Indoor Play Centres in South East

The largest frames are in Sunbury-on-Thames and Greenhithe. Kidabulous runs a five-storey structure alongside a separate Toddler Town, and reviewers say it holds children up to 12 for long sessions, with cafe seating on both floors looking into the play areas. Dinotropolis has three storeys and a four-slide run that reviewers call the headline attraction; our verdict puts the sweet spot at ages 5 to 9, and notes that babies under 18 months get little out of it while still paying entry. Sessions are 90 minutes and walk-ins are not accepted. Monkey Bizz in Rochester covers a similar age span on a multi-level frame, and reviews single out its themed party rooms and hosts.

Several venues admit only under-fives, which suits parents who do not want a crawler flattened by a nine-year-old. Rascals Softplay Epsom has a separate under-1s zone and takes walk-ins. Giggles Soft Play, also in Epsom, adds an outdoor climbing area and allows your own food. The Play Cafe in Esher and Superstars Playcafe in Chertsey both draw praise for cafe quality and stress-free party hosting. The Little Borough in Weybridge is the one to look at with a very young baby: reviewers rate its sensory room from three months. Slightly older? Oakie Doke’s Playhouse in Sevenoaks goes to age 8, and Wacky Kingdom Soft Play Centre in Redhill has a Baby Zone plus SEN-friendly sessions, though reviews say children near 7 outgrow it. Silvermere Softplay in Dorking also runs SEN exclusive sessions, but its cleanliness reviews are split.

If you want animals with your soft play, Bocketts Farm Park in Leatherhead pairs an indoor barn with the farm, and Chobham Adventure Farm in Woking has a soft play zone for babies under one. MadPlay in Greenhithe is walk-in only, with reviewers flagging cold winters; The Barnyard Soft Play in Swanley has an outdoor toilet block and sparse indoor seating.