2nd May 2025
Sean, Kidsbury has quickly become a favourite for families in Tunbridge Wells. For those who haven’t yet visited yet, what Kidsbury is all about?
We built a child-sized village inside Royal Victoria Place, with a bustling town square and twelve individual play zones around it. Each zone is a different make-believe setting: we have the classics like a supermarket, a salon, and a post office, and then some fun unique spots like a mini dance studio, a recycling centre and even an ice-cream van for imaginative role-play. The idea is that kids from walking age up to about 7 can explore real-world scenarios in a safe, fun environment. As parents ourselves, we saw how much our daughter loved to role play, so we wanted to create a whole world for that.
From day one, the Tunbridge Wells community has been amazing. We’re an independent business, and seeing the positive reaction has been really rewarding. Parents tell us their children come away bursting with excitement and new confidence – that’s what we started it for: kids learning through play and families make happy memories together. Kidsbury is filling a real need here in Tunbridge Wells and we’re not a big chain; we’re locals who wanted to do something special for local families, and the support so far has meant the world.
It’s clear that passion for community runs through everything you do. You’re big on supporting local and sustainability - why are both important to you?
Yes, our coffee is from Tunbridge Wells Coffee Roastery – it’s so good! Every time we buy supplies from another local business; we’re sharing success within our community and reinforce that supportive network. And often those businesses send customers our way in return. This kind of collaboration creates a positive ripple effect among independents.
On the sustainability side, that was a no-brainer for us. We’ve kitted out the entire village with high-quality wooden play equipment and props. Not only is it better for the planet, it gives a cleaner, more modern and minimalist aesthetic that sets us apart from our competition. Fun fact: if parents bring a reusable cup, they get a free coffee during their visit. Little touches like that encourage an eco-friendly mindset. It builds goodwill and sets an example for the kids too. If a child asks why the toys are wooden, it opens a conversation about sustainability even at their age.
Spring is finally here! What would you say to families about visiting and supporting Kidsbury during these warmer months?
Families, don’t forget about us when the sun comes out! Kidsbury is an all-weather destination, so our doors are always open. We’re keeping our regular sessions running through the summer, so you can drop in for playtime anytime you need, and we’re planning to introduce summer holiday passes for to allow families unlimited access over that long break.
Our main message for families is: Keep coming and keep enjoying. Independent businesses like ours thrive on consistent support. Also, tell your friends! Word of mouth is powerful. We want to be a fixture in the community for years to come, and the summer months are key for us to build on the momentum.
I loved our member event with you in March - thank you for inviting us. How does being part of the TN card benefit Kidsbury and local families?
We loved hosting it and are already looking forward to the next one! For us as a business, partnering with The TN card has been a huge positive. It gives us exposure to exactly the kind of audience we want – local families who are keen to discover and support independent places. Our little perk for TN card members is a free adult entry ticket when booking, which saves parents a bit of money with every visit. We see a lot of members taking advantage of that reward. Beyond just the discounts, though, I think the real benefit of the TN card is the sense of community – it has created a network where businesses aren’t competing but collaborating and boosting each other.
I couldn’t have said it better! It’s been fantastic seeing our partnership encourage more families to engage locally, so thank you.
Thank you too. I’d recommend any independent business in the area to get involved, because together we create an experience for customers that the big chains just can’t match – it’s personal, it’s community-driven, and everybody benefits.
Kidsbury
Royal Victoria Place, Kidsbury 159, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2SR | Member reward here.