London’s packed with character-themed attractions that’ll bring your kids’ favorite stories to life! You can journey through Shrek’s Far Far Away, help Paddington save Marmalade Day, or explore authentic Harry Potter film sets at Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Meet superheroes at Madame Tussauds, climb the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, or join PAW Patrol adventures in Essex. From underwater Nemo encounters to Disney magic at RCA Battersea, these immersive experiences offer unforgettable adventures your children will treasure.
- Shrek’s Adventure London – Journey Through Far Far Away
- Paddington Bear Experience – Save Marmalade Day on the South Bank
- Peter Pan Statue – Meet the Boy Who Never Grew Up in Kensington Gardens
- Mickey Mouse Sculpture – Disney Magic at RCA Battersea
- Nickelodeon Land PAW Patrol Adventure Bay – Pup-tastic Fun in Essex
- The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure – Explore the Deep Dark Wood at Chessington
- SEA LIFE London Aquarium – Underwater Adventures With Nemo and Friends
- The London Dungeon – Family-Friendly Scares With Historical Characters
- Madame Tussauds London – Meet Your Favorite Movie and TV Characters
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – Harry Potter’s Magical World
- The Sum Up
Shrek’s Adventure London – Journey Through Far Far Away
Step into the magical world of Far Far Away at Shrek’s Adventure London, where you’ll commence on a 45-minute interactive journey through the beloved ogre’s kingdom. Located in County Hall near Waterloo station, this 20,000-square-foot adventure combines live shows with cutting-edge technology.
You’ll meet Shrek, Princess Fiona, Donkey, and Puss in Boots while collecting special ingredients to escape the kingdom. Highlights include a 4D Magic Flying Bus ride over London landmarks, steering through the Mirror Maze of Insanity, and visiting Shrek’s Swamp.
The experience features 9-10 fairytale-themed shows with sensory elements you can see, hear, touch, and smell. The adventure follows an original storyline where guests encounter the villain Rumpelstiltskin’s revenge plot throughout their journey.
Perfect for families with children aged 6+, the attraction includes dancing, singing, and jumping with live actors, ensuring an unforgettable adventure.
Paddington Bear Experience – Save Marmalade Day on the South Bank
Where else can you help Paddington Bear prepare for the most marmalade-tastic celebration of the year? The Paddington Bear Experience on the South Bank takes your family on a 70-minute adventure from Paddington Station through the Browns’ house to the Peruvian jungle.
You’ll solve puzzles, search for keys in the kitchen, and complete festival preparations alongside live actors playing the Brown family. The interactive journey includes a train ride showing London landmarks through carriage windows and hands-on marmalade-making activities. The experience spans over 26,000 sq ft inside the historic County Hall building.
Everything culminates in Windsor Gardens’ street party where you’ll meet Paddington himself for hugs and photos. Located at County Hall near the London Eye, tickets start around £19-£24 for children and £29-£34 for adults.
Peter Pan Statue – Meet the Boy Who Never Grew Up in Kensington Gardens
From interactive marmalade adventures, you can discover one of London’s most enchanting literary landmarks just a short journey away in Kensington Gardens.
The Peter Pan statue brings Barrie’s beloved character to life in bronze, positioned exactly where Peter lands his bird-nest boat in the original story.
Your kids will love climbing the specially designed handholds cast into the sculpture, safely exploring the magical world of fairies, squirrels, and woodland creatures surrounding Peter.
The statue appeared overnight in 1912 as if by fairy magic, and it’s maintained that enchanting quality ever since. Standing at an impressive 14 feet tall, this conical bronze sculpture resembles a tree stump topped with the boy who never grew up.
Located near The Long Water, it’s perfect for combining with duck feeding at the Serpentine.
This Grade II* listed treasure captures childhood wonder beautifully.
Mickey Mouse Sculpture – Disney Magic at RCA Battersea
While you’re exploring London’s royal parks, don’t miss the magical six-foot Mickey Mouse sculpture that’s bringing Disney wonder to South London. At the Royal College of Art’s Battersea campus, you’ll discover “Structural Sorcerer” – a stunning lattice-designed Mickey from Disney’s Fantasia that’s completely free to visit.
This colorful, grid-like sculpture celebrates Disney’s 100th anniversary and honors late designer Virgil Abloh’s artistic legacy. Your kids will love seeing the Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey towering above them in brilliant multi-colored glory.
The sculpture’s on display through summer 2023, making it perfect for family outings. It’s part of Disney’s Create 100 initiative, featuring works by celebrities like Beyoncé.
The creative campus setting adds educational value while your children experience Disney magic in an inspiring artistic environment. The sculpture was created by ALASKA ALASKA, a multidisciplinary design practice that transformed Abloh’s original artwork into this impressive three-dimensional tribute.
Nickelodeon Land PAW Patrol Adventure Bay – Pup-tastic Fun in Essex
Although Adventure Bay sits outside London’s borders in Essex, your little PAW Patrol fans will think they’ve stepped straight into their favorite cartoon at Nickelodeon Land’s indoor play paradise. Located at Lakeside Shopping Centre, this mission-based play area lets kids climb through the Command Center, slide into the pups’ vehicles, and help save Adventure Bay alongside Chase, Marshall, and Skye.
