Every parent knows that a trip to the park can put even the moodiest threenager in a good mood.
And while there’s nothing wrong with a bog standard set of a swings and a slide, Adventure Play in Windsor ought to be on your radar.
The hand-crafted playground within Windsor Great Park, less than 30 miles outside of London, features slides, walkways and treehouses.
It opened in June 2023, and features the UK’s first roller slide – rather than a typical smooth metal slide, children slide down a series of rollers.
There’s also rope bridges, towers and whimsical sculptures in the shape of flowers, acorns and giant musical instruments.
Kids between the ages of two to 12 can explore the fantastical land, described on the park’s website as a place that gets children ‘close to nature, challenging the body and stimulating the senses.’
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The website also states that the park is ‘not just for children,’ adding that ‘all are welcome, whatever their age, need or ability.’
And when the little ones need refueling, there’s also the Adventure Play cafe, which serves up hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes, and children’s packed lunch boxes.
Since opening, the park has welcomed 130,000 visitors, many of whom have glowing reviews.
‘Magical!’ wrote one Tripadvisor reviewer. ‘The playground is beautifully and thoughtfully designed and built, down to the last detail. We went for our kids (two to four years) but we all ended up climbing, exploring and shooting down the slides with them.’
A second added: ‘We were really surprised by how lovely this adventure playground is, it is a “wow” moment as you enter and my children were fully entertained.’
While another dubbed it ‘well thought out’ and ‘unrivalled.’
Guests do have one main criticism, though: the cost.
Unfortunately, Adventure Play comes with a price tag. For two hours of play, tickets for children aged between two to 17 are £16 during peak times, and £13 off-peak.
At least one adult for every four children, including infants (under two), is required to be able to enter Adventure Play, and peak adult tickets come in at £12, or £10 for off-peak.
As such, reviewers have also dubbed it ‘ridiculously overpriced’, while another added that ‘£12 for an adult is extortion.’
Windsor Great Park has addressed the criticism online though. Responding to TripAdvisor, noting that the price includes car parking.
They added: ‘Prior to the launch of Adventure Play, our teams conducted extensive research which included running testing sessions. The feedback given to us at these sessions is reflected in the price set, along with benchmarking against other premier family attractions and experiences.
‘The prices that were set, allows us to limit visitor numbers for the allocated 2hr session times, to ensure all visitors can enjoy the experience in a relaxed way.
‘Sessions have been allocated for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and we have also worked with local charities to admit children from low-income backgrounds.’
Adventure Play recently won The Themed Entertainment Association’s award for Outstanding Achievement in the limited budget attraction category.
In celebration of this, Windsor Great Park is offering local schools the opportunity to visit the attraction for free during term time this summer.
UK attractions to keep the children entertained
There are plenty of UK options to keep the children entertained during the school holidays or on a free weekend.
- If you live near a Butlins, you can take your kids to one of the three seaside resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead, and Skegness for the day. Tickets start at £11 for a child’s pass (during term time) and include daytime shows like Peppa Pig’s Dance Party and the Tots Disco, as well as entry to Splash Waterworld. There’s also a dinosaur exhibition and fairground rides.
- For entertainment on a budget, check out one of the UK’s many free attractions. From London’s Natural History Museum to Roskily’s Farm in Cornwall, there’s sure to be something to suit every little one. Check out Metro’s round-up of the best free tourist attractions.
- Lilidorei, based at The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, is the world’s largest play structure. As kids enter the fantastical land — which cost a staggering 15 million to build — they’re met with a colourful village, home to creatures such as fairies, elves, and hobgoblins. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets for adults during March cost £12 when purchased online, or £14 when arriving on the day. Four children go free with one paying adult.
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