Hotels near KidZania London

A 20 million pound city in miniature, located next to the Marks & Spencer in west London's Westfield shopping mall, KidZania gives children aged four to 14 a real-life introduction to the world of work, where they can play, explore and learn about the adult world. Whether they want to see what it's like to be a pilot or a TV presenter, a dentist or a fire fighter, children can try out over 60 different activities based on real-world situations. The fusilage of a British Airways A319 gives young visitors the chance to act out life at the airport terminal - from checking-in to pretending to fly the plane. Other workplaces include the operating theatre, radio station, the bank and the Dorsett Hotel where children can be managers, front-desk staff or housekeepers, each role play taking about 25 minutes. For their efforts, children are paid in 'KidZos', which they can put in the bank, they can then get money out of the machine and spend it on food, gifts or go-karting. As its opening, KidZania London director Ollie Vigors, said "it's all about empowering children, this is where they get to make decisions for themselves." With the emphasis on learning through doing, KidZania takes role play to another level.