LONDON'S BEST KIDS' EVENT OF THE YEAR
- AG
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
The Capital's Top Children's Events of the last 12 Months, Nominated by YOU for Time Well Spent Awards 2025
The past year has whizzed by in a kaleidoscopic blur of dinosaurs, LEGO, bears, Pharoahs, and Caped Crusaders.
But which London kids' event in the past 12 months stands out as the best and most memorable?
YOU decide in this year's Time Well Spent Awards - your top children's London events nominations are below, and the ultimate winner will be crowned in August.
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Imagine Festival
One of our favourite children’s events - and yours, judging by your nominations - turned 23 in February, but it has no intention of growing up, and entertains children each year with a gaggle of events, many of which are FREE.
Southbank Centre’s annual arts festival for children aged 0-11 explodes with events, spanning theatre, dance, music, poetry, literature, art and trails.
Highlights this year included a 10th birthday party for much-loved supermarket superhero Supertato; beloved book There’s a Bear on My Chair being brought to life for the first time, and the first opportunity in a decade to spend a magical morning with Dog Man creator, Dave Pilkey;
Imagine Festival. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
It only opened in March for a limited 14-week run, but this immersive show has already cemented its place as event of the year for many of our readers.
Created to wow all ages, visitors are invited to discover the legend of the Boy King, by stepping into ancient Egypt with stunning 8 metre high video mapping, a 360º VR journey, an interactive Metaverse, authentic artefacts from Cairo, and a world-first hologram, unveiling the secrets of the Pharoah’s mummification. Guests will also be able to discover a selection of original ancient Egyptian artefacts from as far back as 4000 B.C, as well as high quality replicas and facsimiles from Egypt.
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition, Immerse LDN, Excel Waterfront, ExCel, London E16 1XL
Paddington Bear Experience
There is no greater escapism than leaping into the perfect, joyous London of The Paddington Bear Experience, where the biggest life troubles revolve around a lack of oranges for the Marmalade Festival.
The immersive, theatrical experience is forensically faithful to the three much-loved Paddington films, with a series of actors, special effects and magical sets inspired by the franchise’s iconic locations, across 26,000 square feet of Southbank’s County Hall taking you on an adventure from Paddingto Station, through the Brown's iconic house, onto Peru and culminating in the big Marmalade Festival.
The Paddington Bear™ Experience, London County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB
Children’s Puppet Festival 2024
Little Angel Theatre's award-winning puppet festival returned last August, across both Little Angel venues with a programme that was brimming with shows from the most exciting UK and international companies currently making theatre for young audiences, from the Zoo that Comes to You, full of extraordinary puppet animals, to the beautiful Lottie, The Living Doll.
There were fabulous workshops to get involved with as well, like making ice cream puppets to take home, a Monster Circus Workshop or making walking, cardboard dinosaurs.
Little Angel Studios, 132 Sebbon St, London N1 2EH and Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, London N1 2DN
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue
The European premiere of the new Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue invites fans of all ages to team up and become heroes, rescuing a village under siege from zombies, in an interactive adventure through seven Minecraft zones.
Adventurers are given glowing, vibrating and colour-changing orbs to gather vital ingredients for a life saving potion to save villagers; battle blocky Creepers, and craft buildings.
The high octane quest has made quite the impression on our readers, with a highlight being a real-life “the floor is lava” game, leaping across molten magma to reach the fort.
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue. Corner Corner, Maritime Street, London, SE16 7LL
Batman Unmasked: The Exhibition
A colony of you followed the Bat Signal to explore a collection of the Caped Crusader's original props, vehicles, and costumes.
The Batman exhibition made a big impression on readers, who nominated it for its nine themed rooms, including the famous Wayne Manor library (and secret bookcase door) The Joker's Room and The Batcave.
Batman Unmasked. 45 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7BN
The Art of the Brick
The Art of Brick (which aptly lived on Brick Lane during its run) brought Lego masterpieces to London, following tours of more than 100 cities in 24 countries.
The exhibition featured artist Nathan Sawaya's Lego recreations of some of the world’s most famous artworks, from Michelangelo’s David to Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
Kids (and big kids) could also make their own masterpieces at the play and build area.
The Boiler House, 152 Brick Lane, London, E1 6RU. Until 9 June
Replay: A Limitless Recycled Playground
Part installation, part adventure playground, REPLAY is a space built entirely out of waste materials repurposed for fun by The Herd Theatre, which children can transform in any way their imaginations lead them.
Everything here can be moved, changed, combined, worn and reimagined, for kids to build their own worlds, invent games and leave ideas for players to come. It’s designed for all ages, with designated sessions grouped by age.
Replay. The Royal Festival Hall. 21 Jan – 1 June
Brigit's Bakery Halloween at Hamleys Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
The world’s oldest toyshop Hamleys and afternoon tea alchemists, Brigit’s Bakery created a delicious monster in the shape of the Halloween at Hamleys Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. Children enjoyed a deliciously spooky adventure through London, with entertainment from Hamleys Halloween guests and a Halloween-themed afternoon tea, specially crafted by Brigit’s Bakery.
It included pumpkin tarts, finger sandwiches, cupcakes, while fun fiends provided tricks and treats and kids left with a gift plus a Halloween at Hamleys travel cup.
Bella the Tower Bridge Cat Trail
Two and four legged guests enjoyed the feline trail at the London landmark, meeting character from the popular Bella the Tower Bridge Cat books and tottering across its astonishing glass walkways, 42 metres above the Thames.
The cat trail is open all year, for people (as well as pets) and is a fabulous adventure for little ones, filled with fascinating history, as they get their Apprenticeship Records stamped by characters along the way.
Keep your eyes peeled for the famous feline's birthday celebrations, when they turn up the meowsic and get the pawty started.
Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP
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