The best soft-play centres in London

Got an ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’ approach to soft play? Croydon behemoth Kidspace is the one for you (if your eardrums can take it). Split into distinctively designed zones, it features enormous undulating slides, climbing walls, go-karts, mini-golf, ball blasters, multi-sensory toddler areas, trippy UV-lit tunnels and much more. Billed as suitable for anyone under 13, it’s particularly good for older kids who like a challenge and for grown ups who still find giddy joy in hurling themselves down children’s tunnel slides. Also in Romford.

Museum of London's Mudlarks gallery is wildly popular with parents looking for an affordable, imaginative spot for under-eights to let off some steam. As well as a dock-themed soft play – complete with a squidgy DLR carriage – there are giant building blocks, divers’ helmets, tiny cranes and a waterplay table you may well have to forcibly drag the kids away from. You'll need to book your 45-minute session in advance, with tickets £3.50 per person, regardless of whether you're big or small. 

In truth, the indoor play area at socially conscious West Hampstead venue the Sherriff Centre  is hardly unique. There’s the usual jumble of ball pits, slides and netted walls, with separate sections for babies and under-11s. But, while some soft plays offer parents little more than a few chairs and an erratic vending machine, this place is nestled in the striking, vaulted interior of St James Church. That means you can grab a coffee or some cake from the Sanctuary Café while your charges scramble madly over vinyl-covered foam.

Filled with brightly coloured tubes, tunnels, ball ponds and slides, this huge indoor play area gives under-tens the chance to climb, slide and throw themselves about for two action-packed hours.

Deptford's Wavelengths is probably best known for a leisure pool that's southeast London's answer to Centreparcs, with its beach-style sloping shallows, fake plants, and little water-spouting elephant. But there's plenty of fun to be had there on dry land, too. Head upstairs and you'll find a soft play that's big enough to excite kids right up to the age of 10, with a giant slide, tunnels and netting to scramble over, plus a separate space for babies and toddlers. 

Dulwich Picture Gallery's new space for tiny art-lovers is a beaut. Under-eights can explore a soft landscape inspired by the imagery in its classic painting, with gorgeous murals inspired by 18th century pastoral paintings to frolic among, and amorphous velvet shapes to scramble over. It's pretty small so book in advance to secure your slot. And if the weather's nice, don't forget to explore the new sculpture gardens too, including a kooky eyeball slide by Harold Offeh. 

Good play cafés are a haven for parents but sadly they’re surprisingly hard to find in London. Enter Sandscape – a play café with a fun sandpit in Finsbury Park. The people who set this up clearly know how transfixed babies and toddlers are by sand; you’ll actually get to enjoy your coffee here as £4 gets you an hour slot for your little one to thoroughly explore the toys, slide and sandpit. 

Since Kidzania in Westfield closed, Role2Play has become the go-to spot for toddlers into roleplaying games. If your child turns your home into incessant tea parties and ice cream shops, this will let them live out their fantasies. There are scenarios including supermarkets, cafés, garages, building sites, vets and doctors – it’s almost as fun for you to watch them get into character as it is for them to do it.

Set sail for Greenwich's Maritime Museum and you'll find adventures galore, including a giant ocean map, The Cove sea-themed playground, and costumed character encounters every Saturday. But the jewel in the crown is the freshly revamped indoor Ahoy! play zone, which is full of nautical fun for under-sevens. You won't find ball pits or classic soft play here. But there are role play areas including a fishmonger, an 18th century galleon, and a seaside ice cream hut, plus loads of interactive games inspired by Greenwich's seafaring past.

If your children are happiest when they’re bouncing from colourful space to colourful space, they’ll have a ball at Inflata Nation. The Colindale venue boasts everything from a gigantic lagoon-themed ball pit with a volcano, inflatable slides, and an obstacle course, all of which are guaranteed to wear the little tykes out so you can have peace and quiet come home time.

This enormous indoor play centre is a cut above the competition, thanks to its towering wooden climbing frame. Unusually, parents are allowed to explore alongside their children, zooming down the ‘black hole’ slide, getting lost in the labyrinth or dodging cannon fire in soft ball arena Thunderdome City. Mini go-karts, digital drawing, a projection sand box and a multi-sensory play area for toddlers round off a very full family day out.

Cheery staff and masses of things to do mean Gambado is eternally popular, despite the hefty entry fee. Kids soon vanish into the depths of the thrilling multi-level climbing frame, which incorporates ball ponds, slides (enclosed twirly tunnels plus bumpy ones large enough for parents to join in), trampolines, assault courses and mini dodgems. Under-fours get a soft-play section, including sensory lights, sounds and textures for babies. You can refuel on healthy fare at the café, with great views of the mayhem unfolding around you. At weekends, it’s usually full of birthday parties.

This Tottenham soft play space doesn’t just have a fun name, but a myriad of entertaining bits inside to keep the kids happy. Let them run wild through the rainbow-hued array of platforms, slides and ball pits while you tuck into some of the affordable – and tasty – food from a distance.

This freshly reimagined Bethnal Green museum is a wonderland for older kids, offering design-led exhibits exploring toys through the centuries. But pre-schoolers haven't been forgotten: Young V&A's small, lushly carpeted soft play zone is a micro museum that's perfect for crawlers and toddlers, with furry display cases, sparkly exhibits, and tunnels to venture through. 

This appealing eccentric kid-friendly Japanese café isn't exactly a soft play space, but it's a great option for anyone looking to have a laidback hangout with some toddler play thrown in. Toconoco sits on the canalside near Haggerston overground, and serves up rice balls, teas, Japanese toasts and desserts overlooking the water. There's also a small kids area including a play kitchen, bunk bed, and plenty of toys. In summer, the outdoor tables by the canal are idyllic and if the kids get bored of the play bit, they can look out for ducks. 

Did you know there’s a sci-fi theme park under Camden Market? Babylon Park is part of a small international chain of mini-amusement parks that packs in a number of kiddie-friendly rides. Head to the Gymboree area for a soft play extravaganza and, when you’re done, check out the other attractions, from an alien ride to a baby rollercoaster.