Whether or not you’re searching for methods to interrupt up a busy journey sightseeing or extra concepts totally free issues to do, there are some nice playgrounds in London that are excellent for a household time out.
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And from among the finest identified, house to pirate ships or dragons, to ones close to town’s greatest household sights, listed below are 17 London playgrounds to go well with all ages, concepts when you’re searching 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 weird choices which deserve their place on an inventory of the very 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 lots extra.
The playground might be closing briefly from autumn 2025 till spring 2026 for a six-month refurbishment when you’re visiting throughout that interval
For extra recommendations on town’s finest parks for households, take a look at my decide of the highest free issues to do in London with youngsters
At busy instances, there’s a one in, one out system to keep away from the playground being overcrowded, so it’s value getting there earlier reasonably than afterward sunny weekends or throughout faculty holidays.
Kensington Gardens can also be house 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.
In case you’re searching 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 throughout the summer time months – free to make use of, however it is advisable prebook a timed slot as numbers are restricted.
Kilburn Grange Journey Park
Adventurous youngsters want look no additional, as Kilburn Grange Journey playground is among the most fun playgrounds in London.
This gem is squirreled away within the nook of Kilburn Grange park in north London, and is stuffed with wood constructions that make up an enormous community of treehouses and walkways, nice for any baby who adores exploring.
The play space is really useful for ages eight to 13 however there are smaller areas for youthful kids, in addition to the park itself to discover when you want more room to run round.
It’s round 10 minutes stroll from West Hampstead tube station on the Jubilee line, only some stops from Baker Road and Bond Road, much less to Brondesbury station on the overground too.
Jubilee Gardens Playground, Southbank
In case you’re searching for a playground in central London, there isn’t all the time an excessive amount of selection, 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 constructions and spidery rope webs to entertain any budding younger climbers – refurbished in Could 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 folks to take a couple of minutes to relax 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 – excellent to spark your youngsters’ imaginations in the event that they fancy enjoying at king or queen for the day, or just having enjoyable.
There’s a zipper wire, see-saw, swings and large steel slide together with the string of wood constructions, and the play space is designed to entertain youngsters aged from 5 to 14.
One pretty additional is that there’s additionally a wheelchair accessible roundabout, when you’ll discover a separate play space for toddlers and youthful youngsters not far-off.
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 Road 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 decide of the very best
Coram’s Fields, Camden
Coram’s Fields is exclusive with regards to London parks and playgrounds, as this stretch of inexperienced house is simply 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 number 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 an excellent mixture to burn off some vitality after wanting 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 deliver 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 large 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 elements of the playground for youthful guests. There’s no must ebook and it’s fully 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 stunning nautical theme, with revolutionary water installations to offer a summery really feel.
And in addition to the water and sand parts, there are basket swings and roundabouts to provide a extra conventional playground really feel.
Nice for each youthful and older kids as much as 12 years outdated, each the playground and wonderful Greenwich Park itself are a fantastic selection on a scorching summer time day.
With bathrooms, seating and refreshment kiosks, it’s enjoyable for a break between trying out 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 simply a 10-minute stroll from Westminster, so it’s an excellent possibility when you’ve been recognizing Massive 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 attention-grabbing artwork set up by Chris Campbell across the park that depicts London occasions from over the centuries; a enjoyable solution to get youngsters excited about 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 fantastic views: you may see St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Shard from the playground, in addition to looking alongside the Thames – an excellent 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 – a fantastic possibility 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 shiny color – not forgetting some curving steel slides and swings, all set inside the greenery of Prospect Park itself.
There’s additionally a complete string of family-friendly eating places and cafes within the revitalised Energy Station web site, 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 Road Pizza round a spot of enjoying.
Battersea Park, Wandsworth
In case you battle discovering a playground in London that caters to quite a lot of totally different ages, Battersea Park is right.
There are 4 areas which can 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.
The park itself is full of 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 pretty playground is located in the course of St James’ Park, one among my favorite London parks, and simply minutes away from vacationer hotspots like Buckingham Palace, so it’s a super 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 searching 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 house 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 inventive 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 large spotlight is the string pastel colored playhouses which seem like 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
In case you’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 type of spot the place youngsters can play for hours, or spot the busy inhabitants of the close by bee lodge within the park.
For folks, it’s a stunning 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 youths underneath 12, with a slide, climbing body, towers and roundabout to play on.
Magic Backyard, Hampton Courtroom
This historic playground is a bit out of the best way however nicely value a go to – the Magic Backyard is as spectacular a playground as Hampton Courtroom 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 excellent for adventurous youngsters.
The magical theme makes it someplace a bit totally different, with animal statues hidden within the timber and a dragon to stability on, in addition to play hills to scamble and down. This isn’t a free possibility, it’s solely out there with a ticket to Hampton Courtroom Palace however it’s a unbelievable time out in London with youngsters.
Try my evaluate of our go to to Hampton Courtroom Palace, together with the Magic Backyard
Youngsters’s Backyard, Kew
One other paid possibility, this pretty playground is a part of Kew Gardens – you want a separate (free) ticket to the kids’s backyard play space, at present with timed entry to restrict numbers.
But it surely’s nicely value a cease amongst all the opposite sights at Kew Gardens. Impressed by the necessities of life, you’ll discover totally different areas themed round gentle and water, for instance.
In observe that additionally means mini trampolines to bounce on, an enormous climbing space together with ropes, plus a lot of water play, shiny 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 possibility, the Biodiversity Park in Stratford is among the most quirky and weird locations for youths to play.
Subsequent to Westfield Stratford (additionally house 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 making an attempt to slot in some procuring with youngsters in London, however the design makes it a fantastic possibility regardless.
With an animal and vegetation theme, you’ll discover frog, dragonfly and fish-shaped constructions, 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 nicely.
Solely round 10 minutes on the tube from Liverpool Road station, it’s one to recollect when you’re in east London.
Tumbling Bay playground, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
An alternative choice that’s a approach out of central London however nonetheless a fantastic place for youths to play, the Tumbling Bay playground is on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Anticipate sand, wobbly bridges, swimming pools and extra to play in – the ‘bay’ part is especially standard in summer time when there’s an opportunity to faux your on a seaside, and splash round by rock swimming pools. Or the tree-houses, impressed by birds nests, are one other favorite.
There’s a restaurant close by with bathrooms too. And when you’re fed up at having nowhere for adults to play, the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the world’s longest tunnel slide, is strolling distance away (youngsters also can experience from age 8/1.3m+ in the event that they’re accompanied by an grownup)
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