In London, taking children out depends heavily on the weather, making indoor soft play centers an almost essential part of daily life for many families. No matter it’s rainy day, cold winter or just find a place to burn off children’s energy, the indoor playground can be a good choice.From a discovery area designed for toddlers to large climbing structures and slides, there are also differences in design and scale of the various play place. We have made a list of 20 best soft play centers in London, so you can get some ideas when you need.
1. The Sherriff Centre
Address: St James Church, 2 Sherriff Rd, London NW6 2AP UK
Online: https://thesherriffcentre.co.uk/
The Sherriff Centre is a community activity center located within St James Church. The overall atmosphere is gentle and has a strong sense of community. Sometimes it will hold some activities for family and children, including the soft play for kids. The scale is not very large but it’s safe and clean, making it better suited for young children. If you live nearby and are looking for a quiet, non-commercial, and relatively relaxed indoor space, this would be a great choice.
2. London Museum Docklands
Address: No 1, West India Quay, Hertsmere Rd, London E14 4AL UK
Online: https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/docklands/
London Museum Docklands has a interactive experience play zone designed for children. This play area actually is a children's exploration space featuring soft play elements, the experience offers many activities, such as a small soft play area designed to resemble a dock scene. Kids can crawling through, climbing, and sliding, and it also has a interactive water play area, you can play with water by "transporting" or "moving" items. The entire design transforms the history of the Port of London into a game that can be played.
3. Babylon Park Camden
Address: 8 Castlehaven Rd, London NW1 8QU UK
Online: https://babylonpark.com/london/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=localcard&utm_campaign=309703_lon
Babylon Park Camden, it’s not the traditional soft play we thought, it’s a more comprehensive indoor play area: It features a small roller coaster, bumper cars, a mini Ferris wheel, arcade games, and various interactive attractions; for those with children, there are also dedicated play areas—such as slides, climbing structures, and safe soft-play zones. And it also has the activities suitable for parents and older children, so it called a all ages indoor playground.
4. Toconoco
Address: Unit A, 28 Hertford Rd, London N1 5QT UK
Online: https://www.toconoco.com/
Toconoco is a family play space with Japanese style, and the overall atmosphere is quiet, making it suitable for young children. It emphasizes a sense of security and sensory experience rather than burn off your energy, there are soft toy play zone, reading zone and small-scale family interactive area. If you wanna find a indoor playground can play, chat and relax with kids, it is a good choice than traditional playground.
5. Discovery Planet
Address: Redriff Rd, London SE16 7LL UK
Online: http://www.discoveryplanet.uk/
Discovery Planet is exploratory indoor playground for children, blending soft play and interactive experience elements. There are basic climbing structure, slides and soft play, as well as the sensory interaction and role-play zone. Children can not only play in it but also do some simple simulation experiment. So it is suitable for kid who like exploring environment and doing hands-on work. Compare to large-scale commercial soft play, it has small-scale but strong interaction.
6. Young V&A
Address: Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA UK
Online: https://www.vam.ac.uk/young/
The ley point of Young V&A is not traditional soft play but the creativity and interactive study. In museum, there are a plenty of exhibition area can get involved in, including design, art, architecture and toy. There also has young children play zone which can play and explore by themselves. It’s focuses on learning while playing, making it suitable for children like creating and exploring.
7. Wavelengths Leisure Centre
Address: Giffin St, London SE8 4RJ UK
Online: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/lewisham/wavelengths-leisure-centre?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=google_my_business
Wavelengths Leisure Centre is a community comprehensive play center with basic facilities like swimming pool, gymnasium and kids’ play facilities. The soft play area here is simply but practical, making it suitable for family taking their children here to burn off energy. The environment is functional rather than large-scale and themed. For families who aren't looking for a "photo-op" experience but simply want their children to play steadily for a while and get some exercise in the process, this is a practical choice.
8. Ding Dong Fun Bus
Address: Selby centre, Selby Rd, London N17 8JL UK
Online: http://www.dingdongfunbus.com/
Ding Dong Fun Bus is a mobile soft play space, not a fixed playground, but a converted play bus that visits various neighborhoods or event sites. Although the spacious is not very spacious, the design makes it suitable for young children. The advantage lies in its flexibility and fun, kids will feel curious in the bus. However, due to limited space, it is better suited for short-duration activities or activity-based experiences requiring a reservation.
9. ArtPlay Pavilion
Address: 12 Gallery Rd, London SE21 7AD UK
Online: https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/visit-us/artplay-pavilion/
ArtPlay Pavilion is a play space blends art and kid’ activity and located near Dulwich Picture Gallery. It emphasizes exploration and creativity rather than fixed structure of traditional soft play. Kids can draw in the open play zone is called “Playable Art Experiments”. The atmosphere is open and unstructured, making it suitable for children who enjoy hands-on, slow-paced activities. While it may not be the best choice if the goal is simply to burn off excess energy, it excels at sparking creativity.
10. Gambado
Address: 7, Station Court, Townmead Rd, London SW6 2PY UK
Online: https://www.gambado.com/
Gambabo is one of the famous large-scale indoor play center in London, it’s the upgrade version of standard commercial soft play. It features multi-level climbing structures, slides, a ball pit, and a dedicated toddler area; the facilities are quite comprehensive, making it suitable for children of various ages to play together. The space is relatively spacious and features a design that leans towards an amusement park style, with good rest areas for parents. The overall experience focuses on physical activity, making it an ideal play place on weekends or rainy days.
