Indoor Play Centres in Greater London

Of the 103 places here, 60 sit within London itself, with smaller clusters in Croydon, Wembley, Ilford, Sutton and Kingston upon Thames. One source warns that the capital's indoor play scene varies hugely in quality, from stylish play cafes to some genuinely poor soft plays, so the useful question is less where than what your children's ages need.

For school-age energy, Flip Out Brent Cross offers the widest mix of attractions plus stay-and-play sessions that give under-5s the floor to themselves, though reviews note equipment availability varies. Flip Out Canary Wharf runs from roller skating to laser quest and bumper cars, and runs cold enough that layers matter. Babylon Park London in Camden charges nothing to walk in, with unlimited passes for rides; the rollercoaster has a 105cm minimum. Activate at The O2 is the pick for 12 and up, with ten difficulty levels that let a parent and a tween compete. Out in Feltham, Hobbledown Heath pairs a large indoor barn with outdoor play and animals for ages 2 to 10.

Mixed-age families do well at Kidspace Croydon and Kidspace Romford, where a fenced under-5s zone sits alongside go-karts, and at Snakes & Ladders in Brentford, whose indoor and outdoor zones cover toddlers through older primary. For the youngest, Little Dinosaurs (Time Out includes it among London's best, noting the fenced grassy area outside), The Sherriff Centre inside a church, and Mome London, which one blog calls the ultimate play cafe for 0 to 4, are calmer than the big commercial frames.

If the visit is really a party, Topsy Turvy World, Bertie and Boo Adventure Island and Kubz Klub all draw praise for hosts who handle setup, cake and timings. Families of children with additional needs should look at the SEND Legend sessions at Kidzmania and the scheduled SEN sessions at Kassiopi Cove.