KidZania, an edutainment brand offering interactive cities for children where they can try their hand at grown-up jobs, has closed its London location at the Westfield shopping centre. The attraction opened in 2015, offering young guests the chance to get hands-on in settings such as a TV studio, newsroom, hospital, bank, police department, acting academy, fashion studio, and more.
A statement on the homepage for KidZania London reads:
“After 8 years and hosting 2.5 million visitors, we sadly announce the closure of KidZania London. We value the support of our visitors, employees, brand partners and our landlord.”
This is accompanied by a video that says the doors will be closed “until further notice”, finishing with the words: “Z-U soon!”
KidZania London added that it will be contacting customers with existing bookings directly.
Short notice closure
Housed inside the Westfield shopping centre, the massive site covered 75,000 square feet and had a ceiling height equivalent to Heathrow Terminal Five.
Founded in 1997, KidZania has 27 attractions across the globe in more than 23 countries and welcomes over 10 million visitors a year.
“The concept is very simple,” founder and CEO of KidZania, Xavier López Ancona, told blooloop in 2018. “On the one side, KidZania is entertainment, it’s fun. However, on the other side, it has a very strong educational aspect and educational content.”
Sim Leisure Group, a Malaysian-owned theme park and leisure company, has announced that it will be reopening the popular KidZania Singapore location this year, having entered into a tenancy agreement with Sentosa Development Corporation to operate the attraction in the existing premises.
The company will refurbish the 7,600-square-metre location, which first opened in April 2016, adding new attractions and experiences. Sim Leisure Group already operates KidZania Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, where it has recently added new professions such as grocery packing and delivery, sushi making, and wellness and self-care.
