The charming Peruvian bear – in all his blue duffle coat and marmalade-sandwich-smuggling delightfulness – has officially unleashed his signature shambolic chaos on Edinburgh. Paddington Marmalade Messiness is now open at Dalkeith Country Park, but closes in a matter of weeks on September 4, make sure you round up the family and visit the picturesque palace grounds for an immersive outdoor adventure while you still can! You’ll encounter everything from puppetry to live performances as you live out your very own Paddington story.
It seems only yesterday that the much-loved bear was gracing our screens during the Jubilee to share some tea with the Queen herself, and even that royal meeting was not without its fair share of clumsy calamity, so who knows what you can expect at this palace. Plus, the end of the holidays doesn’t always have to be doom and gloom, as you can now take advantage of a special back-to-school discount! There will be 50% off selected tickets, so you can save some money for school essentials and still get to treat the kids to an extra special day out at Paddington Marmalade Messiness.
Clearly, Paddington is no stranger to adventure – you may have a few well-thumbed books of his other accident-prone exploits stacking your shelves – and this enchanting outdoor experience gives you the chance to enter his wonderful world for the day. You’ll need to fasten your toggles, grab your battered suitcase and slip on your thinking caps (hopefully red a la Paddington bear himself) as he has got lost in the sprawling grounds of Dalkeith Palace and it is your job to help find him. Are you and the family up for the task?
Curious how it all went sideways? Well, the story goes that Mrs Bird invited Paddington and his friend Pigeonton along to the Palace to discover exactly where the best marmalade is made – we know, sounds like you have stumbled into one of Paddington’s daydreams – but somewhere along the way of touring the regal building’s kitchens the bunglesome bear went missing and there is acres of emerald expanse to cover; so they need all the help they can get to find him.
Over the course of 50 minutes, you can get stuck into the search and enjoy a host of fun activities, puppetry and performances that truly bring the story to life. Plus; when little legs get weary or your kids need to refuel their bear-finding brains with a creative break, they can swing by the Activity Area for colouring in, dot to dot and all sorts of competitions. When the outdoor exploration comes to an end and Paddington has been found safe and sound, there is also the opportunity to grab a memento of the adventure at the dedicated Paddington shop.
Luckily, you won’t have to wait for a second longer to lend a hand with the hunt for Paddington as the immersive adventure is now open. Dalkeith Country Park can be found a 27-minute drive from Edinburgh or a simple bus journey from the city centre, a perfect day trip for families looking to keep the kids entertained during the summer holidays; it’s a win-win all around really. Make sure you don’t miss out on the Paddington Bear’s special visit to Scotland and grab your tickets for Paddington Marmalade Messiness now.