From intergalactic space missions and open-world towns obsessed with platypuses to expeditions into the darkest depths of Peru, here are our recommendations for the best family friendly immersive experiences in London this summer holiday...
London has never had a shortage of family-friendly activities, from world-class museums and zoos to West End shows and tourist attractions that cater to all ages. Among the hundreds of things to do on any given day in the capital are some stand-out immersive experiences that allow families to become part of the story and get involved to a degree not possible elsewhere. Below are our recommendations for the top five immersive experiences running in London this summer that will engage and entertain the whole family...
The Paddington Bear Experience
Photo: Alex Brenner
An immersive walk-through show spread out over 26,000 sq ft in the heart of Central London, The Paddington Bear Experience allows guests to step inside the world of Michael Bond's classic stories for the first time as preparations for the Marmalade Day celebrations are underway at Windsor Gardens. Guests will get hands-on with a series of tasks throughout the experience as they meet a cast of characters from the much-loved book series, including Mrs. Brown. There's a lovingly recreated version of the Brown's family home, complete with the blossom tree mural at the foot of their staircase, and an excursion to Peru where you help create Marmalade, amongst other interactive moments. Photo opportunities with Paddington are available at the conclusion of the experience, as well as a chance to buy your own Marmalade sandwiches.
The show is directed by Tom Maller, whose previous work includes some of London's biggest immersive shows of recent years (Peaky Blinders: The Rise, Doctor Who: Time Fracture, Secret Cinema's Blade Runner, Romeo + Juliet, and Casino Royale).
Photos: Alex Brenner
Help Paddington and the Brown Family prepare for a very special occasion; the Marmalade Day Festival. Just like Paddington, you’ll begin your adventure in the hustle and bustle of Paddington Station where you’ll meet the friendly Station Master and hop aboard our full-sized train carriage – make sure you aren’t late! Journey through the sights and sounds of London, all the way to the Brown’s house at No. 32 Windsor Gardens. Step inside the Brown’s famous tree adorned hallway and explore multiple rooms in their home, then venture beyond as you’re transported to the magical jungle of Peru – all to help Paddington prepare for the biggest party Windsor Gardens has ever seen! Finish by celebeating the Marmalade Day Festival at Windsor Gardens with Paddington and his friends where you’ll dance to vibrant calypso music, play fairground games and eat & drink festival treats – most importantly you can try Paddington’s favourite Marmalade sandwich!
📍 Waterloo 💰 From £136.00 (Family of 4)
🧒 Suitable for all ages 🎟️ Book via paddingtonbearexperience.com
Bridge Command (Cadet Shows)
Photo: Alex Brenner
Bridge Command's origins date back to 2019, when Parabolic Theatre first prototyped an early version of the experience on a shoestring budget. An instant hit among immersive theatre fans, they continued to develop the concept over the following five years before debuting this supersized version of the show beneath the railway arches near Vauxhall station earlier this year. The highly interactive experience lets guests take charge of a starship and work together in a series of missions that could see them do anything from delivering cargo to investigating distress signals or exploring uncharted corners of the galaxy. Parabolic Theatre has long been pioneering immersive experiences that respond on the fly to guest decisions, and the show features a sophisticated back-end system that logs everything visitors do so that future visits incorporate their past choices into their next adventure.
Available on Fridays and Sundays through the summer, Bridge Command is running Cadet Missions aimed at those aged between 11-16. While you can expect a slightly less challenging experience, it's no less interactive.
Photos: Alex Brenner
Have you ever dreamed of commanding your own Starship? As the bridge crew of your own vessel, you will boldly go where no immersive theatre audience has gone before. Fusing gaming technology with theatrical performance, Bridge Command offers a variety of scenarios designed to keep the whole team fully engaged. Designed for groups of between three and six people, our fully interactive starship set will respond to your commands, and carry you beyond the final frontier. It is your job to make it so. You will be given a uniform and be part of a crew. Your ship is a complex organism that will require maintenance, you will meet a variety of characters played by live actors, and your missions will involve an array of challenges. More specifically, each officer’s station has a different set of tasks to complete. Helm officers fly the ship, engineering officers keep it running, and so on.
📍 Vauxhall 💰 From £160.00 (Family of 4)
🧒 Suitable for ages 11-15 🎟️ Book via bridgecommand.space
Phantom Peak - Starlit Summer
Photo: Alistair Veryard
Phantom Peak is a hard show to describe to people who haven't been before. It combines elements of escape rooms, immersive theatre and theme parks into a unique open-world experience that feels a lot like a real-life video game. The town is populated by over a dozen actors spread across the venue's 30,000sq ft space, and each season of Phantom Peak (it's currently on its ninth season since first opening in August 2022) has 10 brand-new storylines for guests to complete. They take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to finish and will have you interacting with both the town's residents and numerous pieces of interactive technology scattered across the town. There are puzzles to be solved, characters to interrogate, and many opportunities to improvise with the show's excellent cast of characters.
