The Marlowes Shopping Centre Welcomes Immersive Children's Role-Play Village Wonder Village to Hemel Hempstead

The Marlowes Shopping Centre is pleased to welcome Wonder Village, an immersive, child-sized role-play village, to Unit 2 in the heart of the centre.  The new addition to the centre's family offer lets children step into a café, vet, theatre, salon and more - no screens required! 

Designed for children up to 8 years old, Wonder Village gives young visitors the chance to explore a whole collection of themed play spaces rather than a single activity, including a café, vet, theatre, hair salon, post office, police station and farm shop. The opening adds a distinctive, screen-free family experience to The Marlowes' growing mix of shops, food and entertainment.

"Wonder Village is a brilliant addition to what's shaping up to be a really exciting year for the centre. It brings something genuinely different to our family offer, and it's fantastic to see two local mums bring their idea to life right here at The Marlowes."  said Vicki-Lea Workman, Business Manager at The Marlowes. 

Wonder Village was created by local mums Charlotte Haggart and Hannah Capocci-Hunt, who spent months designing and building the village around their own experience of raising young children. Its arrival continues a strong run of new openings at The Marlowes, bringing a broader and more varied mix of businesses to the centre and giving local families another reason to spend time in Hemel Hempstead town centre.

"Children learn so much through imaginative play," said Wonder Village co-founder Charlotte Haggart. "We wanted to create a space where they could completely immerse themselves in their own ideas, build confidence, make friends and simply enjoy being children."

What Families Can Expect

At Wonder Village, children move freely between themed play areas for the length of their session, taking on roles as vets, shopkeepers, performers, café owners, police officers and more. With multiple spaces open at once, there's no queuing for a single activity - children can follow their own curiosity and switch roles as often as they like.

90-minute play sessions are available to book now, with the following pricing:

£12.50 for 1 child

£20 for 2 children (sibling discount)

£27 for 3 children (sibling discount)

Adults and babies under 1 go free

Session times:

Monday–Saturday: 9:30–11:00, 11:30–13:00, 14:00–15:30

Sunday: 11:00–12:30, 13:00–14:30

Walk-ins are welcome subject to availability, though advance booking is recommended as spaces are limited. Party and private hire bookings are also available on selected dates for birthdays and group celebrations.

Part of a Growing Family Offer at The Marlowes

Wonder Village joins a number of recent additions to The Marlowes, as the centre continues to invest in its family and leisure offer alongside its retail and dining mix. The opening follows the arrival of Continue Arcades, a free-play arcade venue spanning around 5,000 sq ft across two floors, which recently opened at the centre as its first location in the East of England. 

Alongside Wonder Village and Continue Arcades, the centre's permanent family amenities include an onsite soft play area, Marley's Little Library, and the Giant Colourful Building Blocks play feature, open daily.