Whether or not you’re on the lookout for methods to interrupt up a busy journey sightseeing or extra concepts without cost issues to do, there are some nice playgrounds in London that are good for a household time out.
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And from a few of the greatest recognized, residence to pirate ships or dragons, to ones close to the town’s greatest household sights, listed here are 16 London playgrounds to swimsuit all ages, concepts when you’re on the lookout for a 10-minute breather plus locations to entertain for hours.
Many are set inside parks and most are free, however I’ve additionally picked out a number of much less well-known and strange choices which deserve their place on an inventory of one of the best playgrounds in London too.
Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, Kensington Gardens
Maybe London’s best-known play space, you’ll discover the Diana Memorial Playground within the park’s north-western nook, with an enormous wood pirate ship as its centrepiece.
However that’s solely the beginning of the totally different play areas dotted round: you’ll discover a sensory path, play wigwams, sculptures, even a telescope to look out, and many extra.
For extra recommendations on the town’s greatest parks for households, take a look at my choose of the highest free issues to do in London with youngsters
At busy occasions, there’s a one in, one out system to keep away from the playground being overcrowded, so it’s price getting there earlier somewhat than afterward sunny weekends or throughout college holidays.
Kensington Gardens can be residence to a statue of Peter Pan, with squirrels, rabbits, mice and fairies climbing up in the direction of Peter himself: discover it subsequent to the Lengthy Water as you stroll in the direction of Hyde Park.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for locations to chill down in the summertime with youngsters, neighbouring Hyde Park has the Diana Memorial Fountain to splash in, whereas additional west, Ravenscourt Park in west London has a paddling pool – free to make use of, however you want to prebook a timed slot as numbers are restricted.
Kilburn Grange Journey Park
Adventurous youngsters want look no additional, as Kilburn Grange Journey playground is without doubt one of the most enjoyable playgrounds in London.
This gem is squirreled away within the nook of Kilburn Grange park in north London, and is stuffed with wood buildings that make up an enormous community of treehouses and walkways, nice for any youngster who adores exploring.Â
The play space is really helpful for ages eight to 13 however there are smaller areas for youthful kids, in addition to the park itself to discover when you want extra space to run round.
It’s round 10 minutes stroll from West Hampstead tube station on the Jubilee line, only some stops from Baker Avenue and Bond Avenue, much less to Brondesbury station on the overground too.
Jubilee Gardens Playground, Southbank
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a playground in central London, there isn’t all the time an excessive amount of alternative, so this play park in a patch of greenery on the South Financial institution is ideal.
Set inside Jubilee Gardens, there’s a fab journey playground aimed toward kids as much as 11 years, with cleverly designed wood buildings and spidery rope webs to entertain any budding younger climbers – refurbished in Might 2022, there’s additionally new gear for youthful youngsters and sensory choices to make it extra inclusive.
Surrounded by vacationer hotspots such because the London Eye, and Sea Life Aquarium, it’s straightforward to mix with the large household sights, plus Jubilee Park is a fairly place for fogeys to take a couple of minutes to sit back out.
There are additionally public bathrooms shut by and loads of locations to eat and drink alongside the South Financial institution.
For extra issues to do on the South Financial institution with youngsters, take a look at my high picks
Holland Park
With its tall wood towers and stairs, the Holland Park journey playground in London is all the time a preferred one – good to spark your youngsters’ imaginations in the event that they fancy taking part in at king or queen for the day, or just having enjoyable.
There’s a zipper wire, see-saw, swings and big steel slide together with the string of wood buildings, and the play space is designed to entertain youngsters aged from 5 to 14.
One beautiful additional is that there’s additionally a wheelchair accessible roundabout, when you’ll discover a separate play space for toddlers and youthful youngsters not distant.
For extra concepts of issues to do in London with toddlers and preschoolers, take a look at this publish
The park itself is gorgeous too, with peacocks roaming round, the peaceable Kyoto backyard, Dutch backyard, fountains and woodland to discover.
As a bonus, it’s straightforward to park close by plus there are a number of tube stations inside straightforward strolling distance, together with Excessive Avenue Kensington (or when you’ve been exploring Kensington Palace) in addition to Holland Park itself.
