Hola chicos, last Sunday we were extremely excited as we ventured into the magic world of KidZania London. We live in London and not too far from the Westfield London shopping centre where its located so it was a must for us to go and explore this new place. It was a spontaneous day out that resulted in a fantastic family moment!
Check this VIDEO first, so you can have an overall idea of KidZania before my review.
And below are a collage of photos and my review:
We booked our tickets online. You can check their ticket prices here -- it was £18 per child (4 to 14 years old), £15 for adults from 15 years old, £10 for early years (1 to 3 years old) and infants are free if you pay in advance. If you pay once you are there, the price is £39 per child and £18 for adults. I though it was also interesting to know that schools can organise a trip there. I thought this would be a fantastic way to teach kids different type of jobs in a fun way.
We printed our tickets that looked like boarding passes for a flight. The whole idea is that you are flying to a magic place to fulfill all kids dreams! After changing and getting ready we got in our car and started our adventure. As soon as we arrived to Westfield we followed the signs to KidZania. It is very easy, there is no way that you could get lost -- for the people that know Westfield London, KidZania is near the Marks & Spencer’s entrance. There are lots of signs from the parking zone that guide you to the specific entrance. Then you take a lift and the entrance is just next to it. Inside, you then have to take another lift up or use the escalators. After that you arrive in what looks like a Birtish Airways Airport departures hall/check-in area. Within the departure hall there is also a huge British Airways emblazoned plane that you need to walk below, which just adds to the sense of wonder.
At the check-in desk they greet you as though you are about to take a flight. They do a check-in using your tickets and ask about any allergies, etc. We were each then given a ‘watch like’ electronic bracelet which is to keep a track of every person, making it difficult for anyone to get lost -- a great idea! Bella was also given 50 Kidzo’s (KidZania’s own currency!) to spend inside. After that you are finally ready to go pas security and go inside. It really is like being in a totally different place -- an life-like town for kids. You can find everything that you might expect to find in a normal town or city (Hospitals, banks, police station, sports stadium to name a few) but re-imagined for children.
You will find the Information Centre just to your right as soon as you enter. You can go there to see a full list of what jobs or activities are available. There are lots of options to choose from. You can find the whole list of activities here. From our experience the best thing to do is to go around first to check the different activities so the children get to see what activities are available and what they might want to do first.
There are establishments where your kids can earn money: Music Academy, City Clock, Dance Club, Recycling Centre, Power Company, Aviation Academy, Engineering Centre, Acting Academy, City Tour Bus, Bank, Vault, Dentist, Hospital and A&E, Garment Recycling Plant, Newspaper, Radio Station, Animation Studio, Beauty Salon, Courier Service, Hotel, Police Station, Forensic Lab, Fire Station, Fashion Studio, Supermarket, Department Store and Stadium.
If you come with babies there are also a couple of rooms that you can join. They have the RightZKeeper’s Residence where you can find a kitchen, a bathroom, a room and a living room all for kids to play like if they are in their homes. Sienna loved this room. It was full of entertainment for her and she didn’t want to leave! In front of this area there is a Kindergarten with lots of toys and activities for very young children. This was a very small room so we didn’t stay long. The Residence was much better for Sienna -- she really had a blast there. Now that she is walking more, she was very keen to walk around when she could. She loved the lights that were around which she would’ve stayed staring at all day long.
Bella started with a painting class at the KZ National Painting School, then she went to Cadbury’s Chocolate Factory, then to the Fruit and Nut Bar Makery and finally to the Innocent Smoothie Factory. We spent some time, as previously mentioned, at the baby rooms to entertain Sienna.
Suggestion List to get the most of KidZania
- Check what activities are on offer first (some activities such as classes you need to pay for in Kidzo’s and some are jobs where children earn Kidzo’s). Go around and see what your child would like to do.
- Check available jobs and timings at the Information Centre.
- Each room that runs an activity has a sign outside with the capacity, duration, age suggested and charge/amount earned. Check this as it is very important. It also informs you what the activity is about and if there are any allergy warnings.
- Your ticket allows you to stay inside KidZania for 4 hours from the allotted start time which you choose when booking. With this in mind, if you would like your kids to make the most of this time doing activities, it could be better to book a slot early in the morning or just after lunch in the afternoon so as not to lose time eating.
- We naively booked a time which meant we had to take lunch whilst in there which we thought was probably not the best use of the time. Of course its nice to take a break for a snack whilst in there.
- The first floor has all the factories as well as the aviation academy. This is very popular so expect long queues. This is also the case for the fire and rescue unit, the police department, etc.
- You need to try to get a balance between activities which cost Kidzos and activities which earn Kidzos so you have money to spend.
- I think the idea works better if your child has a friend or a group of friends to do the activities with as they will feel less shy (but this of course depends on the child’s personality). My daughter Bella can be very shy with anything new or different so she was very overwhelmed at the beginning and didn’t want to do anything. Had we gone with a friend she probably would have started to do the activities sooner.
- You can try to look for activities that have smaller queues or have a larger capacity so you don’t waste time queuing. Believe it or not, the 4 hours passes very quickly.
After 4 hours you have to leave the venue through their Immigration Office LOL which I thought was very funny. To be honest, the whole idea was hilarious and kids love the idea of being grown up. I have heard about this concept before as my niece has been to a similar centre in Peru called DiverCity (KidZania itself is a Mexican company with branches in many cities around the world). My niece told me how much fun she had there so I was very intrigued to go to KidZania London to see if it really is worth it. In my opinion, overall I give it a thumbs up and we were very pleased with everything. If asked, ‘would we go back again?’, we would definitely say, ‘YES!’.
