Neverland at Kenwood House: Festive magic through the eyes of our London Mums reporter family

Every so often, an attraction comes along that delivers actual, honest-to-goodness magic – the sort of magic that makes grown adults behave like excitable children and real children behave like… well, children who’ve just walked into a living, breathing fairy tale. Neverland at Kenwood House is precisely that sort of place, and our London Mums roving family reporters – Rupert, partner Gabriella, and eight-year-old Gaia – were only too happy to jumped straight into the stardust for us.

According to them, the enchantment begins before you’ve even had time to adjust your scarf. “As we entered the magical gates of Neverland at Kenwood House, we were genuinely taken aback by the sheer detail of the lights on display,” Rupert told me, still looking faintly star-struck. “It felt as if the entire grounds had been transformed into a real-life Disney fantasy land.” And in fairness, when a seasoned London dad admits to being wide-eyed, you know something serious is brewing.

The transformation of Kenwood’s rolling grounds into a world of twinkling whimsy is truly something to behold. Our intrepid trio described it as “walking into a full multi-million-dollar movie set,” which, in London Mums editorial terms, translates to: very, very impressive indeed. The undeniable highlight?

The jaw-droppingly convincing replica of the Darling family home from Peter Pan. Apparently, Gaia stood in stunned disbelief before whispering, “Is this the REAL house?” – a reaction shared by several nearby adults who were also visibly questioning their grasp on reality.

From there, the experience expands into a full visual spectacle, with an extraordinary light show projected across the façade of Kenwood House itself. With the moon glowing above and entire families standing shoulder to shoulder in that rare London moment of communal stillness, it delivers the kind of festive warmth that not even the chilliest Hampstead breeze can ruin.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper London festive outing without food – and yes, it leans towards the pricier side of the culinary spectrum. But with plenty of tables, a good range of drinks and hot dishes, and the crowd-pleasing opportunity to roast marshmallows over open flames, our reporters voted the food offering firmly into the “worth it” category. “Roasting marshmallows together was one of our favourite moments,” Gabriella said. “Simple, nostalgic and genuinely joyful.” And honestly, isn’t that the entire point?

As they followed the illuminated trail deeper into Neverland, the family were suddenly ambushed – in the best possible way – by the flamboyant presence of Mr Hook himself. Our three reviewers couldn’t praise the actor enough: charismatic, hilarious, fully committed to the madness. “The kids couldn’t stop laughing, and even the adults found themselves joining in,” Rupert reported.

And just when they assumed they’d reached the grand finale… they discovered they were barely halfway through. More sets, more immersive lighting, more costumed characters, more moments that make you mutter “How on earth did they DO that?” Neverland stretches on and on, each corner revealing another lovingly crafted detail that proves the production team left no stone – nor pixie dust mote – unturned.

The final verdict from our London Mums family? “We would absolutely recommend this experience to families across London. It’s a wonderful way to open the festive season with friends and loved ones, especially if you’re Disney fans. Just make sure you dress warmly – you’ll want to take your time and enjoy every bit of the magic.”

In other words: it’s a wholehearted, glittering yes from us.

Neverland at Kenwood isn’t just a festive light trail; it’s a full technicolour escape that manages to sprinkle enchantment on parents and children alike. And in a city that often scurries instead of sparkles, that’s worth shouting about – even if only in a whispered, “I do believe in fairies,” as you wander back out into the real world.