Looking For An Indoor Playground? 34 of London’s Best
This post is part of our archived content. While we’ve shifted focus, it still may be useful.
When the weather is conspiring against you and the kids are bouncing off the walls, a visit to an indoor playground or soft play centre keeps everyone happy. We love an indoor playground – here are our favourites:
KidZania London (permanently closed – insert crying emoji)
The biggest and possibly the best indoor play centre in London – the kids gave it a score of ‘infinity out of ten.’
KidZania is a child-sized city where the kids are 100% in charge.
Everything at KidZania has been created to engage, educate and entertain the kids with over 60 role-play activities available.
The kids’ favourites were being a pilot and cabin crew, fighting crime on the streets as a police offer, and working in the Cadbury chocolate factory.
They also enjoyed fighting fires as a fireman, transporting goods around the city as a courier and being a journalist at Metro Newspaper.
With names and brands the kids are familiar with, they can add to the 50 KidZos (KidZania money) they’re given on entry and earn a wage at the various jobs on offer.
Don’t worry too much about earning money though, the real fun is to be had in the kids’ play centre.
Kids love trying out different jobs (and paying – with KidZos – to perform others) and getting a taste of what a career in that profession could be like.
They also get to open a KidZania bank account and have a bank card – a surprising hit amongst all the children there.
Simple pleasures!
KidZania gets a million bonus points as if your kids are eight or over, you can check them in while you enjoy the sights and shops of Westfield.
Yes, please!
There’s so much on offer at KidZania that it’s unlikely they’ll get to do everything they want during their four-hour visit.
That just means another one or two visits will be required to get the most out of the kids’ play area.
We’ll certainly be going back.
KidZania London | Westfield London | Ariel Way W12 7GA
Mudlarks Gallery, Museum of London Docklands
Is this the best soft play in London?
Quite possibly.
It’s an interactive indoor play area for kids up to 8 years old.
It tells the stories of the museum in a hands-on, stimulating environment while also supporting children’s learning and development.
Choose from cargo loading in Tip the Clipper, exploring the Victorian docks in Docklands Playtime or becoming a builder in the building role-play area using giant bricks and wheelbarrows.
Entry to the gallery and kids’ play centre is free but you must have a ticket, which can be booked online or by collecting a ticket from the front desk on arrival.
If you’re looking for soft play in east London, Mudlarks is worth a visit.
Museum of London Docklands | No.1 Warehouse, West India Quay | London E14 4AL
Discover Children’s Story Centre
Discover is an indoor play area for babies, toddlers and children up to 11 years old and their families.
At Story World, spread over two floors, children can unlock their imagination by stepping into a magical forest, dressing up or manning the control panels in a giant spaceship.
They’re sure to enjoy putting on a performance in the puppet theatre castle and writing and drawing stories.
If the weather improves there’s an outside Story Garden where kids can slide down a monster’s tongue, sail away on a pirate ship and play with giant musical chimes.
There are daily craft and sensory stories for babies and indoor play activities for toddlers up to three years old.
Throughout the year, well-known authors and illustrators visit the Centre offering plenty of indoor fun for kids.
Discover is open every day from 10 am – 5 pm.
Pre-booking is required.
Discover | 383-387 High Street | London E15 4QZ
The National Army Museum Play Base
The National Army Museum has five permanent indoor play areas and thematic galleries:
- Solider
- Army
- Battle
- Society
- Insight
There’s also a Templer Study Centre and Play Base – soft play for babies and children up to 8 years old.
Play Base sessions last an hour and cost £4.50 per child.
There are a limited amount of slots available on the day so we advise you pre-book online.
Central to the facility is the Assault Course indoor playground which is surrounded by immersive role-play areas including a:
- Cookhouse
- Quarter Master’s Store
- Field Training Area
- Command Liaison Vehicle.
Each play theme reflects an aspect of the army story.
The children’s play area has interactive zones, designed to involve children in a variety of indoor activities for kids, including learning how to march, drive a tank and drum a battle command.
National Army Museum | Royal Hospital Road | London SW3 4HT
If you’re looking for soft play in southeast London, Gambado Beckenham has unfortunately closed.
The Chelsea branch offers children the opportunity to play, run free and explore in a fun, safe and stimulating environment.
