Everyone’s favourite duffel coat-clad bear is getting the immersive treatment
In a week when an immersive event based on a children’s book has gone viral for all the wrong reasons, the team behind The Paddington Bear Experience is promising to be the real deal. Inspired by the titular bear of countless books and two (soon to be three) movies, this interactive show will see visitors help Paddington and the Brown family as they prepare for the Marmalade Day Festival.
Things will kick off at Paddington Station (not the real one, but a set in Southbank) where a friendly conductor will introduce the story before taking guests on a train journey past London’s most famous landmarks to the Browns’ house at No. 32 Windsor Gardens. Through themed rooms, games and character interactions, the audience will help get things ready for the finale – a Windsor Garden street party – where they’ll enjoy food (including Paddington’s famous marmalade sandwich, of course), drinks and even more games.
The experience is set to open on Fri 31st May and, in the meantime, ‘Mr Gruber’s Shop’, inspired by the antique shop from the Paddington stories, will be opening on Fri 1st March in preparation for the main event. Fans will be able to drop by the pop-up, which will be at London County Hall, to buy merch and book themselves in for the show. Tickets go on sale on Mon 4th March; if you wanna be first in line, sign up for priority booking below.
Opens Fri 31st May 2024
County Hall, Belvedere Road, London SE1 7GP
paddingtonbearexperience.com