Whether you love them or hate them, soft play centres are a go-to for parents and there are plenty to choose from across Liverpool and Wirral.
They’re also perfect for when the weather isn't up to scratch or you just need to get out of the house - let the kids run wild and hope they burn up all that energy before bedtime. There is also usually deals for entry and a meal so you can keep their little bellies full too plus by the end of the session they will be ready for a nap giving you a well-earned break.
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So here's a round-up of places with soft play plus indoor and outdoor adventure centres in Liverpool, Wirral and beyond.
Yellow Sub
Yellow Sub has a large play frame, arcade, football pitch and special toddler play area. While the kids run wild you can enjoy a hot drink in the restaurant and coffee shop which also serves up delicious home cooked food from flame grilled burgers to Neapolitan pizzas and scrumptious filled wraps.
Based on Liverpool's waterfront not far from the famous Albert Dock, Yellow Sub is perfect for families planning a day out in the area. No booking is required and admission is on a first come, first served basis.
Open: 10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Last customer admission is 5pm.
Where: Yellow Sub, Brunswick Business Park, Dempster Buildings, Atlantic Way, Liverpool, L3 4BE
Price: Under one £2.75, over one £7.95, concession £3.95, adults (applies to ages 16 and over) £1.75. Prices are charged per 90 minute play session.
Bubbles’ World of Play
Bubbles' World Of Play has a main play frame which is the largest in the UK with five levels of fun and games including ball pools and slides. Aimed at children up to aged 11, they are encouraged to explore more than 30 countries across different zones, plus a city role play area with a vets, garage, shop and police station (with it's own jail).
There is also foam ball cannons, talking penguin mazes and interactive projectors to discover. Babies and toddlers can enjoy a large sensory area, themed toddler play frame and open space play area in the theme of Central Park, New York.
Grown-ups can relax in the comfortable seating areas and enjoy food and drink from the on-site cafe. Tickets must be booked in advance as the centre is currently not accepting walk-in customers.
Open: 9.30am to 6pm, seven days a week.
Where: Marine Point, King's Parade, Wallasey CH45 2HZ
Price: At peak times (weekends and school holidays) babies 0- six months £4, babies aged six to 11 months £6.50, ages one to 11 £11.95, adults and over 11s £5.50.. Members get a discount of £2.
Fun Town
Fun Town in Garston, South Liverpool combines an indoor soft play area with a family restaurant and comfortable viewing area so grown-ups can keep and eye on their little ones and relax. The play structure is huge with an exciting four lane astra slide and indoor football pitch, with a special toddler section for under threes.
For children over three, there are three levels of soft play, featuring slides, log ramps, and roller squeezes. Kids under three can make the most of the ball pool, building blocks, jigsaws, and even mini karts.
Attractions include three levels of soft play and a ball pool, which leads to the FunTown play house containing many soft play toys, building blocks and jigsaws. Funtown also has its own indoor football pitch.
Open: 10am to 6pm, seven days a week.
Where: 46 Speke Road, Garston, Liverpool L19 2PA
Price: Children under one cost £3 at all times. At peak times (weekends, bank holidays and school holidays) children over one cost £7. Adults cost £1.
Jungle Fun
Located inside Belle Vale Shopping Centre, Jungle Fun has been recently refurbished to cater for all ages, with emphasis placed on children's development, communication and interaction skills. Features include a sensory and music area, ball cannons and three storey toddler area with carousel. There's also a seating area and café so the grown-ups can watch the kids while they have a cuppa.
Open: 10am to 6pm, seven days a week.
Where: Upper Floor, Belle Vale Shopping Centre, Hedgefield Road, Liverpool, Merseyside, L25 2RQ
Price: During peak times, under ones cost £4, and over ones cost £6.45. Off peak, under ones are £3 and over ones are £5.45.
Spaceworld
Spaceworld has one of the largest play frames in Merseyside, which features four tiers and three zones. Kids can enjoy a state of the art playframe, electric space buggies, 25ft spiral slide, wavy four lane astra slide and elevated football pitch. Babies, toddlers and children aged up to three can also enjoy bubbles, slides, a mirror maze, puzzles and a space ranger car track.
Open: 9.30am to 5:30pm, seven days a week.
Where: 2-3 Ropers Court, Sinclair Way, Prescot Business Park, L34 1QN
Price: During off peak times under ones cost £2.45, a child aged over one is £6, while during peak times under ones cost £2.45 and children aged over one cost £7. Adults are charged at £1 each.