You’ll find interactive PAW Patrol vehicles with lights and sound effects that’ll keep toddlers and early primary kids engaged for hours. The attraction’s pushchair-friendly design and accessible facilities make visits stress-free, while daily character meet-and-greets add extra magic. Beyond the entertainment, kids can enjoy educational experiences that cleverly weave learning into the fun through science experiments and problem-solving challenges.
Plan 2-3 hours to explore Adventure Bay plus other Nickelodeon zones like SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom for maximum pup-tastic adventure.
The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure – Explore the Deep Dark Wood at Chessington
Your little adventurers can step straight into Julia Donaldson’s beloved storybook at Chessington World of Adventures’ Gruffalo River Ride Adventure, where they’ll float through the Deep Dark Wood alongside Mouse on his cleverly crafted journey.
This gentle boat ride brings the classic tale to life through immersive scenes featuring Fox, Owl, Snake, and the fearsome Gruffalo himself.
The “wooden tub” boats hold up to five riders, perfect for family groups. While the atmosphere creates mild spookiness with dramatic lighting and sound effects, it remains wonderfully family-friendly.
Kids will love the physical sets, projections, and even scents that make each story moment feel real. The attraction opened in March 2017, adding this magical experience to the theme park’s family offerings.
Expect light water splashes during your adventure.
Children under 1.1m need adult supervision, making this ideal for mixed-age families exploring Greater London’s themed attractions.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium – Underwater Adventures With Nemo and Friends
Where can your kids swim with sharks without getting wet? At SEA LIFE London Aquarium, where underwater adventures come alive! Walk through the incredible underwater tunnel for jaw-dropping shark views, then experience the thrilling Shark Walk. Your little explorers will meet Nemo’s real-life friends – colorful clownfish, graceful seahorses, and mesmerizing sea dragons.
The jellyfish display creates a magical underwater world perfect for young visitors, while the Pacific Ocean tank offers exciting marine discoveries. Kids can get up close with playful Gentoo penguins and marvel at the UK’s largest piranha collection.
With over 500 species across three floors, there’s endless excitement waiting. The aquarium also welcomes 40,000 school children annually for educational programs, making it a perfect learning destination for young marine enthusiasts.
Open daily from 9:30 AM to 7 PM, this South Bank attraction transforms ocean adventures into unforgettable memories your kids will treasure forever.
The London Dungeon – Family-Friendly Scares With Historical Characters
When history meets hair-raising fun, The London Dungeon delivers spine-tingling adventures that’ll make your brave little historians both shriek and giggle! This 90-minute immersive experience brings 1,000 years of London’s darkest history to life through 16 live shows and thrilling rides.
Your kids will encounter legendary characters like Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd, and Anne Boleyn while live actors blend scares with humor throughout atmospheric 360-degree sets.
The Great Fire of London recreates 1666’s devastating blaze with realistic smoke effects, while the Tyrant Boat Ride navigates spooky waters past Traitor’s Gate.
Located in County Hall alongside family attractions like SEA LIFE and the London Eye, this educational yet entertaining experience perfectly balances frightening fun with historical facts about events like the Black Death and Gunpowder Plot. The attraction underwent a £20 million renovation when it moved to its current South Bank location in 2013.
Madame Tussauds London – Meet Your Favorite Movie and TV Characters
If meeting your favorite superheroes and movie stars sounds like a dream come true, Madame Tussauds London makes it reality with over 150 incredibly lifelike wax figures spread across 8 immersive zones!
You’ll battle alongside Anakin Skywalker with lightsabers, ride the Millennium Falcon with Chewbacca, and marvel at the massive 4.5-meter Hulk with cricket ball-sized eyeballs.
The Marvel Hall of Heroes lets you pose with Black Panther’s glowing vibranium suit and try Captain Marvel’s AR experience. The museum featured BB-8 and Rey in their Star Wars exhibit, bringing the beloved droids and Jedi to life.
Don’t miss Spider-Man hanging upside-down or the recent additions like Timothée Chalamet from Dune.
With over 250 measurements taken for each figure, these wax creations look so real you’ll think they might actually move!
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – Harry Potter’s Magical World
Step through the real sets where Harry Potter came to life at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. You’ll explore the actual Great Hall, Diagon Alley, and Dumbledore’s office used in all eight films.
Your kids will love seeing authentic costumes, magical props, and the massive Hogwarts Castle model that created those stunning exterior shots.
The 3.5-hour self-guided tour lets families move at their own pace through soundstages filled with filmmaking magic. Don’t miss Platform 9¾, where you can board the original Hogwarts Express and try the green-screen experience.
Your children will discover how movie magic works through special effects exhibits and animatronics displays. The tour opened in March 2012 and has welcomed visitors behind the scenes of the beloved film series ever since.
Located at the actual film studio in Hertfordshire, this isn’t just an attraction—it’s where the magic was made.
The Sum Up
You’ll find London’s packed with magical character experiences that’ll make your little ones’ eyes light up! From meeting beloved bears to exploring wizarding worlds, there’s something special waiting around every corner. Don’t try to squeeze everything into one trip – pick your kids’ favorite characters and plan accordingly. Book ahead for popular attractions, bring comfortable shoes, and get ready for unforgettable adventures that’ll have your family talking about London’s magic for years to come!