Gambado centres offer a wide range of activities where children and adults can play and learn together.
The children’s indoor playground is home to some of the largest play frames in the country, giant slides, bouncy ball pits, dodgems, a carousel and even a full-size climbing wall (Watford centre only).
They have Toddler Time – a range of activities for younger children that runs every weekday during term time.
Check the website for special offers on admission and children’s parties.
Gambado Indoor Playground + Soft Play Chelsea | 7 Station Court, Townmead Rd | London SW6 2PY
Clown Town is the largest children’s soft play area in North London with a three level multi-activity play frame including slides, aerial runways, rope climbs, ball pond and spook room.
There’s also a toddler/younger kids’ area with a ball pond and climbing area.
Very young children have their own gated area with soft toys and shapes.
Clown Town prides itself in offering something for everyone and parents of children with special needs are encouraged to visit.
Prices start at £6.50 for under 2s.
Kids must be no taller than 149 cm to enter.
Clowntown Children Activity + Play Centre | Unit 3 The Coppetts Centre | London N12 0SH
Discovery Planet Surrey Quays Soft Play
Discovery Planet is restricted to children under the age of 10 and no more than 134 cm tall.
The indoor playground is divided into two levels, with swing balls, web climbs, balls and soft mats, a cargo climb net and soft blocks for younger children.
Children can explore tunnels, web decking, and slides on the upper level.
The children’s play centre is on the second level of the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.
Open every day, prices start at £2.99 for under 4s.
Discover Planet | Surrey Quays Shopping Centre | Redriff Road | SE16 7LL
Squish Space at the Barbican invites kids to discover, touch, play and learn in a free multi-sensory space.
Squish Space has soft play for babies and offers children a safe environment to experiment with versatile material giving them the freedom to redesign the space.
In this curiosity-driven indoor playground for the senses, children and their families will have the chance to connect through construction play.
Using a variety of materials and tactile objects, Squish Space features objects crafted from recycled materials with moving image and sound, exploring ideas of the planet and our ecology.
Squish Space is open on selected days each week, from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm.
Barbican Centre | Silk St | London EC2Y 8DS
Lots of fun indoor activities for kids but also a stunning venue for parents to grab a coffee and cake while the kids blow off some steam.
The Sherriff Centre | St James Church, Sherriff Road | London NW6 2AP
Prices from £6.50 for an hour in the junior area/£4.50 in the baby area.
This sprawling four-storey indoor adventure park has a reputation for providing a spectacular range of activities for children aged 1 to 12.
Just a few of its impressive facilities include a go-kart track, a 30 ft climbing wall and a time slide for older children.
Tots have a dedicated area called the ’Toddler Village’, along with a soft playground and a multi-sensory room.
You’ll be happy to know that a visit to Kidspace can also boost their grades; on-site private tuition classes are available for students from Reception to Year 6.
Kids are entitled to a free hour at the play centre before or after their class.
Bring your hungry brood to the on-site Pizzeria restaurant after they play, and use your tickets to receive kids’ meal deals.
From £8.99 for a child under 3 during off-peak (Mon – Thurs, term time).
The Colonnades | 619 Purley Way Croydon | CR0 4RQ
An excellent community hub in the heart of Beckton.
There’s a four-storey soft play area for 0-6 year olds and activities and classes on the itinerary for little ones.
You can also purchase plenty of good quality children’s toys and clothes at the on-site Barnardo’s charity shop.
You may even want to go with a group, as the more kids you take, the less you have to pay.
This is an excellent way to give back to the community, as a portion of the income goes back into supporting vulnerable children in the neighbourhood.
Prices start at £4.50 for one parent and a baby under 2.
2 Coxwell Rd | Upper Norwood | London SE19 3BG
Fun soft play centre in the heart of Hackney with a special area for under 3s that has a bouncy castle, ball pool and play cars.
The older kids have towers and tunnels to jump, skip and slide along.
Kidzmania is suitable for children from 0-12 years and sessions are typically between 1.5 and 2 hours.
From £3 for a baby 0-10 months.
28 Powell Rd, Lower Clapton, London E5 8DJ
Located in a large trampoline park, Zapspace is a soft play centre for 0-4 year olds with plenty of colourful obstacles to stimulate the little ones.
