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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

London Soft Play Centres/Adventure Playgrounds

24 replies

Earlybird · 04/02/2006 09:24

Thinking ahead to half term, and possible activities. We'll have the time to go on a few expeditions and try some new things.

It would be helpful to me to have a list of adventure playgrounds/soft play centres in London along with opinions about them.

I'll start with a few, and would love to hear what others think about the facility, equipment and food:

*Eddie Catz - do I have the name right, and is this the one on Putney High Street? What do you think about it?

*Tiger's Eye - Wimbledon area? Vague thoughts that it was recently remodeled? Verdict?

*Snakes and Ladders - haven't been in ages. What's it like now? Food was dire last time we went...

*Blue Kangaroo - think the food is better than most places, but it's always heaving with kids. Hard to park, and not close to tube...

*Heard something about a centre somewhere around Marylebone Road/south of Queens Park with good facilites/food, and was a good spot for birthday parties? Anyone know what it might be?

Where else? Obviously, most of the ones I know about are central/west, so would love to hear about others.

OP posts:

unicorn · 04/02/2006 09:26

Kew Gardens has Climbers and Creepers which my 4 year old ds loves.

Heathrow Gym is a massive playroom - gets packed though.

Don't forget the big museums Science and Natural History.. great for tiring the kids out.

Cristina7 · 04/02/2006 09:40

Eddie Catz in Putney - depends how old your kids are. It was too small and babyish for my then 5 year old.

Tiger's Eye - I haven't been since it's been renovated but it used to be good fun (in a chaotic, loud kind of way).

It's a kid's Thing - Magdalen rd, Earlsfield, v close to the train station is nice but small and again for kids under 6-7, I think.

Imperial War Museum - close to Waterloo station. No softplay but a small park outside (a few swings etc) and, of course, the museum itself. We've been taken DS there since he was a baby and he loves it. We last went a couple of weeks ago. DS is 6 and it is still one of his favourites.

Transport Museum - in Covent Garden. No room to run around but there's the park near the London Eye nearby. Also Theatre Museum near the Transport Museum, they might have activities during term-time.

mummytosteven · 04/02/2006 09:42

Science Museum has some fab sections for children with hands on educational toys to play with.

foxinsocks · 04/02/2006 09:57

Bramley's Big Adventure in W10 (is this the one you are thinking about earlybird?) - have been to a few parties there. It's a nice big layout and easier to spot the kids than Snakes and Ladders and the cafe is ok.

Snakes and Ladders - having had so many bad experiences there, I doubt I'll ever go back. I can't tell you how many times I've completely lost one of my two in there. Food is how you remember it - only redeeming feature in my eyes is the outdoor bits. The reptile and butterfly house are fun but it's quite expensive.

Heathrow Gym is great but no cafe. Always a good idea to get there for the early slot.

Kew Gardens is lovely but I think it is quite expensive if you aren't a member. But you can spend the whole day there and some of the restaurants/cafes have really lovely food/snacks/drinks. Also, loads of space to run around outside and lots to see.

Hugo's in Richmond - last time we went was last year but it did have a proper coffee shop with nice sandwiches for the kids. It can also get very busy but you can easily park for it (in the Paradise Rd car park) and it's very near the station if you go on the tube/train.

2 others I haven't visited but keep meaning to - one in Shepperton called Playtime Arts, Crafts and Softplay (which does art stuff and play) and the Lollipop Club in Kew (but my kids are probably a bit big for this now).

foxinsocks · 04/02/2006 10:01

bramleys

Cristina7 · 04/02/2006 10:03

If you decide for Tiger's Eye, there's also Deen City Farm nearby (I think this is shut on Mondays, though).

foxinsocks · 04/02/2006 10:04

also don't forget the local farms have lots of indoor play bits (Bocketts, Horton Park Children's Farm, Godstone)

IlanaK · 04/02/2006 10:11

Transport museum is closed for a year I think.

Almost all leisure centres have soft play indoors now, some are better than others. My local one (near Marble Arch) is rubbish. But it is part of Westminster Council. Anything that is part of Camden council is really good. For instance, the one in Kentish Town (the name escapes me) is excellent. I have been there both when it is open to the public and also for birthday parties - large and good for all ages. Have a look at the camden government website for more info. Talacre! Thats the name - just remembered.

