10 of the Best Playgrounds in the UK
Playgrounds provide many learning opportunities for children through different types of play and they allow growing explorers to practice and hone key skills from balance, agility, hand/eye coordination as well as problem solving and social skills.
Playgrounds are fun at any time of the year, just make sure you have warm layers on chilly days. Why not switch up your usual playground haunts for a new one? Here’s just some of our favourite playgrounds in the UK to get you started.
1) Windsor Great Park
Adventure Play is a unique, hand-crafted adventure playground at Windsor Great Park. Hidden within the woodland next to The Savill Garden, you’ll discover a fascinating world of walkways, slides, sculptures and treehouses. This is play like you remember it – getting close to nature, challenging the body and stimulating the senses.
2) Harewood House, Leeds, Yorkshire
Perfect for children of all ages, this adventure playground is located within the grounds of Harewood House and covers over 3 acres. There are two main play areas to explore, one for toddlers and another for older children which includes 4m high climbing nets, 40m of aerial walkways as well as swings and slides – a guaranteed fun day out for the whole family.
3) Weston Park, Weston-under-Lizard, Staffordshire
Calling all young adventurers! The Woodland Adventure Playground is packed full of play equipment to enjoy and includes log swings, trampolines and one of the country’s longest double zip wires.
4) Fort Douglas Adventure Park
Perfect for children up to 12 years and with a separate toddler play area for under 5s, there’s plenty on offer at Fort Douglas Adventure Park. Your little adventurers can explore the turreted treehouses, ride the zip wires or journey across the bridges and slides. Please note advance booking is required.
5) Hever Castle, Hever, Kent
The ‘Tudor Towers’ Adventure Playground features a 9m tall wooden play castle and is perfect for some imaginary role play and running off some energy. The ‘Acorn Dell’ playground is ideal for younger explorers and includes a 2m high living willow structure, a sandpit and plenty of tunnels and a climbing frame to discover.
6) Cliveden, Buckinghamshire
The Storybook Play Den is sure to be a hit with adventurers young and old with it’s carved wooden models of favourite storybook characters as well as a host of play equipment including a ‘Charlotte’s Web’ inspired climbing net, a ‘Wind in the Willows’ style boat and a turreted house with slide, based on the ‘Magic Tree House’ series.
7) Sandringham Estate, Norfolk
Nestled within the beautiful Sandringham Estate, there’s a 26ft tall water tower, made using wood from the local Sandringham Sawmill as well as a toddler specific play area including high-level walkways, swings and slides. Let the adventures begin!....
8) Gibside, Tyne & Wear
Let your little ones run wild at the Strawberry Castle play area within the beautiful surroundings of Gibside. There’s a low rope course to tackle as well as a den building area and a wealth of wildlife sculptures to spot. Spend a lovely family day out and enjoy the many walking trails around the grounds.
9) High Lodge, Thetford
As well as a Go Ape on site, there’s a fantastic play area great for children of all ages. Choose from a sand play area, zip wire, swings, slides and a giant see-saw. As well as the play area there's lots more to explore at Thetford including the Gruffalo trail and different musical instruments located in the forest.
10) Diana Memorial Playground, London
This playground opened in 2000 in memory of the late Princess Diana and is located on the edge of Kensington Gardens. With over 1,000,000 visitors every year, this park has something for everyone. There’s a wooden pirate ship at the centre and a sensory tree trail as well as teepees, play sculptures and a large sandy area. Inspired by the story of Peter Pan, the playground is the perfect place to let children’s imaginations run wild.