I hope this review was useful if you are thinking of going to KidZania or to help you get the most of your time there. Have you been there already? Did you like it? If you have been there I would love to know your opinion, so please leave a comment below.
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
Linking up with:
Looks like there is lots to see and do there! The factories look like great fun! Some lovely memories made there #TwinklyTuesday
It is really fun with a lot of things to do. Definitely a good place to go with your kids, 😉 Thanks for stopping by, xx
This looks fab…is it at the Westfield in White City rather than Stratford? Lots of stuff to do there by the looks of it and Zach is still young enough for the cheapest ticket! Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
It is really good fun. Yes it is at the Westfield in White City. There are a couple of rooms for small children but it worth it if you bring older kids too. Overall it is a really good place to bring your kids. Thanks for hosting, xx
It looks fab, what a thorough, brilliant review. Thanks for linking up x
It is really a great place! We had a fantastic time!! Thank you so much for your comment. It really means a lot to me that you liked it!! 🙂 Thanks for hosting lovely, xx
Great review! I had no idea there was a Kidzania in London, having just left Dubai, where there was another one.
So excited for when Miss S is old enough to really appreciate this, so we can take her.
Thanks for linking up with #wineandboobs
@twentyfirstmama
Yes they have recently opened it. It has a month only so that is why we were so excited to be there. Thanks for hosting, xx
Wow what a great day out in London and I have been planning on taking the kids to something in London as they have never been. Love the photos and all the fun you all had together. Thank you ever so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Thank you Jenny. It is really good fun!! So much to do! My girls had a great day there! Thanks for commenting and for hosting!! xx
KidZania looks so interesting and like it could be rather educational. And if that wasn’t enough it give children the opportunity to experience a day in the life of us adults. Xx #KCACOLS
It is amazing!! So much fun for kids!! And as you said it is also educational!! 🙂 x
Looks great! Yours reviews are always so detailed, which is fab. I love the picture of Sienna asleep on her dad, too cute! #KCACOLS
Aww thank you Nadia!! I really like to explain every single detail!! Sometimes too much maybe!! LOL Yes that photo is really cute! I love it too! She was less than 1 year at that time!! Thanks for commenting lovely! 🙂 x
Oh my god this looks brilliant! I think I’d enjoy it just as much as the children. Your review of it was great and really helpful. We just never had half as any of these cool things to do when I was younger! #kcacols
This sounds like great fun! Fab photos, Franca x #KCACOLS
This looks amazing! I’ve never heard of such a thing before. It sounds like there’s plenty to do within 4 hours, it must be hard to see and do everything you want to. It looks like a really fun day out for the whole family and especially the kids. #KCACOLS
Thanks so much for reviewing this place – I’ve been interested ever since I first read about it coming to the UK several years ago. What an experience! I can see how it would be quite overwhelming at first and the queueing and waiting for various activities would be a little frustrating but I guess that can’t be helped.
Overall, I think it looks absolutely fascinating. Can’t believe how much effort has been put into it – brilliant. I think when my son is a lot older we’ll definitely check it out. And yes, I can see how going with a friend would be a good idea.
Thanks for sharing x #kcacols
This looks brilliant I really want to take Olivia she would love it but we are too far away. We need something like this up north ha! 4 hours seems like plenty of time without getting bored too great video and review #KCACOLS
This looks amazing, I’ve never heard of any place like this before. Looks like you all had a fab day, Leo would love it.xx #KCACOLS
I’ve heard so many amazing things about Kidzania. I think it’s an absolutely awesome place and I’d love to take Evie when she’s older. They need more of these around the country, I think it’s so good to show the little ones that there is a huge variety of jobs you can do. A place to visit again and again! xxx #KCACOLS
We were just here yesterday for a party for E and he absolutely LOVED it and has already asked if he can go back! He was shattered after 4 hours there though but I would like to go back again and take M with us next time. Being in a party group I don’t think E got to do as many of the activities he would have liked #KCACOLS
Wow! I’ve never been. This looks amazing. Like the ultimate softplay/Disney/cool party. Thanks so much for sharing and giving tips. We must try it in the new year.x #KCACOLS
This looks like so much fun! I wish we lived nearer! If we ever come to london, I’d love to visit it. #KCACOLS
This sounds so so cool! I’ve never heard of it before but it looks awesome fun. 😀 #KCACOLS
I keep hearing adverts for this on the radio and think that it sounds amazing. And from your photos it really does look awesome and one I might take the children too when Aria is a little older. Although at £28 per child it is a bit pricey – yikes! But it looks so so fun and imaginative #kcacols
That looks INCREDIBLE! I want to go and play haha never mind SB! No but really I think she’d love it there, will definitely look into it when we’re next in London! #KCACOLS
This is a really interesting concept. I think my girls are a bit young for it at the moment but it’s definitely something worth listening looking into in a couple of years #KCACOLS
I can’t wait to go with my daughter. It just looks so exciting and really expertly done. I love the idea of the airport queue at the beginning. My only fear would be how crowded it would get at school holiday times as that’s the only time we could go. I think they should build one for adults too! Nicky x #KCACOLS
Its sounds like a very enjoyable place to take the kiddies. A few of my friends have been and enjoyed it too 🙂 #KCACOLS
This looks amazing. I do t live in London but this is something I would definitely travel to visit when my daughter is a little older. I’m so impressed with it, it looks like you all had an amazing time! #KCACOLS
Oh, I’ve heard about these places. I think Little Miss A would find it all very overwhelming at the moment. Maybe something to try when she’s a bit older!
Looks like you had a great time though.
#KCACOLS
That looks like a fab day out for little ones. Can’t wait till mine are little older and we can start to enjoy days like that! #KCACOLS