I recently had a question from an NHM Reader that I asked the NHM Community to help with: “What are the best soft play places in Hampshire? Or are they all pretty much the same?”
Many thanks for all of your responses, listed below in no particular order.
Please bear in mind that listings may change in subsequent years, but hopefully they will still be a good base point for your own research.
NHM Readers Recommend: Best Soft Play
Ellie said “Definitely play days in Basingstoke, have tried them all and this was my favourite. It’s clean, the cafe is nice and the balls are in the ball pit!”
Marie said “Playdays is the best, but the parking is limited. We could do with one the other side of town (hatchwarren/ Brighton hill way).”
Michelle said “Agree playdays is great. Always clean, decent prices, can stay as long as you like and staff all friendly. Has a baby bit and a much larger bit, so good for siblings of different ages…would say probably up to 5/6 years max though”
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- Leah said “depends on the child I think, my 7.5 year old still loves going to Playdays”
Anna said “Playdays is great. My son always had so much fun here!”
Jungle Adventure Soft Play (previously Play Den), Basingstoke
Laura said “Play Gym in Festival place… cleanest place around!”
Helen H said “The play den in town is nice and clean and generally the service is good.”
Melanie said “For little ones I would highly recommend Active Tots.”
Helen H said “Active Tots near Bramley is lovely and clean, but pricey and the customer service is awful. I’ve been 3x and every time the staff are rude and unhelpful.”
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- Melanie said “Helen I’ve always found the staff lovely and very accommodating to those with allergies.”
- Helen said “As I say, only been 3x and each time was a horrible experience. But I can’t fault the cleanliness of the place at all. It’s a lovely facility.”
- Catherine said “and it has windows and natural day light.. which is less depressing for me!”
The Adventure Barn, Winchester
Lisa said “My favourite is The Adventure Barn its extremely clean (closed every Tuesday 1/2 day to be cleaned) Staff are friendly, it also has a great outdoor play area in the summer. Is suitable for tiny babies up to 9/10 year olds (depending on the child). You can see all areas of the soft play so you can keep an eye on your child and don’t ‘loose’ them. The food is lovely (proper adult food) as well as kids meals, healthy and not so healthy snack for the kids. They do toddler sessions where you get a free biscuit and squash. Its near Marwell. Can be tricky to find the first time. Overall brilliant though…”
Amy said “It’s really good there. Lots to do but it’s pricey and the food was terrible when I went! Too far for us to go and not have lunch but wouldn’t be in a rush to go again for that reason. That said my little boy had a great time!”
Alison said “Its great but it is expensive. It has great role play areas, carousel, bumper cars, lego building plus usual soft play. My nearly 5 year old loves it. I’ve eaten there a few times and its been fine. Parking is a bit of a pain. The parking outside is time limited so we’ve parked in the multi storey down the road so we can stay all day and make the most especially as its expensive to get in.”
Joellie said “I’m here now! It’s expensive but lots to do”
Helen said “Joellie I thought the same about price, especially as on 1st visit you have to register and pay a one off £5 reg fee. But saying that there is loads to do. I agree parking close is limited to 2hrs but next time will park on multi storey as someone else suggested. Definitely will visit again.”
Other and Multiple Recommendations:
Leah said “ Frankies fun factory in Romsey is big, so much to do & fun! Kids2day in Eastleigh is good. Playdays in Basingstoke. Gym tots in Basingstoke sports centre. Sure there must be one in reading.”
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- Carrie said “krazy kids is in reading and really good”
- Leah said “ah knew there would be lol. Not been there yet…”
Leah also said “Also, fun house in Basingstoke…There’s also one at Finkley Down Farm I think – go for a day out & enjoy. Also, 4 kingdoms play activity centre near Newbury – great outdoors stuff & big soft play centre inside. Marwell zoo has one nearby the zoo – not in the zoo but further down the road (can’t remember what it’s called though)”
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- Lisa said “The Adventure Barn (I’ve mentioned above x )”
- Leah said “ah yes that one lol.”
Wendy said “I find soft play is very specific to age, active tots is fine for under 1s but a bit pants once they can walk. The sports centre is good for 1 – 4, play days sees them to about year 1. Flip out has a playframe that over 7s absolutely love and my kids love both the indoor and outdoor ones at 4 kingdoms.”
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- Natalie said “Wendy, can you just buy tickets for the soft play bit? Or is it you have to buy for the whole place?”
- Wendy said “Natalie you have to get tickets for the whole place. Last year they had a ticket sale around March where you could buy discounted tickets with no use by date.”
Steph said “We love the soft play in The sports centre in festival place, it’s clean and reasonably priced. Active Tots is fab for younger children. We love kids in action too but that’s in winnersh”
Alison said “Eddie Katz Newbury! (OK Berkshire.. But only just) Also for little ones Active Tots…Play Gym in Basingstoke sports centre”
Vicki said “Love The Adventure Barn near Marwell, Kids n Action in Winnersh and, it’s a bit of a drive, but Sprouts Playbarn near Abingdon is seriously the best I’ve ever been to.”
Kimberley said “Active Tots is really nice for 1-3 year olds however over the top price wise. They even charged a friend of mine over £5 for her 4 month baby which wasn’t going to be using equipment. Play den in town sports centre is also great for younger ones but no cafe anymore. Playdays has a smaller area for younger children and is always clean – not much parking though x”
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- Helen H said “Kimberley they charged us £5 per person to sit in the cafe ! When I had my son with me to use the equipment and two adults who weren’t using it or with kids but would be buying a coffee in the cafe!”
- Kimberley said “Helen shocking really!”
Julia said “I don’t think anyone has mentioned Madhouse next to the Madejski Stadium in Reading. It’s not too far from Basingstoke, always very clean, staff always friendly when I have been. It does work out pricey if you have lots of kids and eat there too, but I find all the good ones do.”
Michelle said “Rosie and Bean cafe in fleet is good for imaginative play, also has a bouncy castle, lovely staff and great food!”
Jessica said “There was a really nice one in Camberley . Magic Kingdom/Dragon or something. That was very good”
Sarah said “Kids n Action is brilliant and something for all ages”
Catherine said “ fun house”
Ruza said “Jake’s playworld, with inside and outside space. One of the cleanest I’ve been to and great for the kids. Near tri-lakes”
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