It’s here. It launched yesterday. And, honestly, you must check it out with your children if they are aged 7 or over. Yep, we’re talking the Kidzania launch at London’s Westfield in Shepherd’s Bush. Ok, so there will inevitably be many, many excited and hyperactive children on-site, but it’s educational, great fun for them and, if the going gets tough, you can drink champagne while they’re at it.

The West London shopping Mecca that is Westfield will be home to this highly-anticipated, educational entertainment experience, which has already proven to be a hugh hit in Dubai, amongst others (this is the 19th international opening of its kind). Set within a 75,000 square foot, child-sized city, KidZania London aims to be a real-life introduction to the world of work, representing experiential learning at its very best. It may sound terribly grown up, but the idea behind all this is that children can begin to understand and learn all about the nature of work for themselves, the diversity and function of businesses, and its overall contribution to our world today. The size of Leicester Square, with a a ceiling height that rivals Heathrow’s Terminal 5, this facility can welcome up to 1,700 guests at any one time. Remember, there is champagne: more on that below.

On entering their “city”, kids will find the streets lined with over 60 real-world establishments, including a Hospital, Police Station, Fire Station, Airline, and Theatre, each offering real-life role play adventures in a fun and safe environment. They can learn about a vast variety of unique professions from the moment they enter the British Airways branded airport terminal. As they progress through boarding, all will be met with the body of a real A319 aircraft in which the Aviation Academy and Cabin Crew Training School are housed. From there they can study fashion in the H&M sponsored design studio, make their own juices at the Innocent smoothie factory, learn to change tires in the pit lane sponsored by Renault and even learn about housekeeping skills and front of house management, thanks to the partnership between Kidzania and Dorsett Hotels. The Dorsett Hotel Shepherd’s Bush is a great hotel option nearby if you aren’t London-based. It’s family-friendly and a stone’s throw from Westfield. Kidzania all about learning while playing, and it promises to be a huge hit.

Now, there are several packages available, but the one love the idea of is the Kidzania Child Ticket with Personal Shopping Experience and VIP shopping pass for £135. While your little one hits Kidzania, you can kick back with a flute of bubbly whilst a professional stylist from ITV’s popular Style Doctors provides a style and colour consultation.  You can bring a friend with you if you choose to and, once the consultation is over, you can shop the day away, safe in the knowledge that your child is fully-supervised and also learning something, too. That’s a day out for you both sorted then.

To buy tickets or for further information please visit Buyagift here.