The Best World Book Day Costume Ideas 2023 UK

September 2024 · 6 minute read

WORLD BOOK DAY falls on Thursday 2 March this year, and kids are always as excited about getting dressed up for the occasion.

The best World Book Day costume ideas are fun, easy for parents to put together and comfortable enough for a child to wear all day in school.

The good news is, you don't have to spend all weekend non-stop crafting to create a brilliant World Book Day outfit.

For toddlers, we'd recommend a soft or plush costume: from Peppa Pig to the Very Hungry Caterpillar, your little one will look adorable. And age 3 or 4 is probably your last chance to dress your son up as a Gruffalo, so make the most of it.

Older school kids tend to want to put an individual touch on their World Book Day costumes, but certain authors are always a good bet: Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl and David Walliams have plenty to choose from, and Harry Potter is a perennial favourite.

If you haven't sorted a 2023 World Book Day costume, don't panic, most of our recommendations offer next day delivery.

And of course World Book Day isn't just about dressing up - don't forget to use the £1 token from school to get a new book for your child.

When is World Book Day 2023?

World Book Day falls on Thursday 2 March and the emphasis is on making it YOUR World Book Day

The international day has been held on the same day each year since it began in 1995.

Miss Trunchbull World Book Day costume

After the success of the recent Matilda movie, this is sure to be a popular choice for World Book Day 2023.

Kids can enjoy being in charge of their classmates and play headmistress for the day as the terrifying Miss Trunchbull.

The costume is available in a wide range of sizes from age 4 up to 12+ years and includes a trench coat dress, leg warmers and eyebrows!

READ MORE:

Super Mario Bros World Book Day costumes

With a new Super Mario Bros movie due to be released this spring, the video game megastars, Mario and Luigi, are as popular as ever.

The brothers have featured in numerous books and have instantly recognisable outfits that are easy to wear and would work really well for World Book Day.

Both costumes feature the well-known blue overalls with either red (Mario) or green (Luigi) top and hat - please note the moustache is not included.

The costumes are available for ages 4 to 12 years and are great value for under £10 each.

Gangsta Granny World Book Day costume

David Walliams' chapter books have become real modern classics that Junior school readers love to devour.

Gangsta Granny is a particularly fun costume for World Book Day that both boys and girls enjoy wearing.

This costume includes a dress, swag bag and mask without the wig.

We think that's a good deal, especially since you can use a hairspray to colour your hair silver (if you do splash out for the wig, know that your kid will wear it for approximately 10 minutes before complaining that it's too itchy).

If your child has a sweet tooth, he or she might fancy dressing up as a chocolate bar.

The tabard looks just like a Willy Wonka candy bar from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - a much loved classic from Roald Dahl - and always a popular choice for World Book Day.

We love this take on the Golden Ticket costume and it's a total steal at just £10 - plus, next day delivery is available for £4.50.

Cat in the Hat World Book Day costume

A World Book Day classic and one of the most memorable and much-loved Dr Seuss characters, you can't go wrong with a Cat in the Hat costume.

This onesie is super comfy and easy to wear and comes with a detachable tail and fun over-sized striped hat.

It's available in a wide range of sizes from three to fourteen years, and currently has 20% off - select next day delivery at the checkout and you're all set.

Harry Potter World Book Day wizard cloak set

Fans of the Miraculous Ladybug books are sure to love this red spotted jumpsuit and mask.

Transform your little one into the famous superhero ladybug in this cute outfit available in a range of sizes from three to ten years.

You can buy the outfit on its own or add a Ladybug clip-on earrings and yo-yo set, which is sold separately.

Disney Mary Poppins Blue World Book Day costume set

What to dress up as for World Book Day

The idea is to dress up as a character from your favourite book and popular choices for World Book day are characters from books by Julia Donaldson, Roald Dahl and Dr Seuss.

Unless your child's school or nursery has strict rules, it's usually fairly relaxed and many kids just see it as a fun opportunity to where fancy dress.

The most popular children's book characters for World Book Day include Peter Rabbit, the BFG and  - of course - Harry Potter.

Where to buy World Book Day costumes

The majority of fancy dress and party stores will be stocking World Book Day costumes as it's become a big event for school-age kids in the UK.

Online, Amazon always a has a great collection - that you can get in a hurry if needed.

Plus, check out supermarket clothing departments such as Sainsbury's TU brand and George at ASDA - plus high street shops such as H&M, Argos and John Lewis.

Also, online fancy dress suppliers such as Party Delights, Fancydress.com and Smiffys will have a good selection to choose from.

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