There is also Coram Fields near Russel Square which is a huge outdoor play area with animals as well - free.

Davros · 04/02/2006 17:42

Talacre is good as its quite new. I don't know what the food is like. There is the new one at Brent Cross.... can't remember the name and I haven't been there myself. Avoid Clown Town which is sort-of Finchley-ish, ugh and vile food.

Arabica · 04/02/2006 17:54

Topsyturvy world is the one at Brent Cross. Very clean with decent food, a little pricey and probably absolutely packed at half term. Coram's Fields is fantastic, but there isn't much to do inside, so only an option if the weather is nice. Cafe is good. Might be worth having a look in Time Out for museums with special events at half term. Have you been to the Horniman Museum? It's wonderful.

carefree · 25/05/2006 19:25

sorry to butt in but i find its a kids thing in earlsfield the best by a mile. My little one is only 3 but they have a booking system so it is never to over crowded. Staff are lovely & food is best i've had. Cheerio.

Original poster

Earlybird · 26/05/2006 19:39

Bumping to add CountessDracula's new Fulham tip to the "master list"!

www.gambado.com/index_flash.html

OP posts:

LeahE · 26/05/2006 20:07

I don't think Eddie Catz is babyish (almost the reverse -- there's a very small toddlers' area, then a jungle gym (not a huge one, admittedly) and stuff that small children couldn't realistically use (an air hockey table, a "bash the mole" game, a basketball game, a dancing mat game, etc. etc. But when it's crowded it's very crowded and it can be difficult to get to any of those things, and then the jungle gym is packed too. I'd be inclined to avoid in half term week, personally.

carefree · 26/05/2006 20:35

I went to Eddie Catz couple of months ago (my friends live in Barnes). They really like it but I have a real problem with encouraging my children to use slot machines and its very difficult to not let them once they are there. They met me at It's a kids thing" last month and loved it. Real traditional activities and its never over crowded because you book a table in advance. The staff use your first name its such a lovely personal place, like taking a step back in time.

mimitwo · 26/05/2006 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

carefree · 26/05/2006 20:43

Even my DB enjoys going there and he used to hate softplay. Think it could be something to do with the cooked breakfast and attractive staff. Who's moaning gives me a few hours break. Actually we have had some lovely Sunday mornings together there. Good start to the day then nice long walks over the common.

mimitwo · 26/05/2006 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

carefree · 26/05/2006 20:50

Now i know why mine wears sunglasses in there.

singersgirl · 30/05/2006 18:24

We found a really empty soft play place today at Brentford Fountain Leisure centre - virtually deserted and had a swim afterwards. Only open in the week during the holidays.

singersgirl · 30/05/2006 18:24

We found a really empty soft play place today at Brentford Fountain Leisure centre - virtually deserted and had a swim afterwards. Only open in the week during the holidays.

MadamePlatypus · 06/06/2006 20:25

I used to work in an office above Blue Kangaroo - isn't it near Fulham Broadway Tube? Haven't been there since it became Blue Kangaroo though, so don't know what its like.

yomellamoHelly · 06/06/2006 20:39

Tiger's Eye (Abbey Mills area near Colliers Wood) is VERY noisy and ds found it a bit over-whelming the time we went because of it. It is a NIGHTMARE to park at. (Dh had to sit in car and stalk the carpark out for 20 minutes whilst we went on ahead.)

florenceuk · 07/06/2006 10:32

The Wetlands Centre in Barnes is meant to opening up an adventure playground from July 16th. On paper it looks great - lots of water play, flying fox etc. We will definitely be going to have a look. Food in cafe was dismal last time we went but you can picnic in the grounds. There is a small edutainment area in the Wetlands Centre itself which my 4-yr old loves. He also likes feeding time there because they get to feed the ducks!

Further afield, there are a few soft play centres near us - the Hub in Mitcham and Sutton Arena. The Hub is new and has a pirate theme. Not as big as Tigers Eye but bigger than Its a Kid's Thing.

singersgirl · 12/06/2006 10:52

We're looking forward to the playground at the Wetlands Centre, because at the moment my boys groan if I say we're going - though they do like the indoor bit where you shoot the balls. Food at the cafe is dire.

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