The Paddington Bear Experience in London has now officially opened in London’s iconic County Hall on the riverside of the Southbank.
Created by The Path Entertainment Group in collaboration with The Copyrights Group (a STUDIOCANAL company) and Lionsgate, Copyrights’ agent for experiences, this unique and fun-filled interactive experience inspired by the nation’s favourite bear spans more than 26,000 square feet of London’s iconic County Hall on the riverside of the Southbank.
After attending The Paddington Bear Experience, Michael Bond’s daughter Karen Jankel said:
Whenever something new comes along involving Paddington I always ask myself what my father would have thought so, visiting the Paddington Experience for the first time, I was feeling a mixture of eager anticipation and trepidation.
However, from the moment we passed through Mr Gruber’s shop and the experience began, I knew I had nothing to worry about. The attention to detail at every stage was spot on and it really felt as though we were entering 32 Windsor Gardens and Paddington’s world.
Everyone involved from the designers through to the actors clearly have a genuine affection for Paddington and I can guarantee that, had he still been here to enjoy it, the experience would definitely have received my father’s own pawprint of approval.
Step inside the world of Paddington as you’ll experience custom-built sets of the most memorable locations from the Paddington stories.
You’ll experience Paddington Station where you’ll be greeted by a friendly Station Master as you board a lively train journey through London’s most famous landmarks all the way to No. 32 Windsor Gardens.
Once inside you’ll experience a whole host of multi-sensory activities to help Paddington ahead of the Marmalade Day festival.
Multiple themed rooms, games, character interactions and more not to mention a range of food (including marmalade sandwiches) and drinks will capture the hearts of the entire family, no matter the age.
Tickets and merchandise for the experience can be purchased from Mr Gruber’s Shop which is open at London County Hall and is inspired by the antique store in the Paddington stories.
2023 marked 65 years since a kind bear from Peru with a big appetite for marmalade was first introduced to the world. Paddington is a beloved children’s character, created by author Michael Bond in 1958. The first book, ‘A Bear Called Paddington,’ introduced readers to the friendly and polite bear from Peru who is discovered by the Brown family at Paddington Station in London. The series of stories that followed, chronicle Paddington’s adventures in London and around the world. Since its first publication, the Paddington books, published by Harper Collins, have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide.
The Paddington movies are produced by Studiocanal and the experience is creatively produced by The Path Entertainment Group, directed by Tom Maller for Immersive Octopus, written by Katie Lyons (Peaky Blinders: The Rise, Camden Stables Market), designed by Rebecca Brower (Doctor Who: Time Fracture, West End), with costume design by Stewart J Charlesworth (Respect La Diva, West End), lighting design by Terry Cook (Dubai World Expo 2020) for Woodroffe Bassett, sound design by Luke Swaffield (SAW: Escape Experience London, Tower Hill) for Autograph, video design by Novak (Lumiere Festival, London, Durham and Derry-Londonderry) and production managed by Gary Beestone Associates.
