Guide: The Best Indoor Playgrounds, Soft Plays and Kid's Cafes In Essex
Playgrounds are great for letting children burn some energy and sometimes you just need an indoor playground. Indoor play areas are great if you are looking for things to do on a rainy or cold day in Essex. These venues not only provide a safe and enjoyable environment for kids but also allow parents to relax and recharge.
In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the best indoor playgrounds in Essex. We have featured some beautiful aesthetic play cafes, huge interactive soft play centres, trampoline parks and pubs with indoor play. If you are facing awful weather or just feeling low on energy, check out one of the great family friendly indoor play areas in Essex. We also have some great adventure playgrounds to visit on a rainy day.
Children's Play Cafes in Essex
Children's play cafes offer a smaller setting for younger children to explore and play safely. There are several kids play cafes that have opened in Essex the past few years. Click the play cafe listed below to be taken to the relevant section in this post.
The Best Soft Plays for Babies and Toddlers in Essex
We asked the Parks of Essex community over on Instagram for their recommended soft plays for preschoolers and toddlers. Here we have the Top 10 Baby and Toddler Soft Plays as recommended by the Parks of Essex community. These soft plays are also great if you need to balance more thana one small child! Click the soft play listed below to be taken to the relevant section in this post.
Lets Go Bonkers in Burnham-on-Crouch (this soft play is highly recommended for its cleanliness!)
Search by Area
Please check current opening times and dates with each business before travelling. Many also require prebooked tickets.
Indoor Play Areas in Southend-on-Sea, Rochford and Hockley
Little Play Village - 327-331 London Road, Hadleigh, Benfleet, SS7 2BT
Play Cafe
Little Play Village is a Montessori and role-play play space based in Hadleigh, just outside Southend, The play cafe opened in November 2024. Little Play Village is open Monday to Friday and offers 90 minute play sessions for children aged 0-6 years old.
IndiRock - The Victoria Centre, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 5SR
Soft Play + Climbing Centre
IndiRock is a bouldering and climbing centre based in Southend City Highstreet. IndiRock offers Soft Play sessions on a Tuesday and Friday morning. Children can explore the traverse climbing wall and also a few small pieces of climbing equipment including a pickler triangle. There is also a ball pit. The soft play sessions are suitable for children aged between 1 and 4. Single hour slots cost from £6, second hour half price. There is also a very child friendly cafe at IndiRock. The cafe has a play kitchen, books and other toys.
The Essex Soft Play Company - 194 Leigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 1BS
Play Cafe
The Essex Soft Play Company offer 90 minute stay & play sessions and are based upstairs at One 94 Leigh Road. The stay and play area has a dining area where you can purchase drinks and food from the restaurant. The Essex Soft Play Company also offer private hire for birthday parties and other celebrations.
Adventure Inside at Adventure Island - Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1EE
Soft Play
Adventure Inside is a large soft play, located in Adventure Island theme park in Southend-on-Sea. There are six floors of soft play run. The soft play is suitable for children up to 10 years old and has a designated 'play pod' for children up to the age of 4. Daily passes can be purchased as well as annual passes.
Kids Kingdom - Garon Park, Eastern Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 4FA
Soft Play
Kids Kingdom is a large soft play centre in Garons Park Southend. This soft play is great for older children (who will love 'jelly mountain' and the large slides). There is plenty for smaller children too and a seperate baby area. Kids Kingdom also offer SEN sessions and private hire for VIP events.
Monkey Bizness Rochford - 6 Purdeys Way, Rochford, SS4 1ND
Soft Play
Monkey Bizness is home to huge play frames, games, machines, slides and a special toddler area. Monkey Bizness also hosts family events.
Monkey Bizzness Hockley - 14 Eldon Way, Hockley, SS5 4AD
Soft Play
Hockley Monkey Bizzness boasts more than 7,500 square feet of play space. This includes two play structures, role play zone, mini football pitch, an under 4s area and an under 2s area.
Indoor Play Areas in Brentwood
Kiddos Play Cafe - 2 Weald Road, Brentwood, UK CM14 4SX
Play Cafe
Based in Brentwood, Kiddos Play cafe is a children’s indoor play area with a great cafe. The main frame area is suitable for children aged 2 to 9. There is also a play area for babies under 2 years old. You can also find an activitiy room, messy play, sensory play and arts and crafts at Kiddos. Kiddos play cafe is also available hire for birthdays and special occasions!
