7 toddler-friendly theme parks and play areas

Pull them away from the telly box and take them to meet their heroes in the flesh at Paultons Park. Built on the edge of the New Forest National Park, this amusement park is packed with over 70 rides and attractions aimed specifically at little visitors. It’s also home to the planet’s first Peppa Pig World where little ones can immerse themselves in Peppa’s daily routine, complete with character meet-and-greets and themed rides – like driving Daddy Pig’s Car. And when it’s time to cool off, they can enjoy splashing about in the Muddy Puddles water playground.

The rest of the theme park – split into multiple zones – has plenty of interactive rides too. Let them harvest the crops on the Trekking Tractors ride, or put their construction skills to the test on the Digger Ride. Your little explorers will also love searching for fossils in the dinosaur-themed playground!

Don’t Miss: Take a ride on Grandpa Pig’s Boat Trip, where you can name yourself captain and take charge of the steering!

A key component of Blackpool’s family attractions, Sandcastle Waterpark is the ultimate indoor playground for water-loving kids. Packed with wave pools, slides, interactive water play and, for older visitors, white-knuckle thrill rides, Sandcastle offers fun and excitement for every member of the family.

Don’t Miss: HMS Thundersplash – this marooned ship contains mini-slides, water cannons and secret tunnels, making it the ideal play den for kids of all ages.

Built within an entertainment complex just north of Poole and Bournemouth, Lemur Landings offers an unforgettable day of indoor soft play adventure for kids. There’s a special low-ropes course for toddlers and an LED climbing wall for intrepid climbers, heaps of slides, tunnels and ball pits, and a quiet corner for colouring in, listening to stories and solving puzzles.

Don’t Miss: Get hands-on at the Ted Shed, where your little ones can create their own teddy bear (accessories and all) to take home.

A theme park exclusively for under 10s, Sundown Adventureland has a mixture of indoor attractions, theme park rides and themed outdoor playgrounds. Let your kids loose on a giant outdoor sandpit; step into the world’s only singing pet shop, or take to the skies on the backs of some Giddy Piggies.

Don’t Miss: The Angry Birds Activity Park – an entire playground with catapults, swings and slides galore, all themed around the hit mobile game.

Head to Diggerland in Kent to get your hands on over 100 larger-than-life toys. This family-friendly attraction is home to an impressive collection of construction-themed rides, from the Dig-a-Round (a JCB-branded merry-go-round), to the Skyshuttle, which raises you 50 feet into the air to give you a bird’s eye view of the rural countryside. On top of that, there are loads of opportunities to get behind the wheel of diggers and dumper trucks – to play skittles or hook ducks. You’ll also find Diggerland in Devon, Yorkshire and County Durham.

Don’t Miss: The special zone for toddlers, where they can get behind the wheel of digger-themed Little Tikes toys.

Housed in the striking Beyond Centre (just across the road from the Trafford Centre), Play Factore is the UK’s largest indoor play area. With a zipwire, an indoor football pitch, a multi-level soft play area, and a special interactive toddler zone, Play Factore has literally everything under one roof.

Don’t Miss: The indoor go-kart track – race against your family on this short but thrilling circuit. Little ones can even team up with an adult on the same kart!

This pirate-themed indoor waterpark is sure to get even the stubbornest landlubber running back for more. With a mixture of pools and slides (including a toddler-friendly interactive splash zone), Calypso Cove is great for all types of swimmers, while the poolside restaurant helps feed and house anybody who doesn’t fancy getting wet.

Don’t Miss: The wave machine in the main Calypso Cove zone; it’s sure to get the whole family rocking.