We all enjoy letting off steam and having a whale of a time in the great outdoors.
When it comes to having lots of fun outside, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of a day spent at an adventure playground.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of adventure playgrounds in London. We’re here to provide a whistlestop tour of the very best attractions that one of the world’s greatest cities has to offer.
From spiral slides to zip wires, there’s no end to the fun that is in store when you venture out from your front door.
Let’s take a look at what you can expect when you take the kids on a journey of adventure like no other.
1. Battersea Park Playground
Location: Battersea, SW11
Nearest tube station: South Kensington (11-minute walk)
Reviews: 4.8/5 stars from 690 reviews on Google
The magnificent Battersea Power Station complex underwent a decade-long renovation. It is now home to one of the capital’s most impressive shopping centres.
Battersea Park is just a 15-20 minute walk from Battersea Power Station. There is a wide range of exciting play areas for kids to explore here. Three of these play areas are free to use:
- The Toddler Playground includes an adorable wooden train. This is suitable for children aged 1-3.
- The Junior Play Area features climbing frames and slides. This is for children aged 4-7.
- The Adventure Playground. This includes several climbing structures, swings and trapeze bars, and it is aimed at children between the ages of 8-14.
There’s also a thrilling Go-Ape treetop adventure! This takes children on a daring tour over the Adventure Playground. The zip wires and bridges are sure to delight your young explorers, who will enjoy a wonderful view out over Battersea. You may even succumb to the temptation to join in the fun yourself before long. Please note that you will need to pay and book in advance to use these facilities.
There is a wide range of excellent amenities nearby. There’s a good café with lots of outdoor seating and plenty of good restaurants within walking distance.
Opening days/times:
Open Monday – Sunday, from 10:00 am – 05:30 pm
See more about Battersea Park Playground
Visit the Battersea Park Playground website to find out more and plan your visit.
2. The Diana Memorial Playground
Location: Kensington Gardens, W2
Nearest tube station: Queensway (5-minute walk)
Reviews: 4.7/5 stars from 4,507 reviews on Google
The Diana Memorial Playground is a fitting tribute to the people’s princess. This play area is only a couple of minutes’ walk from Queensway Station, and it is free to use for children aged 12 and under.
The park’s centrepiece is a magnificent wooden pirate ship set within a generous sand pit.
It’s sure to impress even the most intrepid of wannabe pirates. If that weren’t enough, there’s a teepee camp to explore too. You’ll also find a sensory trail consisting of play sculptures and plus-sized xylophones!
The Broadwalk Cafe is positioned in front of the playground entrance, and it serves sandwiches, pizza and a range of hot drinks.
Opening days/times:
May to August: open from 10:00 am – 07:45 pm
April and September: open from 10:00 am – 06:45 pm
March and early October: open from 10:00 am – 05:45 pm
February and late October: open from 10:00 am – 04:45 pm
November to January: open from 10:00 am – 03:45 pm
See more about The Diana Memorial Playground
Visit The Diana Memorial Playground website to find out more and plan your visit.
3. The Magic Garden, Hampton Court
Location: East Molesey, KT8
Reviews: 4.7/5 stars from 1,496 reviews on Google
Keen to let your kids have fun with an educational twist?
The Magic Garden in Hampton Court was opened by the Duchess of Cambridge in 2016, and it provides hours of fun for kids aged 2-13.
There are climbing frames, sandpits, aerial walkways and colourful towers to explore.
Watch as your children explore the King’s Tower, the Queen’s Tower and the Secret Grotto. Perhaps most impressive of all is the 25-ft-long dragon. The dragon’s eyes turn red every hour, and steam starts to appear from its mouth!
It is not possible to visit the Magic Garden without buying tickets to visit Hampton Court. It costs £13.10 at off-peak times for children aged 5-15 to visit the palace. Under 5’s go free.
Please note that this is an unsupervised play area, so you will need to keep an eye on your kids whilst they explore the Magic Garden. It would also be wise to bring a towel and spare clothing for your kids. They may decide to splash about in the garden’s fountains!