Cirq D Play
This circus-themed soft play centre features and an enormous play frame, toddler play frame and a sports pitch. Cirq D Play is decorated just like a big top, in reds, yellows and blues, with swings, ball pools and even a helter skelter. There's also a restaurant and coffee shop with home-cooked food including healthy breakfast options.
Open: 9.30am to 5.30pm every day.
Where: 168 Great Homer Street, Liverpool L5 3LQ
Price: During term time, Cirq D Play costs £3.50 for under ones and £6.50 for over ones, while at the weekend and during holidays under ones cost £3.50, while over ones cost £7. Adults cost £1 at all times.
Playtown
Playtown in Southport is the ideal stop to tire out the kids at the end of a day of shopping. Located on Ocean Plaza, the family-run business features a huge play frame and a mini trampoline park.
They cater for children aged up to 15 with play areas, for under twos, under fours, and under 12s. Parents can grab a cuppa or a bite to eat in the café which serves hot food including breakfasts, wraps and paninis.
Open: Open from 10am to 5:40pm every day.
Where: Ocean Plaza, Marine Drive, Southport, PR8 1RY
Price: Children aged two months to 11 months cost £1.95, one to two year olds cost £3.75, two to three years cost £5.75, over threes cost £6.75. Adults cost £1 and one adult must be present with any visit.
Fun4All
Fun4All in Bromborough has a main play frame with a climbing wall, air cannons, aerial gliders, a 10-metre wave slide and more. There is also a dedicated toddler area featuring a ball juggler, scrambling nets and a rainbow slide plus a soft play area and vehicle track.
Babies and parents can also enjoy a safe and dedicated soft play baby play pen too. If the kids work up an appetite, there's also a cafe to grab a snack. The centre also hosts baby, craft and activity groups.
Open: 9:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday. Open 9:45am to 5:15pm on Saturday and 9:45am to 2:45pm on Sunday.
Where: 57 Welton Road, Croft Leisure Park, Bromborough, CH62 3PN
Price: Peak times (weekends and school holidays): 0-11 months £2, one to two years £5, three to four years £6.50, over fives £8, adults £2. Off peak times (weekdays during term time): 0-11 months £2, adults £2, toddler (one to four years) and adult £6.
Crazy Town
Crazy Town in Aintree is one of the largest play centres in the North West and has the longest indoor zip wire ride. There's a huge main play frame featuring eight trampolines, electric cars, cannon guns, a large four lane astral slide plus tube slides and ball drop.
Babies and toddlers can enjoy their own separate play structure for children up to the age of three years, complete with interactive sensory room, toddler trampoline, slide and crawl tubes. Children up to ten years can enjoy unlimited play on its huge play frame, which features spiral slides, ball pools, and roller squeezes. The play centre also hosts toddler mornings and discos on various days throughout the week.
Open: 9:30am to 6pm seven days a week.
Where: 14 & 15, Vesty Business Park, Vesty Road, Aintree, L30 1NY
Price: Babies aged six to 11 months cost £4.95, children aged 12 months and over cost £9.95.
Imagine That!
Imagine That is a huge play centre packed with activities designed to encourage imaginative play. There is arts and crafts, science workshops and an Imagination Village including a construction zone, lots of shops, an American diner and theatre, a pet rescue and car wash plus a theatre, sensory area, science lab, water area and more.
Two cafes are available, serving up children's meals, sandwiches, paninis, baguettes, sweet treats and a range of coffees and hot drinks.
Open: Open weekends only until July 17. Open every day from July 20 for the summer holidays. Admission is by advanced booking only.
Where: 26-32 Faraday Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, L13 1EH
Price: Peak prices (weekends and school holidays): child £14.95, adult £7.95, child under three £12.95, baby under one free with paying sibling.
Mini Monsters Funhouse
Mini Monsters Funhouse has an indoor soft play area including slides, run rides, scramble nets, squeeze rollers, ball pond, swing rope and spinning bar. On sunny days the kids can run around in the outdoor play area which includes swings, slides, outdoor seating area and baby swings. There is a café on site serving coffee and a range of light bites, paninis, jacket potatoes and sweet treats.
Open: 10am to 5:45pm, seven days a week.
Where: During term time, under ones cost £1, under twos cost £3, while over twos cost £5.
Prices: Under six months are free, six to 11 months £1.50, 12-23 months £3.50, over twos £5.50, adults and over nines £1.
Eat and play for £7.50.
Price: Chester High Road, Neston CH64 3TE.
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