Shrek’s Adventure!: Step into a Quirky Fairy Tale on London’s South Bank

Developed by the film studio responsible for the big screen adventures of the green ogre and his friends, DreamWorks Animation, Shrek’s Adventure! is dedicated to delivering to millions of visitors every year a fantastic journey into the off-beat fairy tale world that revolves around the unconventional, magical hero with the Scottish brogue. To say it’s suitable for families is, frankly, putting it mildly because this awesomely interactive attraction blends together captivating storytelling with superb visual effects and a fantastic 4D (yes, that’s right, four-dimensional) ride.

What’s it all about then?

More specifically, the little ones can look forward to finding their way out of a magic mirror maze, encountering a ‘smelly swamp’, casting powerful spells and participating in a cheeky magical-world-themed game show. So, it’s all about saving Pinocchio, getting the better of Lord Farquadd’s cruel mirror and getting home safe and sound. But underneath the plot-points in that ‘adventure’, what does that mean? Well, it’s thoroughly immersive storytelling experience for the young, for sure; it’s geared to ensuring they not only can step into but fully inhabit the world of Shrek and co. The result of which is interacting with fairly high-octane actors dressed up as ‘Shrek universe’ characters, guiding you up and down dark corridors and in and out of impressively designed rooms with various different activities to beguile those aged six and over.

What’s the highlight?

Undoubtedly, it has to be the 4d element; ostensibly, a ride on a red London bus (nice and fitting for the UK capital, of course), it too involves performers delivering preamble and instructions, but it’s a clever-clever and very impressively realised virtual tour of the city itself, blending with that the worlds of Dreamworks’ most popular animated movies. It’s genuinely immersive and gets everybody involved in the experience – whatever their age and opinion on the Shrek films.

Where to go for lunch?

As you’ll be on the South Bank, you’ll find you’re surrounded by excellent eatery choices; many of them are chain-owned, sure, but the food’s almost guaranteed to be of good quality.

How do you get there?

Given County Hall, where the attraction’s located, is sited at the far western end of the South Bank (right next to Westminster Bridge), it’s very easy to get to from practically anywhere in the city; not least accommodation you and yours may have chosen to stay in that’s in Central London itself like, say, tone of the Montcalm hotels.

• Address: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road SE1 7PB
• Nearest Tube stations: Waterloo (Northern, Jubilee and Bakerloo lines) and Westminster (Northern and Jubilee lines) and Embankment (Northern, Jubilee and Circle and District lines).]
• Open: 10am-4pm Monday to Friday; 10am-6pm Saturday; 10am-5pm Sunday

So, the message is clear then, Shrek’s Adventure is, indeed, a fine adventure for youngsters – and an excellent reward for your little ones should they be with you during family visit to the capital that you’ve combined with one of those great spa breaks London, perhaps at a fantastic venue like the M By Montcalm Spa. Everyone’s a winner then, as a true Londoner might say!