Paddington Bear Experience At County Hall London Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS EXPERIENCE WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST/S FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.
Reviewed by Janine Rumble
Today, I was lucky enough to attend Marmalade Day at 32 Windsor Gardens and meet its most famous of residents…the one and only Paddington Bear, and what an experience it was. We were invited to review the new Christmas season with an orange carpeted entrance.
We arrived at the immersive Paddington Bear Experience in County Hall in London, on the South Bank behind the London Eye, and were quickly taken into Gruber’s shop, where, as special guests, we were given a pair of Paddington Bear ears to wear and asked to go downstairs to await the next train at Paddington Station.
Whilst waiting for the train, we were treated to a mince pie and kept entertained by a member of the station staff with tales of how Paddington Bear came to find himself at Paddington Station in London and how he came to meet the Brown family on the platform. He then asked the children in the group to help him find Paddington’s lost suitcase. Once found, it was time to board the train.
Just as we were about to start our journey, brakes screeched and Paddington jumped, unseen apart from him red hat, into the driver’s cab. Once he realised his suitcase carrying Aunt Lucy’s marmalade recipe had been found, the train began its very bumpy journey across London, past many famous London landmarks, through a tube tunnel and then out into Windsor Gardens where we were greeted by Mrs Brown putting up bunting ready for Marmalade Day, she explained the importance of Marmalade Day and why everyone was so busy running around. Once the bunting was up (with some audience participation) we were invited into 32 Windsor Gardens itself!
Walking through Windsor Gardens and then into the Brown’s house was just like walking through the film, it is exactly the same as you see it in the film, round staircase, painted trees, flowers and all! Mrs Brown then showed us Paddington’s famous coat and wellingtons and talked about the day she met Paddington. We were then taken into the front room, used as Paddington’s art studio and asked to help with a task, no one was safe and audience participation is encouraged. Then we met Mrs Bird, who escorted us into the Brown’s kitchen, again, exactly the same as in the film, the attention to detail was brilliant. Again, audience participation here was needed in helping to tidy the kitchen ready for making the magical marmalade! All audience members are encouraged to take part.
Upon leaving the kitchen we found ourselves in a darkened room where animations on the walls showed letter he had written to Auntie Lucy, telling her all about how excited the Browns were to be taking part in Marmalade Day and how Mrs Bird was going to be following her recipe.
Suddenly, we were transported to darkest Peru, where we met an explorer who had lost his map and his assistant Eddie, more audience participation was needed to help find the missing parts of the map, which turned out not to be a map, but a blueprint for a most marvellous marmalade making machine, which as we turned a corner in the jungle we then found. The audience were asked to man different parts of the machine, load up Peruvian oranges into the machine and all work together until marmalade was made.
We then set off and found ourselves in the attic with none other than Paddington Bear himself, who thanked us for helping him make marmalade for Marmalade Day, we then left 32 Windsor Gardens and joined other people and children celebrating Marmalade Day in Windsor Gardens, when all of a sudden, it began to snow!!! Christmas wreaths decorated each front door and wonderfully decorated Christmas trees were dotted around. As it was the special orange carpet event to launch Christmas at the Paddington Bear Experience, we were gifted a small lunchbox containing our very own marmalade sandwiches. We also got to meet Paddington Bear himself and give him a hug!
It was a wonderful, sentimental and whimsical experience from start to finish. The actors who played the different characters, really were believable as their characters, but do rely on some audience interaction, so bear that in mind when attending as it is an immersive experience.
Fans of the Paddington books and fans of the films will love this experience, but you do not have to be a fan to enjoy the experience. It is good for all ages and we joined in as much as the children did.
We were in the experience for just over an hour in total. There was a lovely gift shop, selling all sorts of Paddington Bear books, toys and other merchandise. We bought a magnet and a Paddington Bear inspired luggage tag!
Other facilities included toilets, a cloakroom and an area to sit and take part in Paddington inspired activities. There was also an opportunity to have photos taken at Paddington Station, which could be collected at the end of the visit. You are able to take your own photos during the experience, apart from in the attic room, but you are told this before the experience begins.
Tickets for the experience are priced from £39.00 for adults and £29.00 for children and can be purchased from http://www.paddingtonbearexperience.com.
For pure nostalgia and joy. I give this experience 5/5 stars. For value for money and for the time you are actually in the experience, I would give it 4/5 stars, a bit pricey for an hour visit. But a must visit for all Paddington fans young and old alike.
This would make a brilliant Christmas gift for any Paddington fan.
Rating: 5/5 (Rating: 4/5 taking into account the cost and length of experience).