My niece Rosie (5) and nephew Oliver (6) came to visit me in the school holidays so was looking for something fun to do when they got here (we also went to HMS Belfast). I used to work right next to Westfield in Shepherds Bush, and in my lunchtime would wander around the shopping centre looking for deals and discounts. One day, a massive airplane poked out of the wall by M&S and discovered it was a new attraction called Kidzania.

Obviously its only play, but the entrance for Kidzania really does look and feel like you’re in an airport. It’s sponsored by British Airways, so has all the elements in it you’d find in an airport.

I wish I’d taken some better shots of the inside. I know I keep going on about theming, but the city looks just so good. With vans and buses driving around etc.

How cute is this? You get your own personalised British Airways boarding pass.

From then on, I knew I wanted to go – but generally you need kids with you to stop looking like a weirdo, so used the family visit to take them. I’m putting it out there right now – it is amazing.

You know how some attractions in the UK are just a bit… depressing? Like, compared with Disney World in America where everything is shiny and beautiful- and the employees are happy and really enthusiastic?

Well, in the UK, I’ve definitely noticed we just don’t do it as well (there’s usually a faint smell of sick in the air and the workers are scowling hungover teenagers). However, at Kidzania – it was done so well and the staff were amazing. Let me explain.

Oliver getting strapped in to go wall climbing. Oh, about the hair net. Kids are all given one, so if they wear a hat or a helmet, they put that on first. Keeps things hygienic.

Can you spot the ropes on the climbing wall?

What is Kidzania?

Kidzania is a 75,000 sq. ft (= massive) child-size city where children are in charge. In fact, parents aren’t supposed to get too involved and are to step back and let their kids explore alone.

There are more than 60 real life role-play experiences (such as firefighter, journalist, window cleaner, chocolate maker etc).

You turn up to an airport where you are checked in and given your boarding pass (plus a wrist band that means kids can’t leave without a parent) and are given money (kidZos). Now with that, you can do fun things, like wall climbing or going on a city tour or – you can get a job and earn some money (which is just as fun to be honest!). You can even put it in the bank and accrue interest and get a personalised debit card.

THE rule of the chocolate factory is that you are not allowed to eat any of the chocolate! Poor kids. They did get to ‘pick up the chocolate they made’ on the way out though.

Each activity is between 10 – 20 minutes, so there will be a bit of waiting involved. If possible go in the weekday, and I noticed it got quieter towards the end of the day. You get four hours in Kidzania, which I didn’t think was a lot till I got there – in fact, the kids were exhausted after 3 hours (and my feet were killing me) so left a little bit early.

What activities are there?

I can’t write them all down here, but here’s the full list. There is definitely something there for every child.

• Acting academy
• Advertising Agency
• Pokemon Animation Studio
• Aviation Academy
• Beauty Salon
• Chocolate Factory
• Disco
• Dentist
• Pit Lane Experience
• Fire Station
• Hotel
• Newspaper

Honestly… there are so many, brilliantly themed things you can do. We managed to get around to doing five things, because there’s so much to see, queuing and the activities aren’t rushed. The adults taking the children through the activities are really attentive and patient (my god are they patient)!

How much is a standard ticket to Kidzania?

Kidzania is an experience for children 4 – 14 years old and standard entry is four hours. A child ticket is £18, while an adult is £8. If the child is 1-3 years old, it costs £10 and its free for a child under one.

You get a bit of a discount with a family ticket which is £88, for two kids and two adults, or three kids and one adult.

HOWEVER – Right now with Attactiontix you can save 47% on tickets, with tickets from £5.

ALWAYS get 2for1 tickets at Kidzania with this trick

The easiest way to get a cheaper ticket to Kidzania is to use this Days Out Guide 2for1 trick. If you have a valid train ticket for that day, you can get 2 for 1 tickets for all sorts of attractions, including Kidzania.

Don’t worry, the you don’t ACTUALLY have to travel on train, but you need a ticket. Here’s the trick, a train ticket within London counts too. So if you went from Wimbledon to London Bridge which is the nearest station, you’re still entitled to get the discount. The cost of the ticket which is a few quid is worth it for the discount you get on the ticket.

My thoughts…

Is it worth the money? YES! The theming is the best I’ve seen in the UK, and the staff are brilliant, making sure the little ones know what their doing. It’s also very clean and professional – not sticky and a bit gross like a lot of places packed full of kids.

Kidzania isn’t cheap, especially for four hours – but I really think its value for money. That said, you CAN get 2for1 tickets, which makes it a bargain.

Have you ever been to Kidzania? Let me know what you thought in the comments.