Spoiler: it’s Shrek’s Adventure, which is extremely fortunate since I recently became a Merlin Affiliate! If you’re planning on visiting Shrek’s Adventure this Easter (or whenever), you can book here or buy a Merlin Annual Pass here (aff links), or read on for my review.

Yes, Roma might have been to practically every playground and play cafe in the capital but all she really wants to do is go to Shrek’s Adventure… again (that and our local toddler gymnastics drop-in that she outgrew three years ago but will not accept she’s too old for, poor love).

Ok, so real talk: I’m always vaguely baffled by the presence of an American movie franchise-themed experience directly opposite Houses of Parliament. Sure, Shrek is one of the most popular films of all time, but so is The Shawshank Redemption and you won’t find a walk-through recreation of Shawshank prison parked beneath the London Eye. I will also admit that I found the way that Shrek is almost entirely absent from his own adventure quite weird at first, but then I tried imagining quest-style, Shrek-themed storylines other than ‘let’s find Shrek!’ and drew a complete blank, so I suppose I’ll allow it.

The first time I took Roma here, I was sceptical. She was three, which was under the recommended age range (6-12), and is generally terrible with theatre. I was 35, which was definitely over the recommended age range, and I am also generally terrible with theatre. Roma can’t sit still to save her life, while I can rarely suspend my disbelief. Thankfully at Shrek’s Adventure you don’t have to sit still because it’s a walkthrough, and it’s all so delightfully camp you just kind of immediately lean into the silliness, even if you’re really cynical. Honestly though, the actors’ accents, audience interaction and improvisation are astounding, especially when you consider they have to do the same bit all day long for dozens of 20-30-strong visitor groups without losing enthusiasm. These people are superhuman, and not in a Far Far Away way.

The sets, by the same token, are outstanding, from the ‘4D’ flying bus that transports you to the aforementioned magical kingdom (but not without drenching you with ‘river’ water) to the grisly Wheel of Torture game-show studio that comes complete with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire-style interactive consoles and ‘mice’ that scurry disconcertingly underneath your bum. It’s also held up extraordinarily well given that literally millions of people have passed through its various rooms in the 11 years since it opened.

Back to the audience participation though, because this is what makes it for Roma. In fact, now that she’s been several times she knows exactly when one of the actors is about to call on a child’s assistance – think Cinderella asking if someone could kindly deliver the gold tooth she’s just wrenched from her jaw to the fortune teller in the next room – and stands directly in front of them in the hope she’ll be chosen. Granted, it doesn’t always work, but she’s always a good sport when it doesn’t, bless her. I should probably also warn you that some of the actors choose adult volunteers (on our most recent visit, her dad was chosen as Cinderella’s rebound prince), so maybe try and stand at the back if that sounds like your worst nightmare.

Perhaps the key takeaway here is that you don’t need to be a Shrek fan to enjoy Shrek’s Adventure. In fact, I’m already looking forward to our next visit and still have no plans whatsoever to sit through the films – even if I will almost definitely be experiencing them via osmosis this Easter.

If reading this has convinced you to take a trip to Far Far away, you can book here without having to scroll to the top of the page to hit the exact same link, or you can buy a Merlin Annual Pass here for even more family fun (aff links).