Playgrounds in London

Central London's headline options sit in the Royal Parks, and one guide, The Best Playgrounds in London, observes that most of the excellent playgrounds it covers are found there. Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in the north-west corner of Kensington Gardens is built around a wooden pirate ship with a guard on the gate; reviewers call it extremely busy, and The 19 best playgrounds in London says a one-in-one-out system operates on sunny weekends. Hyde Park Playground is the quieter, enclosed alternative nearby, with a kiosk reviewers rate above the usual park standard. St James's Park Playground suits ages 3 to 8 as a break mid-sightseeing rather than a destination. In Regent's Park, one blogger rates Gloucester Gate Playground worth a detour for its zip line and age-grouped equipment, and Marylebone Green Playground as a convenient stop only, though its water pumps draw children of every age.

For children who want to be physically stretched, Bablands' founder names Holland Park Adventure Playgrounds and Tumbling Bay Playground as favourites for ages 5 to 10 with genuinely challenging equipment, and picks Burgess Park Woodland Playground among the coolest-looking, with the caveat from reviewers that it is not marked on official park maps. Sand and water dominate at Primrose Hill Playground, Finsbury Park Playground with its three zones, the splash pad at Kensington Memorial Park and the sprinklers and zip line at Sydenham Wells Park.

Further out, the choice is between parks with extras and places with almost none. Gunnersbury Park adds a mansion and lake, Golders Hill Park and Queen's Park each have a mini zoo, and Leyton Jubilee Park splits play areas by age. WWT London Wetland Centre is the one paid entry here, with otter talks as the draw. Winn's Common has no playground equipment at all.