369 High St | London E15 4QZ
The two-storey soft play centre ‘The Pod’ is located at a family community centre and features a sensory room (currently closed).
Suited to kids 0-11 years.
Entrance is from £5 per child.
Lower Ham Rd | Kingston upon Thames | KT2 5BH
Other honourable indoor playgrounds include:
An indoor playground for kids that’s also suitable for babies (maximum age 9 years old).
Prices start at £6.50.
Jungle Monkeyz |12 Kaduna Close | HA5 2PZ
A creative playground for kids from 3 months to 11 years old.
There’s a lovely on-site cafe with Wi-Fi where working parents can get some work done while the kids are preoccupied.
Open daily from 9:30 am to 6 pm, entrance costs £6 per child with under 1s and accompanying adults, free.
N20 Kids Club | 1105 – 1111 High Road | N20 0PT
With a huge three-tier playframe, electric motorbikes, slides, climbs, tunnels and a mini sports pitch, Snakes & Ladders is best suited to babies and kids up to 12.
They have SEND sessions for kids age 0 to 12 which comes with free admission for two adults and two kids, as long as one of them has SEN.
A valid DLA letter is all the proof you need.
Kids aged 0 to 12 can enjoy the indoor adventure park and working parents can use the centre as an Ofsted registered after school club.
Kidz Adventure Zone | Unit C, 2 Coburg Road | Wood Green N22 6UJ
Suited to children age 0 to 9, there’s a baby activity centre, soft play for toddlers, an outdoor garden enclosure and an on-site café.
Little Dinosaurs | The Actual Workshop – The Grove | Alexandra Park | N22 7AY
Choose from a range of indoor playgrounds for kids across London.
Check height and age restrictions before you go but kid racers will enjoy the thrill of being able to whizz around (safely of course) indoors.
Better yet, they’ll love it if they get to beat you!
With tracks in Docklands, Tower Bridge, Edmonton, Acton and Mitchum, there should be a track not too far from you.
Clip n Climb in Chelsea is a child (and adult) friendly indoor climbing hall with more than 20 walls of varying size and difficulty.
They also have a small indoor soft play area.
Suitable for kids from age 4 and over.
There’s an on-site café for some much needed post-climb refreshment.
19 Michael Rd | Fulham | London SW6 2ER
Bellingham Leisure Centre has a soft play area with obstacles, slides, crash mats and ball pits.
Bellingham Leisure & Lifestyle Centre | 5 Randlesdown Road | London, SE6 3BT
Air Thrill in Catford is home to London’s only dedicated inflatable assault course for kids and the UK’s largest ball pool.
Bounce past obstacles, tumble through tunnels and slide your way to the finish on this crazy inflatable challenge.
Suitable for children aged between 4 – 12 years old.
If your kids are younger than 4, join the Parent & Toddler Session where your little one can bounce and jump without the fear of bumping into older kids.
Unit 4, Catford Island | Plassy Rd | London SE6 2DD
Technically this is in Kent but it’s easy to get to if you live in South London and the activities are so good, we think it’s worth a visit.
Plus you can go shopping in Bluewater afterwards.
There’s a laser room, ball guns, giant ball pit, tricycles, bridges, all in one dino theme and on the weekends, a professional face painter or balloonist comes to visit.
There isn’t a dedicated baby zone though; the youngest they cater to is 18 months – 3 years.
The closest venues to London are in Watford and Lakeside but they’re easy to travel to by car.
Rock Up offers both climbing walls and an indoor soft play area.
KUBZCLUB is a multi-tiered soft play centre on Eltham High Street, providing a safe, secure and stimulating play environment.
They cater for children from 0 to 11 years old with dedicated play zones for toddlers and juniors.
East London Gymnastics Club Soft Play
Suitable for kids aged 1 to 5, ELGC offers the usual soft play equipment plus gymnastics apparatus (including trampoline) as well as a three-storey Jungle Gym.
For more indoor fun, read our guide to the best trampoline parks in London.
We also like:
- Gravity, Bluewater
- Swanley Leisure Centre
- Sutcliffe Park Better Centre
- Crayzee Bar, Sidcup
- Beckenham Spa Soft Play