King Georges Playing Fields - 1-3 Hartswood Pavilion, King George’s Playing Fields, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 5AE
Soft Play
There is a large, two-storey soft play area that’s suitable for children of all ages at Hartswood Pavillion in King Georges Park Brentwood. It features large, separate areas for both toddlers and older children. King Georges Park also has a great outdoor adventure playground which is suitable for all ages and accessible. There is also a seasonal splash pad at King Georges Brentwood, which features in our Guide: Splash Parks, Fountains and Free Splash Pads in Essex.
The Rocky Centre - 20 Hatch Road, Brentwood, CM15 9PU
Soft Play
The Rocky Centre offers up to 3 "drop in and play" sessions per day Monday - Friday. The soft play is suitable for babies and children up to age 5. Sessions cost £7.50. This is a small soft play in Brentwood, suitable for preschoolers.
Indoor Play Areas in Hornchurch
Ojas Play Cafe - 2 Weald Road, Brentwood, UK CM14 4SX
Play Cafe
Hornchurch’s only soft play café, bringing a magical and unique adventure space to the heart of Havering! You can find play zones for children aged 0-5, a cozy book nook and ride on fun. Sessions last 90 minutes and cost from £8.
First seen on Kira from London Kids on the Go - Check out Kira's Reel HERE
Indoor Play Areas in Colchester
Jungle Adventure - Peartree Retail Park, Moss Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 0LE
Soft Play
Jungle Adventure has been based in Stanway, Colchester for over 15 years. The Colchester soft play centre also hosts various baby and toddler classes.
Go Bananas - 9 & 10 Mason Road, Cowdray Centre, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1BX
Soft Play
Go Bananas Childrens Centre in Colchester has climbing frames, slides and sensory areas. There are also great soft play zones including an Under 4s Tiny Town.
Indoor Play Areas in Dagenham
Bambino City - Unit 4, Bygraves House, Merrielands Crescent, Dagenham, RM9 6FJ
Play Cafe
Bambino City is great for children aged 0-5. There is a babies soft play area perfect for babies up to 2 years old, with a safe and stimulating environment that includes soft toys, crawling mats, and age-appropriate activities. There is also play area for children aged 2-5. Sessions are booked online and cost from £7.
Indoor Play Areas in Rayleigh
Oxygen - A127 at 26a Brook Road, SS6 7XL
Trampoline Park
Oxygen indoor activity centre is a Trampoline Park with interconnected Trampolines, Dodgeball, Toddler Sensory Play, Soft Play, Climbing walls and Giant Airbags. Open play sessions last either 60 or 90 minutes and start from £15.50. Toddler sessions start from £14.
Rayleigh Mega Centre - 7 Brook Road, Rayleigh, Essex, SS6 7UT
Soft Play
The MegaCentre Rayleigh has a great soft play. This soft play in Rayleigh has been recently revamped. There is a section for smaller children which also has lots of space. The soft play is well laid out and enclosed. This is a great soft play if you have toddlers that need more supervision. Soft play sessions are 2 hours long on weekdays and 90 minutes on Saturdays.
Indoor Play Areas in Southminster
Dreamy Play Days - 9A High Street, Southminster Cm07AA
Play Cafe
Dreamy Play Days is an Essex play cafe with sessions are suitable for children 0-5 years.
There are 4 role play areas set up for children to explore while visiting. Sessions are limited to just 13 children per session. The session also includes free self service hot drinks and water/juice/biscuits available throughout. There is a 15/20 min relaxed music/sensory time towards the second half of the session.
Indoor Play Areas in Basildon
360 Play - Festival Leisure Park, Festival Way, Basildon, SS14 3WB
Soft Play
360 Play is a large soft play centre with lots of differnet play areas. You can find a main play frame, toddler play frame, baby sensory, outdoor play area including sandpit, musical carousel, sensory play, messy play and 360 Street (a role-play zone).
Indoor Play Areas in Braintree
Toddle Town - 7 Market Street, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3YA
Play Cafe
Toddle Town is a Montessori style Play cafe. There is also a role-play village , children's classes, children’s clothes shop and several events held here. This is one of the best value children's play cafes in Essex. It costs just £2 per child (adult included) per 90 minute session. The food menu has lots of options including fun kids options such as bear toast and ice cream shaped waffles.
Partyman World Braintree - Century Drive, Off Charter Way, Braintree, Essex, CM77 8YL
Soft Play
There is a large soft play space at Partyman World. Memberships are also available.