The nearest train station is Hampton Court station. This is a five-minute walk away and can be reached from London Waterloo within 35 minutes.
Opening days/times:
Open from Wednesday – Sunday, from 10:00 am – 06:00 pm
See more about The Magic Garden, Hampton Court
Visit The Magic Garden, Hampton Court website to find out more and plan your visit.
4. Somerford Grove Adventure Playground
Location: Tottenham, SE5
Nearest tube station: Northumberland Park (2-minute walk)
Reviews: 4.7/5 stars from 51 reviews on Google
Somerford Grove Adventure Playground opened to the public in 2005. This makes it a relatively recent newcomer in the adventure playground scene.
Somerford Grove is situated behind Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium. There are excellent outdoor play facilities for children aged between 5-15.
Children are encouraged to climb, crawl, slide and build dens. There are lots of climbing nets for young explorers to enjoy!
Kids can even learn some basic cooking skills under the supervision of the park’s trained staff.
Opening days/times:
Open on Tuesdays, from 03:00 pm – 06:30 pm
Open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 03:00 pm – 06:00 pm
Open on Saturdays, from 11:00 am to 03:00 pm
See more about Somerford Grove Adventure Playground
Visit the Somerford Grove Adventure Playground website to find out more and plan your visit.
5. Triangle Adventure Playground
Location: Lambeth, SW8
Nearest tube station: Oval (7-minute walk)
Reviews: 5/5 stars from 20 reviews on Google
Triangle Adventure Playground opened in 1957, making it London’s oldest adventure playground.
There are many of the classic features that make for a wonderful play adventure. You’ll find a giant trampoline, zip wire, platform swings and treehouse tower!
Triangle is free for all between the ages of 6-17. There are plenty of activities on offer, from football to table tennis.
Your little ones will also have the option of making arts and crafts. Triangle runs a Nature Club where children can help to grow herbs, fruits and vegetables in an allotment.
Opening days/times:
Term Time
Open Monday – Friday, from 03:30 pm – 06:30 pm
School Holidays
Open Monday – Friday, from 12:00 pm – 06:00 pm
See more about Triangle Adventure Playground
Visit the Triangle Adventure Playground website to find out more and plan your visit.
6. Three Corners Adventure Playground
Location: Clerkenwell, EC1
Nearest tube stations: Angel and Farringdon (10-minute walk)
Reviews: 4.4/5 stars from 48 reviews on Google
Three Corners Adventure Playground is a free facility that is suitable for kids between the ages of 6-13. This robot invasion-themed play area features plenty of nets for kids to climb across, ropes to swing on, a trampoline and a sandpit. Kids are also invited to explore a characterful lopsided house. It makes for a fantastic den area!
Three Corners offers a number of facilities, including an astroturf football pitch – just the thing if your kids enjoy 5-a-side football. There’s also a sensory room with soft play equipment, a kitchen area and a computer area.
This facility is supported by a dedicated team of qualified playworkers. Just bear in mind that you will need to register your child beforehand.
Opening days/times:
Tuesday – Friday: 03:30 pm – 06:30 pm
Saturday: 11:30 am – 04:00 pm
Sunday – Monday: Closed
See more about Three Corners Adventure Playground
Visit the Three Corners Adventure Playground website to find out more and plan your visit.
7. Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground
Location: Hackney, N16
Nearest tube station: Stoke Newington (11-minute walk)
Reviews: 4.8/5 stars from 56 reviews on Google
Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground provides extensive play facilities to children between 6-15.
The playground’s various wooden structures include giant swings, and there’s also a large sandpit area. They can also engage in some good old-fashioned den-building!
Shakespeare Walk is community-run and free to access. There are lots of indoor and outdoor activities to enjoy.
Your children can choose from woodwork, gardening, dancing and making arts & crafts. There are two full-time staff and a couple of part-time workers, and they have all received first-aid training and been DBS checked.
