Five soft play centres to visit with the kids in the school holidays

by Sam Lawrie

slawrie@thekmgroup.co.uk

There are plenty of things to do in the great outdoors in the summer but, sometimes, you just can’t beat a soft play centre.

If your kids are starting to climb the walls after a few weeks off school, these are five of our top picks for a day indoors at some of Kent’s best soft play spots…

If your kids are starting to get restless, it’s time to take them to one of Kent’s top soft play centres. Picture: The Fun Drum / Facebook

THE FUN DRUM, Gillingham

It’s one of Kent’s oldest indoor play centres, but the Fun Drum in Gillingham underwent a shiny new makeover last year. The refurbishment included a 150 sq m Nerf battle arena, a new soft play extension, nine different immersive zones and an arcade corner. There’s also space for parents to sit in the cafe, serving hot and cold food, and there’s parking on site.

Details: Open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6.30pm, and Sunday, 9am to 4pm. Child tickets start from £6.

IMAGINE PLAY CENTRE, Ashford

Covering more than 1,000 sq m, this soft play centre in Ashford is one of the biggest in the UK. It has a large climbing area in the middle, several slides and even some indoor swings at the back. There’s no time limit on how long you can spend there once inside, and adults get in for free.

Details: Open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm during school holidays. Child tickets start from £6.

Kidz Planet in Cheriton, Folkestone, has a mini football pitch and drop slide for older children. Picture: Kidz Planet / Facebook

KIDZ PLANET, Folkestone

This centre in Folkestone caters to children of all ages. The older kids can explore the drop slide, mini football pitch, laser tag and blasters where you can fire balls at a target. For younger visitors, there are Little Tikes cars, a smaller slide, a ball pit and a space shuttle-style train ride. There are also refreshments on sale, including snacks for the kids and coffee for the grown-ups.

Details: Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30am to 6pm. Child tickets start from £2.50.

POLAR ADVENTURE, Maidstone

Maidstone’s leisure centre is home to Polar Adventure, a purpose-built three-storey soft play area and climbing zone. There’s also the thrilling ice slides where kids up to the age of 12 (as long as at least one child is one metre tall) can whizz down a ski slope-themed slide. If your children are too small for the slides, visitors aged five and under can play in the soft safe area with a ball pit and toys.

Details: Open daily from 7am to 4pm. Child tickets start from £5.30.

The children’s soft play area and slides at Under 1 Roof in Thanet. Picture: James Pearce

UNDER 1 ROOF, Ramsgate

Since taking over Ramsgate’s old Bumblebeez building in 2020, this site has become a favourite with local parents. While there’s plenty of soft play for kids, there is also a laser arena, go-karting track, dance classes, a ‘dinky town’ play village and a cafe. There’s even soft play for grown-ups.

Details: Open Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 5.45pm, Saturday 9am to 5.45pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm. Child tickets start from £6.50.