For extra issues to do in South Kensington with youngsters, take a look at my choose of one of the best
Coram’s Fields, Camden
Coram’s Fields is exclusive on the subject of London parks and playgrounds, as this stretch of inexperienced area is just open to households – except you’re visiting with youngsters, you’re not allowed in.
And there are a number of totally different play areas to find throughout the seven acres. A couple of are extra conventional with swings, slides and climbing frames, in addition to some interactive choices to make music on play devices.
Strolling distance from the British Museum, it’s a superb mixture to burn off some vitality after trying on the reveals, plus you may usually see animals on the little metropolis farm. The goats even get let loose to roam and nibble the grass throughout spring and summer time.
Try my evaluate of a go to to Coram’s Fields
The Cove
This new play space by the Nationwide Maritime Museum places different playgrounds within the shade. The Cove is designed to carry kids’s imaginations to life in addition to letting them climb, clamber and play to their coronary heart’s content material.
On the centre is a ship, the Shanty, the place you may take the wheel, hearth the cannon, discover the barrels in addition to climbing as much as the crow’s nest earlier than heading again down the enormous tentacle slide.
Or head contained in the Cutty Shark, climbing its fin and exploring via a maze of nets to find a secret den – then slide out via its fearsome jaws.
Be careful for the Kraken too, as you slide, leap and climb via the creatures seaweed tangles, nets and bridges – one of many enjoyable components of the playground for youthful guests. There’s no must e-book and it’s utterly free: there’s additionally a restaurant and bathrooms contained in the Nationwide Maritime Museum subsequent door.
For extra issues to do in Greenwich with youngsters, take a look at my high picks
Greenwich Park
This thrilling playground in London is ideal for imaginative youngsters: the Greenwich Park playground has a beautiful nautical theme, with progressive water installations to supply a summery really feel.
And in addition to the water and sand components, there are basket swings and roundabouts to present a extra conventional playground really feel.
Nice for each youthful and older kids as much as 12 years previous, each the playground and beautiful Greenwich Park itself are an important alternative on a scorching summer time day.
With bathrooms, seating and refreshment kiosks, it’s enjoyable for a break between testing the opposite issues to do in Greenwich with youngsters, from the museums and Cutty Sark to the meridian line.
Horseferry Playground, Millbank
With sandpits, water installations and wood horses, Horseferry Playground is just a 10-minute stroll from Westminster, so it’s a superb choice when you’ve been recognizing Large Ben, the Homes of Parliament or Westminster Abbey.
Nice for kids aged as much as 12 years, particularly the bigger wood swing construction, there’s additionally an fascinating artwork set up by Chris Campbell across the park that depicts London occasions from over the centuries; a enjoyable approach to get youngsters concerned with historical past!
Plus a sand pit, swings, slide and a water set up. There are public bathrooms right here too.
It’s additionally acquired some great views: you may see St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Shard from the playground, in addition to looking alongside the Thames – a superb reward when you’ve been for a stroll alongside the Thames path.
Prospect Park at Battersea Energy Station
New in April 2022, this vibrant playground sits within the shadow of the enduring energy station and is designed with areas for various ages – an important choice when you’ve acquired siblings who each need entertaining.
There’s a mixture of wood climbing gear impressed by treehouses together with nets to clamber on, among the many splashes of vibrant color – not forgetting some curving steel slides and swings, all set inside the greenery of Prospect Park itself.
There’s additionally an entire string of family-friendly eating places and cafes within the revitalised Energy Station website, together with The Cinema in The Arches, so it’s straightforward to seize something from a scorching drink at Black Sheep Espresso to a margherita at Gordon Ramsay’s Avenue Pizza round a spot of taking part in.
Battersea Park, Wandsworth
If you happen to battle discovering a playground in London that caters to quite a lot of totally different ages, Battersea Park is good.
There are 4 areas which might be designed for various ages from ages 4 to 14, in addition to the (paid) Battersea Park Go Ape course for any thrill seekers.
Towering wood treehouses and slides make up the journey playground, together with gentler enjoyable for toddlers equivalent to a static practice, and small slides. Â
The park itself is filled with household sights too, from boating on the lake to the Battersea Park Youngsters’s zoo for little animal lovers, and Putt within the Park mini golf.
St James’s Park playground
This beautiful playground is located in the course of St James’ Park, one in every of my favorite London parks, and simply minutes away from vacationer hotspots like Buckingham Palace, so it’s a really perfect stopping level when you’re sightseeing in London with youngsters.