Opening days/times:
Term Time
Tuesday – Friday: 03:30 pm – 06:30 pm
Saturday: 12:00 pm – 05:00 pm
Sunday and Monday: Closed
School Holidays
Monday – Friday: 12:00 pm – 05:00 pm
See more about Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground
Visit the Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground website to find out more and plan your visit.
8. Holland Park Adventure Playground
Location: Notting Hill, W14
Nearest tube stations: Kensington High Street and Notting Hill Gate
Reviews: 4.8/5 stars from 596 reviews on Google
Holland Park Adventure Playground has much to offer kids aged 5-14 in search of adventure.
This award-winning playground benefited from a number of exciting new additions after it reopened in July 2019. These include a 25m zip wire, a see-saw for 10 people and a 10-person dragon swinger (rope swing).
At the centre of the playground is an impressive play structure called The Fishermen’s Tower. This provides ample opportunities for clambering and climbing.
There’s another exciting wooden structure called the Hillcoaster, which is built around a tree and takes kids on a series of twists and turns!
The park is wheelchair-accessible, and the bridges, pathways and swings are also fully accessible.
The surrounding park also has much to offer. There’s a sports area with facilities for tennis, football and cricket practice, in addition to a cafeteria and extensive woodland.
Please note that dogs are not permitted. Children need to be supervised by an adult; they should not be left unattended.
Opening days/times:
07:30 am until 30 minutes before dusk
See more about Holland Park Adventure Playground
Visit the Holland Park Adventure Playground website to find out more and plan your visit.
9. Homerton Grove Adventure Playground
Location: Hackney, E9
Nearest tube station: Homerton (7-minute walk)
Reviews: 4.7/5 stars from 55 reviews on Google
Homerton Grove Adventure Playground offers a range of indoor and outdoor activities. Your little ones can try their hand at arts & crafts, cooking, den-building and sports!
There are several large wooden structures for kids to traverse, a waterslide and a generous-sized sandpit.
There are a few novelty items on display too, such as an old black cab that kids are invited to explore.
There are trained staff on hand to help facilitate the children as they play. They’ve even set up fire pits in the evenings and treat the kids to marshmallows under the darkening sky! Many of the reviews note that they are very helpful and friendly.
Children between 6-15 are free to join in the fun, but kids under the age of six need to be supervised by an adult. Please be advised that you will need to complete a HPA Registration Form prior to visiting the park with your kids.
Opening days/times:
Term Time
Monday – Friday: 03:30 pm – 06:00 pm
Saturday: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
School Holidays
Monday – Friday: 10:30 am – 01:00 pm, 02:00 pm – 05:30 pm
See more about Homerton Grove Adventure Playground
Visit the Homerton Grove Adventure Playground website to find out more and plan your visit.
10. Toffee Park Adventure Playground
Location: Islington, EC1V
Nearest tube station: Old Street (7-minute walk)
Reviews: 4.7/5 stars from 13 reviews on Google
Toffee Park is another fantastic space for kids to make friends, enjoy lots of fun and play the good old-fashioned way. Suitable for kids aged six years and up, Toffee Park is free for all to use.
This lovely natural haven includes swings, a large climbing structure, an echo slide and a zip wire. It also benefits from two beautifully colourful murals, which were installed in 2021. It’s also a wonderful picnic spot, thanks to its outdoor kitchen and firepit.
If your child has a passion for music, don’t miss out on the Toffee Talent event, a singing competition that is arranged every year.
Opening days/times:
Term Time
Monday – Friday, from 03:30 pm – 06:30 pm
Saturday from 12:00 pm – 05:00 pm
School Holidays
Monday – Friday, from 10:30 am – 05:30 pm
See more about Toffee Park Adventure Playground
Visit the Toffee Park Adventure Playground website to find out more and plan your visit.
Life as a kid is one big adventure. Taking the kids to an adventure playground helps them to explore the world around them in a welcoming environment and make new friends.
Find out more about the fun events that are happening near you with Loopla.
