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Indoor play / Toddlers

Toddler soft plays in Merseyside where the parking is free and the coffee is drinkable

Eight soft plays across Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens judged on what the grown up cares about: a car park that costs nothing, a hot drink, a seat with a view of the ball pool and a price that does not sting on a wet Tuesday.

By FamDays · Checked 28 October 2026 · Published 31 October 20261 to 3 hoursBabies, toddlers and under 5s

The high ropes course among the trees at Otterspool Adventure

There is a particular kind of tired that only the parent of a two year old knows, and it arrives at about 9.40am on a wet Tuesday in half term. The toddler has the energy of a small weather system. What you need is a soft play, but not any soft play: one where you can park without a fight, buy a coffee that does not taste of the urn, and sit somewhere with a clear view of the toddler area so you can finish it while it is hot.

That is the test here: not the height of the slide, but whether the adult has a nice morning too. Where a venue does not publish something, we say so rather than guess.

Liverpool

Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Park on New Mersey Shopping Park in Speke is the surprise of the list. The inflatable course is for ages 4 and over, but next to the cafe and the raised viewing seats is Mini Ninjas, a soft play for 0 to 3 year olds, at £4 online for one child and one adult, the cheapest confirmed toddler ticket we can find in Merseyside. Retail park parking is free, the cafe is card only, and a term time Toddler Takeover runs Monday to Friday at £8. The catch is paperwork: everyone completes a waiver online before arriving, walk ins pay more, and the venue is cashless.

Otterspool Adventure in Aigburth is an outdoor park with an indoor soft play attached, which is exactly why it works on a wet day. Parking is free on Otterspool Drive or in the free car park at the top of Mersey Road, a 5 minute walk. The cafe opens at 9am, an hour before the park. Off peak admission is £9 for a child and £4.50 for an adult, against £19 and £9.50 at peak, which covers weekends, school holidays, event days and bank holidays, so this is a term time plan rather than a Saturday one. The soft play runs 11am to 4pm, socks are compulsory and sold on site, and when it is busy sessions can be limited to 30 minutes.

Imagine That! on Wavertree Technology Park is role play, art and science rather than a climbing frame, which suits the toddler who would rather be a vet than go down a slide. Parking is free on site, admission starts at £8.95 and everything is pre booked: turn up for your slot or lose it. Shorter midweek Toddler Hangout sessions run on selected term time days from September to May, and the station is about a 10 minute walk.

Monkey Town has also advertised a second centre at Brunswick Business Park, opening 26 October 2026; we have not checked it yet, so see the Kirkby entry below.

Wirral

Bubbles World of Play at Marine Point in New Brighton is the one Wirral parents already know, and the parking is why: 96 free spaces in its own car park, locked at 6pm, plus disabled bays across the Marine Point car parks. Two floors for 0 to 11 year olds include a baby and toddler area for under 3s and a role play mini city for ages 1 to 5. Prices start from £2.50, under 3s are not free, and adults pay a small entry fee and must stay and supervise. The cheaper all day off peak rate is on term time weekdays, it is closed on term time Mondays, socks are £1 a pair and the centre recommends booking online at weekends and in school holidays. The only outside food allowed is baby food.

Activity for All Wirral in Upton has a three tier soft play and, more to the point, a fully enclosed toddler area for anyone under 1 metre with a ball pool, a bridge and soft bricks. The Kitchen and Sports Bar is the cafe, and a £12 term time weekday meal deal covers a play session and breakfast or lunch. There is parking at the front, side and rear, but the website does not say whether it is free. Booking online earns a discount at weekends and in school holidays, and Quiet Time sessions with the music turned down run on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings.

Sefton

Flip Out Aintree, on the retail park beside the racecourse, is a trampoline park first, but its Toddler Takeover is one of the better value term time mornings around: Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am to 2.30pm, from £5 for a child aged 5 and under, one adult free, and a £3.50 meal deal of two slices of toast, a cordial and a hot drink, which is about as honest a description of a soft play breakfast as you will read. Parking is free on site. Everyone bouncing needs Flip Out grip socks, you cannot bring your own, and under 5s must have an adult with them in the arena, so you are going in too. Sessions sell out, so book and sign the waiver online.

Farmer Ted's at Downholland is the dear option at £15.50 a head, under 1s free, but its indoor soft play, restaurant and baby change mean a rainy visit is not wasted; check the dated opening calendar before driving out.

Knowsley

Monkey Town Kirkby on Cherryfield Drive opened in 2026 and is the easiest soft play morning in the borough. Parking is free, accompanying adults go in free, there is no time limit, and prices start from £4.95. There is a separate toddler area for under 4s beside the main frame, with cafe seating in the same hall. Hours are long: 9am to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 8pm Friday to Sunday. Socks are sold at reception, and as the website does not say whether general play needs booking, a weekend visit is worth a phone call.

St Helens

Willowbees Adventure Play is St Helens Council's soft play inside Newton-le-Willows Health and Fitness, and it has the best deal for the youngest: under 3s free, one adult free with each paying child, and £6.50 for older children for a two hour session. There is a separate 0 to 3 area, a children's library, seating for parents and a Costa Coffee, which settles the coffee question more clearly than anywhere else here. Walk ins are welcome and online bookings, made 7 days ahead, are non refundable. The warning is a big one: the centre regularly closes early for private parties, so ring 01744 676992 or check the Go Active social media before setting off, especially on a weekend afternoon.

