hairnet and a wad of 50 “kidZos” money. I rammed them in various pockets and wished they had been given in some sort of pouch or wallet to keep them safe.
The awesome visual welcome you receive sets the precedent and the expectation of what is to come and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Turn the corner and you are warmly greeted by enthusiastic staff and a feast for your eyes so immense you have to pause to process what feels like your entry to another world; a child’s paradise. Even as an adult the Kidzania magic hypnotises you; tapping in to the inner child.
Before a visit to KidZania London you do need to do a bit of homework; we printed off the City Map from the website and looked through the activities to prioritise and make the most of the 4 hour time slot. This built the excitement up and the kids were able to envisage what the attraction was about. KidZania.co.uk states that children can complete 4-6 activities on average during the 4 hour slot so we imagined having to make a mad dash to queue for our favourite activities… actually our kids completed 8 activities and the best bit was it wasn’t heaving. I was told that there is a limit to how many children can book tickets for certain time slots and I feel this ensures a good balance between not being overwhelmed by the amount of other visitors and also enough that the activities you choose are full, kids love having fun together.
It was amazing to find a few activities had no queue at all and the most time we spent waiting at one activity was 15 minutes.
The queue is for children only and I was delighted to be reminded of this by being politely asked if I could stand up as there were children in the queue wanting to sit down; the small folk rule here – it’s their city. The only thing about this is as the kids shuffle about fidget and stand up and swap places they can lose their place in the queue without really realising it. Am I overthinking this and did they actually care if they were a space behind? No they didn’t actually so it’s right that us grown-ups but out and let them loose.
The City sprawls over two floors and is eye catching from the fluffy clouds on the blue sky ceiling down to the cobbled streets. Each business or store or service is uniquely designed and fully equipped with the relevant props, equipment, workwear and décor and managed by caring knowledgeable staff – this is so important, as parents or carers we wait outside the activity, we step back. Yes we can see through the windows but we are not involved. So it’s reassuring to know that those in charge are being mindful and are open to the kids that might struggle with something for instance. You can’t hear what’s being said but you can see from the non-verbal communication that the people running the activities have been really well trained and are committed to ensuring each child has a good experience.
Each activity has a plaque outside giving a simple guide to what the activity is, how many people can undertake it at a time, how long it takes as well as the important bit – how much you earn from completing it – Note: Not all activities are earners, some you have to pay for either with your kidZos or real cash (eg the GBK activity charges £2 to make a burger but you get one to take away with you). This instils the value of money, the importance of working to earn, the option to save or spend on something you enjoy. Good life lessons taught in a fun way.
As you stroll around the City, you see an ambulance drive past and a courier pushing their trolley of parcels and the police are on the beat; it can be high pace but only if you want it to be. Some children took their time. It’s the freedom of choice and the children can do what they want. On this note almost everyone was well behaved and the two children I saw running full pelt down the street were reprimanded by a staff member so it’s all kept in hand. Lots of parents went around with their children enjoying the experience with them; some parents leisurely enjoyed a latte at one of the many refreshment areas allowing their kiddos to experience freedom in a controlled area and a safe environment.
It’s a real taste of being a grown up. The youngsters have to interact with new adults and children, can independently choose what they want to do and are experiencing completely knew things sometimes not knowing what is expected of them. Its very confidence building.
As I watched my 4 year old join the queue to be an Air Conditioning Technician; get kitted up in a hard hat and high viz jacket and then enter into the activity by climbing up steep padded steps into the unknown, I felt an enormous sense of pride at her giving it a go and the resilience skills she was learning. Yes it’s a play world but underneath it’s much more. As my daughter emerged down steps having ventured through tunnels above us she was bursting with confidence.
And as I watched the 3 girls listening intently during the Window Cleaning activity and then rattling off down the City road with their cleaning trolleys doing their very best and working as a team I realised that all children should have this play opportunity.
As all 3 of our girls aged 4, 7 and 9 immersed themselves in the Baby Care activity; selecting their baby from the incubators and feeding, changing and comforting their babies I also realised that all primary school children should enjoy a class trip out to Kidzania. The educational skills in play are immense and the foundations of key life skills are built.
As well as all the shop fronts adorning the street there are also outlets to buy merchandise, lots of places to grab food, a snack or a drink and the facilities are clean and tidy with drinking fountains situated outside the toilets. In the very centre on the top floor is an area called “Highbrow Lounge” – so if it all gets a bit overwhelming and you and the kids need to take 5; head here. There is a chill out room packed with huge beanbags and tablets as well as free play areas with a kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom.
The time flew by as we crammed in as much as possible. Tears nearly arrived from one of our girls when they realised there just wasn’t enough time on this occasion to make your own burger at the GBK activity but we have promised to return back as there are bucket loads more activities to try. The best bit is the range of activities is so varying that there is something for everyone and for all ages, I would love to return year after year.
There is nothing but positive feedback for KidZania London. The only area that could do with a slight improvement is surrounding professional photography. It would be nice to have the professional photographers present inside the activities a bit more. They roam the city and will pop in on an activity ad hoc but it’s not guaranteed they will capture your little cherub with his or her apron and hairnet on stood by the wrap pressing machine and clutching the pack of wraps they just made beaming with pride. Considering it’s almost impossible to capture this on your own camera as a parent stood behind glass (especially if your child has their back to you) this is an area that could be looked at improving. I would certainly have purchased a photograph of my girls cradling their babies in the Baby Care centre activity had the opportunity have been there. Could this be something each activity offers as part of it? Or could several of the more popular activities have a photography opportunity set up? What a keepsake to take home. You can view any pictures of your children when you check out through “Immigration” by scanning your wrist fob. The price is discreetly displayed on the screen at this point but there is no big advertisement or sales pushing or example of what you would get; is it just a print? Or a fancy themed photo holder? I could see photo sales increasing if this was given a bit more advertising space.
Once you have been released from your tag and given info on annual passes and encouraged to complete a survey you pass into The Gift Shop, the first half of it being gifts you can purchase with real currency and the second area is where your child can spend his or her hard earned kidZos on whatever they choose. They don’t get much for their money; maybe this is a slightly ironic joke about the real grown up world! Having earned at 8 activities my 4 year daughter could afford a keyring and the other two wanted the KidZania activity books. They were happy. What is lacking in the gift shop is sweeties; now that’s what they really want to spend money on!
It’s a huge 5 star rating for this truly unique award winning attraction. There is nothing more rewarding that making your little kiddiewinks happy and KidZania has thought of everything to ensure a trip here is thoroughly enjoyed by children and adults alike. All 3 girls have now decided they want to be pilots when they grow up and I was delighted to be asked by my 4 year old what it is that I want to be when I grow up too… well anything is possible!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £15 (book online for best prices).
For more information or to book tickets visit kidzania.co.uk.
KidZania London, Westfield London, Ariel Way, London, W12 7GA | 0330 131 3333
