10 Free and Cheap Soft Play Alternatives in London

Commercial soft play in London can easily run £8–15 or more per child once you add a sibling or two, and that adds up fast if it's a weekly thing. The good news is London has a genuine mix of community-run, council, and completely free options if you know where to look — here are 10 worth trying before you default to the nearest big chain.

Community and charity-run soft play

• Hornsey Road Children's Centre in North London is a council-run children's centre rather than a commercial venue, and centres like this often run free or low-cost drop-in sessions for under-5s — it's worth calling ahead to check current times.
• Barnardo's Triangle Service in South London is run by Barnardo's, the children's charity, rather than a private operator, which tends to mean a different pricing model to a commercial soft play chain.
• The Sherriff Centre in North London is a community centre with soft play sessions — worth a call to ask about current charges and session times.
• The Greenwich Centre in East London is similarly community-run rather than a commercial chain.

Council leisure centres with soft play sessions

• Wandle Recreation Centre in South London runs soft play as part of its wider leisure centre programme, usually priced closer to a swim session than a dedicated commercial play centre.
• Waltham Forest Feel Good Centre in East London is one of Waltham Forest council's own leisure centres — council-run venues like this are generally more budget-friendly than premium adventure-park-style soft play.
• Bellingham Leisure & Lifestyle Centre in South London is another council leisure centre with soft play sessions.
• The Eltham Centre, also in South London, follows the same council leisure-centre model.

Genuinely free alternatives

• Library and children's centre drop-in sessions, often rhyme time or stay-and-play groups, are free and run in most London boroughs — check your local council's family information service for current listings.
• Council park playgrounds and splash pads cost nothing and are a solid backup for a dry day, even if they're not weatherproof the way soft play is.

A quick note on pricing

We don't hold live prices for every venue in our directory, and charges at community and council venues in particular can vary by session or shift with council budgets. Treat this list as a solid starting point for cheaper options rather than a guarantee — a quick call, or a check of the venue's own page, is always worth it before you set off.