Kiddiewinks soft play
BEST FOR
Ages 0-8
ENTRY
from £2
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Romford
What it’s like
Three floors of play with a gigantic slide, a mirror maze and a separate toddler area, in booked sessions that sell out at weekends.
Three floors is the thing to know about: your kids go up and you lose sight of them, then the gigantic slide brings them back down. The mirror maze is the bit they'll talk about in the car, and it's easy to miss on the way in because everyone charges at the slide first. Under-threes get Mini Winks to themselves, and pre-crawlers have their own corner with lights and mirrors, which matters if you've got a baby and a five-year-old pulling in different directions.
It's booked in sessions and the weekends do sell out, so sort that before you promise anyone anything. Entry is £9 for 1 to 8 year olds and there's no weekend surcharge, which is a relief, but a six-month-old is £2 even if they never touch the equipment, so bear that in mind with a baby in a sling. Under six months and adults are free. The height cap of 1.48m on the main frame is worth measuring against, and anyone aged 9 to 17 can come in but can't go on the playframe at all.
Socks are compulsory for children and adults, and it's card only, so no scrabbling for change at the counter. Quietest stretch is usually 2 to 4pm, and last admission is 4pm, or 3pm on Sunday, which catches people out on a Sunday afternoon. If you're local, the Summer Play Pass gives six weeks for £35.
Food is the Kiddiewinks Kitchen, with proper coffee, and only their drinks and packaged snacks can be eaten in the seating area, so leave the sandwiches in the car. Buggy space is tight, so if you can leave the pram behind, do. Parking is at Ducking Stool Court, a minute's walk, though you can't use Market Place on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. Romford station is a seven minute walk.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 1 to 8; Mini Winks handles under-threes, but nothing over 8 goes on the frame
- Last entry
- 4pm Mon-Sat, 3pm Sunday
- Booking
- Book online in advance. Sessions can sell out at weekends and holidays
- Parking
- Ducking Stool Court car park, 600+ vehicles, <1 min walk
- Food
- On-site Kiddiewinks Kitchen serving food and freshly ground coffee
- Picnics
- No outside food or drink in play areas
- Pushchairs
- Leave buggies in the car if possible — limited space on site
- Getting there by bus or train
- Romford station, seven minute walk
- Parties
- Private hire party slots from £200 (Mon-Fri 4-6pm) to £320
- Worth knowing
- Under 6 months free and adults free
- Card only, so don't turn up with cash
- Socks are compulsory for adults as well as children
- Sessions can be cancelled for private hire events, so check the day you're going
- Leave the buggy in the car if you can, space on site is tight
- Sundays finish early: last admission is 3pm
Plan your visit
How much is it to get in?
£9 for children aged 1 to 8 years, £2 for 6 to 11 months, and free for under six months. Adults go in free, and there's no extra charge at weekends or in the holidays. A Summer Play Pass covering six weeks is £35.
Do we need to book?
Yes, booking online in advance. Sessions sell out at weekends and during school holidays.
What are the opening hours?
Mon-Wed 10am to 5pm, Thu-Fri 10am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. Last admission is 4pm Monday to Saturday and 3pm on Sunday.
When's the quietest time?
The site says usually between 2 and 4pm. That's also close to last admission, so don't leave it too late.
Is it OK for a toddler?
Mini Winks is a separate area strictly for under-threes, and there's a baby zone for pre-crawlers with lights and mirrors. Toddlers are kept away from the big frame, which is for 3 to 8 year olds up to 1.48m.
Can my older child go on the frame with the younger ones?
Insurance only covers children up to age 8, so 9 to 17 year olds are welcome in the building but must stay off the playframe.
What should we wear?
Socks for children and adults, on the main frame and in the toddler area. Skip anything with cords.
Can we bring our own food?
No outside food or drink in the play areas. Only drinks and packaged snacks bought from the Kiddiewinks Kitchen can be eaten in the seating area, and nothing on the equipment. There's a café with freshly ground coffee.
Will it be too hot in summer?
It's air conditioned, so the children stay cool while they play.
Can we pop out and come back?
Only to use the adjacent toilets with your child. If you leave the building otherwise, that's your session done.
Where do we park?
Ducking Stool Court car park, over 600 spaces and less than a minute's walk. You can't use Market Place on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.
Can we book a party?
Private hire party slots run from £200 for Monday to Friday 4 to 6pm up to £320 at weekends. There's also a no-food option: an hour and a half of play without a party room.
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