Aside from the 10 main storylines, there are plenty of other things going on to occupy your time, including Platyhooks (hook a duck but with platypuses), carnival games, filmmaking contests, the Miramaze, and new for Starlit Summer, the Cabin Games. Every session of Phantom Peak is open to all ages, and the show's cast is excellent at interacting with younger guests. An ideal real-world substitute for a day of playing video games at home. Phantom Peak is a standout experience in London's immersive theatre scene.
Photos: Alistair Veryard
A fully immersive, open world experience - a living, breathing town where mystery lurks around every corner. Think of it as part escape room, part immersive theatre, part real-life videogame. You’ll meet mysterious strangers, uncover secret plots of rebellion, and find out what exactly happened to the old Mayor (coincidental accident, or cold-blimped murder?!) This summer, the residents of Phantom Peak are headed to the great outdoors! Long sunny days have arrived at last, and the Sun Daddy’s light has provided a warm atmosphere for the Townsfolk to compete in exciting camp competitions! But the warmth and sunlight may be blinding the townsfolk to the nefarious machinations of JONACO, hard at work in the mines. Jonas’s powerhouse company has been developing projects in the darkest corners of town, their true intentions a mystery. Join the summer fun, explore the sundrenched canals and lakeside, and uncover JONACO’s mysterious plot before it’s too late!
📍 Canada Water 💰 From £124.00 (Family of 4)
🧒 Suitable for all ages 🎟️ Book via phantompeak.com
AVORA: FAMILY Immersive Adventure
Originally designed to be an immersive cocktail experience for those 18 and older, Avora is the latest show from Inventive Productions, the company behind Alcotraz and Moonshine Saloon. Across the summer holidays, they're hosting a family-friendly version of the show that swaps the cocktails out for mocktails and puts kids at the centre of the show.
Set across three main spaces in their basement venue, it's taken a healthy amount of inspiration from the Avatar film series and is the closest thing you can get to visiting Pandora this side of the Atlantic. Guests are all given a jumpsuit to wear upon arrival that's embroidered with the logo of Roscorp - a tech conglomerate they'll be acting on behalf of during their journey. We'll leave it up to you to decide if Roscorp's true intentions for exploring far-off planets are noble or nefarious (spoilers: they're not good..), but you're there in good faith, acting as scientists on a fact-finding expedition to an other-worldly planet. There are two mocktails included in the ticket price, as well as a number of sensory games and challenges for guests aged 5-11.
The new world of Avora is ready and waiting to be explored! Roscorp Enterprise, the founding company of the remarkable gateway to Avora, has yet to gain the trust of the locals and uncover all the potential of the new world. Having failed with their current crew so far, Roscorp believes children may just be the key to unlocking the secrets of Avora. Will you be lucky enough to be selected to join the crew? A journey to Avora is like no experience you will have had before, a magical and mysterious planet which evolves and changes before your very eyes. Your mission if you choose to accept is to explore this new world and uncover the secrets that lie within. You will be guided by Dr Shelly to find the hidden secrets, interact with the local Avorians to learn how they live, play games and sample some of the rare delicacies found on Avora.
📍 Hoxton 💰 From £108.00 (Family of 4)
🧒 Suitable for ages 5-11 🎟️ Book via avora-experience.co.uk
Enitan's Game - Punchdrunk Enrichment
Photo: Ali Wright
The sister company to immersive heavyweight Punchdrunk, Punchdrunk Enrichment was founded in 2008 by Artistic Director Peter Higgin with the intention of taking the innovative practice of Punchdrunk into communities and schools. The first production in their new Punchdrunk Enrichment Stores venue in Wembley Park, Enitan's Game, revolves around a game created by Enitan's grandfather, who recently passed away. The show is part immersive theatre, part child-friendly escape room, and kids are the focus of the 50-minute experience, so adults can expect to take more of a backseat.
The show is co-created by Mia Jerome and Peter Higgin, written by Mia Jerome, Casey Jay Andrews, Omar F. Okai, and Simon Maeder, and directed by Omar F. Okai.
Photos: Ali Wright
Tucked away off a busy road in Wembley is a special place. Warm and welcoming, it’s a home for many when you are far from your own. Inside you’ll find Enitan and Ged, two friends who collect objects and stories. One such item is a game, made by Enitan’s grandfather when she first arrived in the UK. As a young girl, whenever she felt sad or homesick they played it together. It made her feel stronger and helped her grow. Now Enitan’s grandfather has gone and she needs your help to play again. Together, you’ll discover a secret world, and unlock the storyteller in you. Experience an immersive theatre show for families from Punchdrunk Enrichment in our brand-new venue. Enitan’s Game celebrates the power of shared stories, loss and community. Pick a card, let the journey begin.
📍 Wembley Park 💰 From £68.00 (Family of 4)
🧒 Suitable for ages 6-11 🎟️ Book via punchdrunkenrichment.org.uk
For more on London's best immersive shows (family-friendly and not) check out our Current/Upcoming Listings page.
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