11. Little Dinosaurs
Address: The Grove, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7BA UK
Online: http://www.littledinosaurs.co.uk/
Little Dinosaur is a classical community soft play center featuring a dinosaur theme. It is moderate in size,not particularly large but offers a comprehensive facilities, including slides, climbing areas, and a ball pit. Its strengths lie in its relaxed atmosphere and generally affordable pricing, making it a great spot for a casual one- or two-hour outing with the kids. Catering primarily to children ranging from toddlers to early elementary school age, it is a classic "no-frills but highly practical" soft play center.
12. The Kids Space
Address: First floor, Southside Shopping Centre, London SW18 4AU UK
Online: https://instagram.com/thekidsspace
Located inside the mall, The Kids Space is a convenient soft-play area. Its main advantage is its accessible location, making it easy to let the children play for a while parents are out shopping or running errands. The overall space is not very spacious, featuring basic slides, soft play and ball pit, making it suitable for burning energy. Because of their convenient location, parents can rest or go shopping at the same time, so it is very practical.
13. Role2Play
Address: 75 Fulbourne Rd, London E17 4EZ UK
Online: http://www.role2play.com/
Role2Play is a "role-play-oriented space for children." Its core concept is not traditional soft play; instead, it engages children through simulated real-life scenarios, such as supermarkets, kitchens, hospitals, or various professional roles. Children can adopt different personas within these settings and gain an understanding of how society functions through interaction. While the venue does feature some basic play equipment, the primary focus is on imaginative play. It is ideal for children who enjoy narrative-driven activities, verbal expression, and social interaction, rather than for families seeking purely physical play to burn off energy.
14. Inflata Nation Colindale
Address: Unit 1 Colindale Retail Park 355 The Hyde, Edgware Rd, London NW9 6TH UK
Online: https://www.inflatanation.com/locations/colindale/
Inflata Nation is an indoor playground features inflatable facilities. Compared to traditional soft play areas, this play place is “bouncing and challenges." It features large inflatable slides, obstacle courses, climbing walls, and jumping zones, offering a faster-paced and more thrilling experience. Children burn off energy primarily through running, jumping, and climbing, making it ideal for high-energy age groups. Unlike standard soft play, it feels more like an "inflatable adventure park," has both greater entertainment value and a more vigorous workout.
15. National Maritime Museum
Address:Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF UK
Online: https://www.rmg.co.uk/national-maritime-museum
The National Maritime Museum is a maritime-themed museum, but it is very family- and child-friendly. Although it’s not the traditional soft play center, it has specialized interactive play zone for children and family play space, kids can learn about maritime history through model ships, interactive installations and games. It is focuses on edutainment space suitable for children interested in ocean and adventure themes.
16. Mel’s Soft play
Address: 17 Kilburn High Rd, London NW6 5SG UK
Online: https://www.instagram.com/melsoftplay/
Mel’s Soft Play is a small-scale community soft play center has a warm atmosphere and comprehensive facilities, featuring slides, soft climbing structure suitable for young children. Due to its modest size , it is better suited for short visits or simply letting kids burn off some energy. It is not the sort of massive "must-visit" theme park, but rather a neighborhood-oriented play space for everyday use.
17. Rainforest Soft Play Club C.I.C
Address: 297 Haggerston Rd, London E8 4EN UK
Online: http://www.rainforestsoftplay.co.uk/
Rainforest Soft Play Club is an indoor playground with jungle theme, the overall design takes tropical rainforest as an inspiration, featuring green decoration and multi-level play structure. Children can climb, play slides and go through tunnels in it. Overall, it features a traditional soft play structure but has a distinctive visual theme. Designed for children ranging from toddlers to primary school age, its primary function is physical activity and free play.
18. Kidzmania
Address: 28 Powell Rd, Lower Clapton, London E5 8DJ UK
Online: http://www.kidzmania.co.uk/
Kidzmania is a mid-sized soft play center featuring standard facilities such as slides, climbing areas, a ball pit, and a dedicated zone for toddlers. Its strength lies in its broad age appeal, offering suitable areas for children ranging from toddlers to primary school age. It offers a reliable experience, making it a great choice for a daily outing to help kids burn off energy. While the overall experience is traditional, lacking elaborate themes.
19. N20 KidsClub
Address: 1st Floor, 1111 High Rd, London N20 0PT UK
Online: https://www.n20kidsclub.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=listing
N20 KidsClub is a comprehensive play place blends kids club and activity space. It not only a soft play but also has the family course, early childhood education activity and social game. Ideal for families who want their children to engage in structured activities rather than just play. Overall, it functions more like a space combining community education and entertainment, rather than a typical playground.
20. Sammy's Soft Play
Address: 27 Beethoven St, London W10 4LG UK
Online: http://www.sammyssoftplay.com/
Sammy’s Soft Play is a typical community indoor playground with the traditional overall structure, featuring slides, ball pit and soft play climbing facilities. The space isn't huge, but it is practical and convenient, making it a great choice for young children to burn off energy or for a spur-of-the-moment outing. While it lacks elaborate themed designs, the safety standards and facilities are solid; it’s the kind of reliable soft play option where you can drop by anytime without the risk of a bad experience.
Overall, London offers a wide range of soft play options, so different areas can find the play places according to children’ age and need. Some are suitable for young children, and some are focus on physical exertion for older children, parents can also have a relax in some playground. Your practical option can according to the distance, age and infrastructure. The list is just a reference, you can quickly search when you need. If there are any soft play areas you frequent that aren't included here, please add them and help make this list more complete.
