Soft Play centres aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. Before I had kids, I don’t think I’d ever set foot in one. They weren’t really around back in the days of my youth (or maybe they were but my parents hated them too). However, now I had 2 very active, bouncy kids, soft play is a godsend on a ghastly rainy day. It burns off lots of their energy whilst I can sit on my bum drinking coffee.
St Ives itself is a bit lacking in soft play facilities. I dream that one day someone will convert The Malakoff (the massive big empty white building under the bus station) into a big soft play centre. I’m sure that if this ever did happen my kids will be far too old to use it though!
There are some good soft play places all within a short(ish) drive from St Ives. Here are the ones we like.
Paradise Park has a soft play centre called The Jungle Barn. It is part of their whole complex, so you get to use the soft play and visit the animals too.
You pay for admission to the entire park – not just the Jungle Barn soft play. During Winter they sometimes offer soft play only entry at certain times which is much cheaper.
Adults: £15.45
Children: £11.95
Under 3’s go free
Return tickets for all: £3.99 (buy them on your way out of your first visit)
Season tickets are available
There are usually vouchers available on their website and in the tourist information giving between £1 and £2 off per person.
The Jungle Barn is open from 10am – 6pm throughout the year.
Gwel-an-Mor has a lovely new soft play facility which we love. It has an excellent soft play zone, a clip n climb climbing wall for the older kids, and a nice cafe.
Soft play: £6 on weekends and school holidays. Weelday term time prices are £4 for under 3’s and £6 for over 3’s. Under ones or those not walking go free.
Don’t forget to take socks!
Clip n Climb 1 hour sessions: Ages 4-14 £8 during weekends and school holidays. £4 during term time after 3pm. Ages 15+ £9 during weekends and school holidays. £5 during term time after 3pm.
Adults go free!
I will admit to being a bit snooty about this place. I just didn’t like the idea of taking my kids into a bit of a grubby looking pub/restaurant to use the soft play. I went there several times when my daughter was younger and always got annoyed with the group of smokers standing around the doorway. However, we recently went there to a birthday party and I must say it has really smartened up.
We returned this weekend as we had received 2-for-1 meal vouchers through the door. We arrived at 11am on Sunday morning. The kids played for 90mins whilst we had coffee. We then all sat down to Sunday lunch. They do a carvery which was pretty decent! The kids menu is also not bad (I have VERY picky children). They were especially impressed with the desserts. 79p for little pancakes with strawberries, banana and chocolate sauce. I had 2 VERY happy kids!
£3 per child and free if your child is under 90cms. You don’t pay for grown ups. The play session is for 90 mins and your child gets a wrist band.
Playzone Penzance is held in St John’s Church. It isn’t a purpose built play zone set up, like most of the other soft play zone. It is more of a set up in a church hall. Albeit a lovely set up – they have a bouncy castle, climbing frame, ball pool, slide, and lots of other bits and pieces.
£3 per child and free if your child is under 90cms. You don’t pay for grown ups. The play session is for 90 mins and your child gets a wrist band.
Play The Game & Visit Your Favourite Places In St Ives
