Indoor Play Centres in North West

The Stretford cluster is where the big kit is. Red Kite Days says Play Factore has the biggest play frame in the UK, with a slide over 40 metres long, and reviewers pitch it at ages 5 to 16 while calling the toddler area unreliable, so phone before bringing under-threes. Inflata Nation Inflatable Theme Park Manchester sells timed inflatable sessions, and one hour covers most 5 to 13 year olds. Total Ninja grades its obstacles, junior zones for 4 to 7 and elite for 10 plus, which makes it a better party booking than a casual mixed-age drop-in.

Under-fives get a calmer set of rooms. Little Explorers in Urmston limits numbers with timed bookings, and its building site and role-play zones are the favourites of three and four year olds. Curiosity Corner Play in Preston is curated toys and a homely pace for ages one to five, and Little Play Town Heywood Ltd splits role play across two floors, shops below, bikes and a theatre upstairs. The two Head Over Heels branches in Chorlton-cum-Hardy and Cheadle stretch from babies to age 10 with a sensory room, and Cheadle adds the Safari Falls projection.

Birthdays are the other big split. Bounce Central Oldham and Total Ninja earn their praise on named hosts, Josh and Summaya at one, Axel at the other, while Planet Play Ltd in Heywood and Sparkles Adventure Play Ltd in Oldham hand the whole event to staff under exclusive hire. Additional needs are best served by Adventure Forest Play Centre with its monthly SEN sessions, Let Loose - Soft Play And Cafe in Stockport and Oxygen Wilmslow. On cost, The Hideaway Partington runs on donations and Red Kite Days lists it as a favourite for winter, while Castaway Play & Ice Cream Parlour in Congleton, which the same site calls a multiple-time Cheshire winner, has no time limit but needs pre-booking. Fun Valley bolton and Kaly's Playland (OGHCSRC) are the two offering halal food, though reviews of Kaly's cleanliness vary by visit.