London immersive experiences for kids

Moving to Mars, Design Museum

How to get a taste of life on Mars without intergalactic travel? Head to the Design Museum, of course. This exhibition showcases everything from what our homes to our fashions on Mars would look like, and is stylish, educational and inspiring.

Disney On Ice, Magical Ice Festival, Wembley

Moana, Elsa, Belle and more come to life on ice in Disney on Ice's Magical Ice Festival. Even demi-god Maui makes an appearance!

Have fun with Fairy Tales at Discover Children's Story Centre

Hot on the tail of the wonderful, immersive Tiger Who Came to Tea installation, Discover Children's Story Centre is launching a new immersive exhibition, where kids can fall into their favourite fairy tale stories. From trip-trapping over the bridge like the three Billy Goats to searching for treasures in Aladdin's cave, guests will follow the breadcrumb trail to adventure. The exhibition was designed by award-winning illustrator David Litchfield and author Ross Montgomery and is sure to delight - and ignite - young imaginations.

The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Brothers Studio Tour

An immersive trip that takes you behind the scenes of one of the most-obsessed about book and film series ever, Warner Brothers continues to add excitement to the studio tour experience, even for those who have already been. The latest news? The 16,500sqft Gringotts Wizarding Bank, complete with goblins and Lestrange vault, stuffed with treasure, opened in March 2019. No one will blame you if you mutter a spell or two under your breath.

Credit: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.

KidZania London

At KidZania, kids rule the world: they look after babies in hospital, they train as cabin crew on British Airways, they become WWE Superstars. And much, much more. Come for a day, a birthday, or even for a summer camp experience during the summer hols.

Fall into Room on the Broom at Chessington World of Adventures

The latest attraction at Chessington World of Adventures is the immersive Room on the Broom experience, where Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's bestselling book is brought to life as you walk through the pages of the book with larger-than-life characters and a bubbling cauldron. The kids can get in on the action, searching for the witch's wand... and steering clear of the fearsome dragon.

Check out the immersive art at NOW Gallery

From Nadia Huggins' moving photographic works to Mowalola's Nigerian punk installation, NOW Gallery is a brilliant space for introducing your mini-mes to immersive art, that you'll actually enjoy yourself.

Become a fairy at Fairytale Friends

The immersive experience isn't limited to older children; at Fairytale Friends in Battersea, there are day experiences over half terms and summer holidays, where you can go on a unicorn or fairy adventure (the actual space looks like a fairy tree house and the staff stay in character throughout). Now, where's that pixie dust when we need it?

Ride the Mail Rail at the Postal Museum

Kids can hop on the Mail Rail, a 15-minute ride through London's subterranean mail tunnel routes, passing by stations that are largely unchanged since they were first built a century ago. Audio clips from Mail Rail workers, talking about their day jobs, helps to bring this immersive experience to life.

Go back in time to play with Permian animals at the Horniman

Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs is an exciting new immersive exhibition at the Horniman museum, exploring the Permian era from 252 million years ago. This travelling exhibition includes fossils, full-size models and animatronics to bring the animals of that time period - sabre-toothed tigers, giant insects, sharks, and dinosaur-like reptiles like the Titanophoneus - to life.

Photo: Gondwana Studios

The Gruffalo and The Snail and the Whale in Concert, Royal Albert Hall

If there's one guaranteed way to get the kids excited about classical music - even the toddlers - Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler will be the ones to do it.

More specifically, a double bill of the animated films, produced by Magic Light Pictures, of The Gruffalo and The Snail and the Whale, with screenings of both movies alongside orchestral accompaniment from the BBC Concert Orchestra.

The Potion Room, Cutter & Squidge

The Potion Room is an immersive experience that promises to treat students to a delicious afternoon tea, and teach them how to brew their very own edible potions. Kids (and kidults) above the age of eight can find out if they have what it takes to become the the next Half Blood Prince in the trendiest teatime London has to offer.

Amazing activities for kids that aren't in London - but should be

From The Color Factory to the Museum of Ice Cream, there are some insane, US-based immersive experiences the kids won't be able to resist. We're talking colouring in walls with giant felt tips and sliding into a pool of rainbow sprinkles. These immersive experiences might just be worth the transatlantic flight...