Indoor Play Areas in Uttlesford
Little Monsters House of Fun - Ford Farm Industrial Complex, Braintree Road, Dunmow CM6 1HU
Soft Play
Little Monsters House of Fun is suitable for children of all ages. There are slides, ball pools, crawl tubes, rope nets and bridges. For babies and toddlers there is a small, designated soft play area. There is also a garden space and outdoor play area for the Summer months. Sessions are two hours long.
Indoor Play Areas in Chelmsford
Riverside Lesiure Centre - Chelmsford City Sports, Civic Centre, Duke, Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1JE
Soft Play
The soft play at Chelmsfod leisure centre has a multi-level main frame with obstacles, netting to climb and a soft play area. The soft play is open from 9am to 6pm, every day. This is a reasonably priced soft play. Sessions are 1 hour long.. Bookings must be made on an ourChelmsford account, although you do not need to be a local resident to attend.
AirHop - 12 Richmond Road, Dukes Park Estate, Chelmsford, CM2 6UA
Trampoline Park
Trampoline sessions from £14.50 and Toddler sessions. Those over 4 years old can also try out the clip'n Climb at Airhop. Prices from £16
Mace Playce - Unit 3, Cuton Hall Lane, Chelmsford, CM2 6PB + Unit 1 Burgundy Court, Springfield Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6JY
Soft Play
Mace Playce is a family run soft play centre for children ages 0 - 12 years. There are two soft play branches in Chelmsford. There are two separate areas for under and over 5's, a baby area, a games area, party facilities, a snack bar and surprise character appearances.
Indoor Play Areas in Witham
Pickles Playhouse - Unit 12, 27 Crittall Road CM8 3DR
Soft Play
Pickles Playhouse is a soft play centre for children 7 years and under. 1 hour and 2 hours sessions can be booked every weekday between 9.30am – 5.30pm. Saturday Early Morning Play session runs from 8.45am – 10.30, later play sessions may be available close to the day. Sunday’s there are 1 hour & 2 hour sessions between 9.30am – 3.30pm. This is a great soft play for preschoolers as it is small and enclosed. The food is also great here!
Indoor Play Areas in Canvey
Castle Cove Soft Play at Waterside Farm Leisure Centre - Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Somnes Avenue, Canvey Island, SS8 9RA
Soft Play
There is a great small soft play in Canvey - Castle Cove soft play. The pirate and under water themed soft play has two easy see areas. The Baby area consists of an agility climb and slide, sandcastle puzzle blocks, tactile play panel. The junior section has play tunnels, dizzy disc, wall maze panels, rollers, bridges and a twin lane wavy slide. They also offer a soft play membership package.
Indoor Play Areas in Laindon
Stay and Play - Durham Road, Laindon, Essex, SS15 6PH
Soft Play
Stay and Play soft play in Laindon is great for small children as you can easily see your children from the seating area. There is also a sensory room at Stay and Play in Laindon. Another great bonus for twin parents is that if you have twins you only pay for one child.
Indoor Play Areas in Lakeside Thurrock
Nickelodeon Adventure Lakeside - The Quay, Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock, Grays, Essex, RM20 2AD
Character Zones
Venture into cartoon zones! You can find your Nickelodeon favourites including Spongebob Bikini Bottom, Paw Patrol Adventure Bay, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Nickle Central and Rugrats.
Rock Up Lakeside - Lakeside Shopping Centre, Essex, RM20 2ZP
Soft Play + Climbing Centre
At Rock Up Climbing wall and soft play in Lakeside there is soft play for children under 5, over 26 climbing walls, a towering Vertical Drop Slide, Traverse Wall and a treadmill Rotating Climbing Wall. Tickets can be purchased seperately for soft play sessions and climbing sessions. This soft play centre in Lakeside opens from 9.30am.
Partyman World Lakeside - Unit 9 The Boardwalk, West Thurrock Grays, Essex, RM20 2ZP
Soft Play
There is a large soft play space at Partyman World. Memberships are also available.
Indoor Play Areas in Burnham-on-Crouch
Lets Go Bonkers - Station Industrial Estate, Units 7&8, Foundry Lane, Burnham-on-Crouch CM0 8RW
Soft Play
The Lets Go Bonkers soft play in Burnham has a bigger bonkers section for children aged 4 to 12 and a baby bonkers section for children up to 3 years old. There is also seasonal events including Easter bonnet competitions and meet santa at Christmas time. This soft play is highly recommended for its cleanliness!