There’s additionally a cool sandpit for youthful toddlers, climbing partitions and boulders for older youngsters, though this play space is healthier for youthful ages than older main age on the lookout for extra journey.
In addition to wandering across the park itself, together with a restaurant and locations to seize an ice cream, it’s famously residence to a small group of pelicans, who you’ll spot swimming on the lake and lounging on pelican island.
Paddington Recreation Floor playground
Paddington Recreation Floor playground, aka Paddington Rec close to Maida Vale tube, is designed to encourage artistic play and it’s one other one which’s good for various ages.
You’ll discover a steamliner, practice, tunnel, musical devices and a forest play space among the many timber, however the massive spotlight is the string pastel colored playhouses which appear to be terraced homes.
There’s additionally a sensory path, and for little Paddington followers (and who isn’t), the playground was impressed by the bear himself.
For extra locations to discover Paddington in London, take a look at my ideas
Union Park at Wembley Park
If you happen to’re visiting Wembley Park for a time out, whether or not it’s for an occasion or one of many common free festivals, there’s not one however two all-weather play parks for youthful youngsters.
The play park is in Union Park, round 5 minutes’ stroll from Area Sq. will cowl seven acres when it’s full. With the park’s wood playground and paddling pool for sunny days, it’s the form of spot the place youngsters can play for hours, or spot the busy inhabitants of the close by bee resort within the park.
For folks, it’s a beautiful tranquil spot to chill out with wildflowers and an city meadow, pond and timber dotted round.
There’s one other play space is on Wembley Park Boulevard by the London Designer Outlet which is designed for teenagers below 12, with a slide, climbing body, towers and roundabout to play on.
Magic Backyard, Hampton Court docket
This historic playground is a bit out of the best way however properly price a go to – the Magic Backyard is as spectacular a playground as Hampton Court docket is a palace.
Sand and water areas make it nice for summer time days out with youngsters, particularly with toddlers, while the aerial walkway and royal towers are good for adventurous youngsters.Â
The magical theme makes it someplace a bit totally different, with animal statues hidden within the timber and a dragon to steadiness on, in addition to play hills to scamble and down. This isn’t a free choice, it’s solely obtainable with a ticket to Hampton Court docket Palace but it surely’s a unbelievable time out in London with youngsters.
Try my evaluate of our go to to Hampton Court docket Palace, together with the Magic Backyard
Youngsters’s Backyard, Kew
One other paid choice, this beautiful playground is a part of Kew Gardens – you want a separate (free) ticket to the youngsters’s backyard play space, at present with timed entry to restrict numbers.
But it surely’s properly price a cease amongst all the opposite sights at Kew Gardens. Impressed by the necessities of life, you’ll discover totally different areas themed round mild and water, for instance.
In observe that additionally means mini trampolines to bounce on, an enormous climbing space together with ropes, plus a number of water play, vibrant colors and slides that end in sandpits, in addition to little wood homes within the sand for youthful youngsters.
When you’re there, take a look at The Hive set up with lights linked to the actions of a beehive and the hum of a swarm making music inside, in addition to common household trails across the botanic gardens.
Try my full set of ideas for visiting Kew Gardens with youngsters
Biodiversity Park, Stratford
Whereas this isn’t essentially the most central playground choice, the Biodiversity Park in Stratford is without doubt one of the most quirky and strange locations for teenagers to play.
Very near Westfield (additionally residence to the Disney Retailer and Lego Retailer, in addition to bathrooms and loads of locations to eat), it’s nice as a reward when you’re attempting to slot in some buying with youngsters in London, however the design makes it an important choice regardless.
With an animal and crops theme, you’ll discover frog, dragonfly and fish-shaped buildings, in addition to wood ships and a bridge, all linked as much as slides of various heights, some climbing rocks plus there are exercise partitions as properly.
Solely round 10 minutes on the tube from Liverpool Avenue station, it’s one to recollect when you’re in east London.
For one more unbelievable east London playground, take a look at the Tumbling Bay playground on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park close by – signal as much as the London with Youngsters e-newsletter for a free information to one of the best locations to get open air with youngsters within the metropolis
*final up to date 2024*
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Photos: Diana Memorial playground photographs courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
