Discover Children’s Story Centre has reopened following a major refurbishment.
Located in Stratford, the centre has been supporting children to develop a lifelong love of reading for more than 20 years.
It has welcomed more than one million children and families through its doors since it first opened, inspiring imaginations through play, storytelling, and immersive story worlds.
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Rebekah Polding, CEO of Discover, said: "Discover is a crazy, magical, joyful, extraordinary place not quite like anything else. It shows what happens when you put children in charge and say “show us what books and stories mean to you.”
"And the result is the most amazing playground with secret ships and forest adventures and an incredible freedom for kids and their carers to explore together, where every detail is carefully designed to build a love of books and stories. We call it stealth literacy, we know that it works, and we can’t wait to share it with the next 1 million children."
The centre has been relaunched as part of the National Year of Reading. It features new and updated facilities designed to promote literacy through hands-on, child-led exploration.
The refurbished centre now includes a play gallery for babies and toddlers, developed with Professor Sam Wass of UEL.
The gallery is designed to encourage storytelling between children and their carers from the earliest years.
Other new features include a dragon’s nest, sensory play elements, a quiet room, and a reimagined version of Discover’s intergalactic origin story, created with author Rob Biddulph.
A glowing monster installation now sits on the centre’s roof, and a new mural brightens Stratford High Street. Both were designed by artist Hanna Benihoud in collaboration with local families.
A new community café and bookshop have also been added, offering a welcoming space for families to read, relax, and take part in drop-in events.
The centre celebrated its reopening on Thursday, June 18 with a party hosted by author Michael Rosen and attended by children from the community.
Ongoing festivities include interactive sessions with well-known illustrators such as Dapo Adeola, Nick Sharratt, Rob Biddulph, and Trish Cooke.
Workshops for children aged 0–4 will feature caterpillar-making, dress-up trails, dance, circus, and puppetry.
Joseph Coelho, Children’s Laureate 2022–24, said: "Discover has had magic thrumming through its veins since it first opened its doors. The announcement of Discover’s vital transformation is allowing that magic to bloom, and their important work will now be able to reach more children and families and help create more readers and dream builders."
This summer, the centre will launch a full programme of activities, including author and illustrator events, immersive exhibitions, and LEGO play streets.
A new exhibition, Luna Loves London, created with former Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho and illustrator Fiona Lumbers, will open on July 25.
Discover’s approach to literacy, which it calls "stealth literacy," uses play and storytelling to deliver deep learning based on the Early Years framework.
Visitors can expect to find a fairytale forest, storytelling performances, and sensory experiences that encourage creativity, literacy, and emotional development.
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