Indoor Play Areas in Maldon
Monkey Puzzle - Station Industrial Estate, Units 7&8, Foundry Lane, Burnham-on-Crouch CM0 8RW
Soft Play
There is a large soft play in Maldon - Monkey Puzzle! The soft play centre has 4 levels and there is an amazing giant play frame that is over 8.5 meters high! There is also a gated under 5s area. Puzzle Monkey offers monthly SEN Sessions during term times. These take place on every 3rd Thursday of the month and Monkey Puzzle will be closed to the public, ensuring Sen guests can play with with their siblings in a calm environment where no music will be played.
Indoor Play Areas in Manningtree
Play Barn Craft Nurseries - 34 Harwich Rd, Ardleigh, Manningtree CO11 2LS
Soft Play
The Play Barn soft play in Ardleigh is based at Craft Nurseries. There is a small soft play, which is brightly coloured and has air conditioning. Tickets for the indoor soft play also includes access to the outdoor area with bouncy cushion, pygmy goats, rabbit, witches wood and mud kitchen!
Indoor Play Areas in Harlow
Kidzz Kingdom - Harlow Leisure Zone, Second Avenue, Harlow, CM20 3DT
Soft Play
This soft play in Harlow is space themed. At Kidzz Kingdom there are three levels of activities within the exciting space themed areas. There is a separate ground floor toddler section. There are two toddler slides into a ball pond, a ball shower, magical floating ball, interactive light up game and a bouldering wall. The high levels has battle zones, space ship tube and two zip wires.
Indoor Play Areas in Saffron Walden
Just Play - Westbrook House, Shire Hill, Saffron Walden, CB11 3AQ
Soft Play
Just play is a great soft play in Saffron Walden with a space theme. The play centre also offers princess meet and greets and other great events.
Essex Pubs (and a chippy) with Indoor Soft Play
Check out the Parks of Essex Guide to family friendly pubs with beer gardens play areas! You can read the Full Guide: 30+ Pubs with Play Areas in Essex.
Ye Olde Chippy - Marine Parade, Southend-on-Sea SS1 2EN
Soft Play Chippy + Restaurant
Ye Olde Chippy can be found at Southend Sea Front. The restaurant is located close to all the main Southend attractions including Adventure Island and the Southend Water Fountains. This is a great family friendly restaurant - there is a children's menu and also a small soft play area at the back of the restaurant.
Mulberry Tree - Braintree Bypass, Braintree, CM77 8GG
Soft Play Pub
The Mulberry Tree is a Brewers Fayre pub. There is an Indoor Play.kids zone with a softplay. The Indoor Play is open every day between 12pm - 7pm. 90 minute sessions cost £4.50, children under 1 free.
Black Rabbit - 188 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5BX
Soft Play Pub
The Black Rabbit in Maldon states it has "the biggest beer garden in Maldon!". There is also a brilliant playroom especially for kids under 4 years old. The play room at Black Rabbit is open until 7pm every day.
Chafford Hundred - Fleming Road, Unicorn Estate, Chafford Hundred, Grays, RM16 6YJ
Soft Play Pub
Chafford Hundred is a Brewers Fayre pub. There is an Indoor Play.kids zone with a softplay. The Indoor Play is open every day between 12pm - 7pm. 90 minute sessions cost £4.50, children under 1 free.
The Great Baddow Barn - Galleywood Road, Chelmsford CM2 8NB
Soft Play Pub
The Great Baddow Barn is a Hungry Horse Pub with an indoor and outdoor play area. Expect good value family meal!
The DIck Turpin - Arterial Road, Wickford, Essex, SS12 9HZ
Soft Play Pub
That pub on the side of the A127! The Dick Turpin has lots of parking, a large beer garden and a Wacky Warehouse indoor play area for the little ones.
Adventure Playgrounds to visit on a rainy day
If you are also looking for a playground in Essex to visit on a rainy day, there are a few that combine great outdoor adventure playgrounds with indoor attractions nearby.
Oaklands Park in Chelmsford is home to two great play areas and set in beautiful grounds. It is also home to a great cafe and the very child friendly Chelmsford Museum. There are lots of great exhibitions, dressing up and a live beehive . This is a great spot for a family friendly day out as you can combine a trip to the park and hop into the museum if the weather turns bad.
We love visiting Woodland Playgrounds on rainy days. Our Guide: The Best Woodland Playgrounds in Essex features 9 playgrounds in the woods. Its great to use the trees for some shelter if it starts to rain.
Don't forget to check the Park Directory for more park inspiration - A-Z of over 100 Parks in Essex
Last Updated January 2025
Comments