The FamDays verdict

For a wet term time morning with a toddler, Mini Ninjas in Speke and Willowbees in Newton-le-Willows keep the most money in your pocket and the adult closest to a hot drink. Bubbles and Monkey Town are the no fuss car park and ball pool options on either side of the river. Otterspool is a bargain off peak and a different proposition at £19 a child on a Saturday. Everywhere, pack socks.

Your mission

Tick off discoveries as you go. It remembers on this phone.

0 of 7 found

Plan your visit

Cheapest confirmed toddler ticketMini Ninjas at Ninja Warrior UK Speke, £4 for a 0 to 3 year old and one adult, booked online
Cheapest for under 3sFree at Willowbees, Newton-le-Willows, where one adult also goes free with each paying child
Free parking confirmedOtterspool Adventure, Ninja Warrior UK Speke, Flip Out Aintree, Imagine That, Monkey Town Kirkby, Bubbles World of Play (own 96 space car park, locked at 6pm)
Parking not confirmed freeActivity for All Wirral has spaces at the front, side and rear but does not publish a price
Must bookImagine That (pre booked slots only); Flip Out and Ninja Warrior ask you to book and sign a waiver online; Otterspool, Willowbees and Ninja Warrior take walk ins
Term time toddler sessionsFlip Out Aintree Toddler Takeover, Wednesdays and Fridays 10am to 2.30pm, from £5; Ninja Warrior Toddler Takeover, Monday to Friday, £8
SocksNeeded everywhere; Bubbles sells them at £1 a pair, Monkey Town and Otterspool sell them at reception

Everything families need to know before visiting

Which Merseyside soft plays have free parking?

Otterspool Adventure, Ninja Warrior UK in Speke, Flip Out Aintree, Imagine That and Monkey Town Kirkby all state free parking, and Bubbles has its own 96 space free car park at Marine Point. Activity for All Wirral has plenty of parking but does not publish whether it is charged.

What is the cheapest soft play for a toddler in Merseyside?

Mini Ninjas at Ninja Warrior UK Speke is £4 for a 0 to 3 year old and one adult when booked online. Willowbees lets under 3s in free alongside a paying sibling. Bubbles starts from £2.50 and Monkey Town Kirkby from £4.95 with adults free.

Do I need to book a soft play in advance?

Imagine That is pre booking only and strict about it. Flip Out and Ninja Warrior ask you to book and complete a waiver online, though Ninja Warrior takes walk ins at a higher price. Otterspool, Willowbees and Bubbles take walk ins but recommend booking at weekends and in school holidays.

Are there quieter sessions for toddlers?

Yes. Flip Out Aintree runs Toddler Takeover on Wednesdays and Fridays in term time, Ninja Warrior runs one Monday to Friday in term time, and Activity for All Wirral runs Quiet Time sessions on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings.

The places in this guide

Live from our checked listings: prices, ages and when each one was last confirmed.

9 places
The white curved building of Bubbles World of Play on the New Brighton seafrontPhoto: Mike Faherty, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £2.50
All agesStandard (non member) prices. Off peak, Mon to Fri school days, stay and play all day: babies 0 to 5 months 2 pounds, 6 to 11 months 4.50, toddlers 1 to 2 years 6.50, children 3 to 11 years 8.50, adults and over 11s 2.50. Peak, weekends and school holidays, 2 hour sessions: 0 to 5 months 2.50, 6 to 11 months 6.50, 1 to 2 years 12, 3 to 11 years 14.50, adults and over 11s 3.50. Member prices are about 50p lower. Socks compulsory, 1 pound a pair from reception. Prices subject to change per the site.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
Outdoor play area at Farmer Ted'sPhoto: Emma White, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Farmer Ted's Adventure Farm

Downholland, near Ormskirk
From £15.50
All agesGeneral admission from 15.50 per person for full day entry; under 1s free; children aged 1 to 3 get a discounted rate (amount not stated). Family ticket from 57.00 for two adults and two children, online only and not available on the gate. Toddler Day Ticket from 13.50 for one adult and one child under 5, valid on selected term time weekdays. An Afternoon Saver rate applies after 2pm (amount not stated). Farmer Christmas (28 November to 24 December 2026, selected dates) adults from 16.50 and children from 26.50. The homepage headline says a whole day of farm fun from under 15 pounds each, which is slightly below the 15.50 stated on the prices page. Proof of age is needed for 65 and over, 12 to 24 month and under 1 tickets. Separate adult and child prices are not listed on the page fetched.
Checked by FamDays on 18 Oct
The high ropes course among the trees at Otterspool AdventurePhoto: Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £4.50
All agesOff peak: child £9, adult £4.50. Peak: child £19, adult £9.50. Peak may include weekends, event days, school holidays, bank holidays and other holidays; off peak runs during winter hours. Child ticket includes playground, adventure golf, indoor soft play, adventure farm, go karts, and weather or peak dependent bouncing pillows, racing rangers and boat ride. Adult ticket includes park admission, adventure golf, adventure farm and go karts. Age bands for child and adult are not defined on the prices page.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
Price not listed
All agesAdmission prices are only shown in the online booking system, which could not be read. A Kid's Meal Deal of a soft play session and a breakfast or lunch costs £12, valid Monday to Friday in term time only. Admission is discounted at weekends and in school holidays when booked online in advance.
Checked by FamDays on 28 Oct
From £8.50
All ages90 Minute Experience is £15 per person Tue to Thu and £20 Fri to Sun, same price for adults and children. Toddler Takeover (ages 5 and under, Wed and Fri in term time, stay 10am to 2.30pm) is £8.50 for a parent and toddler, £5 per additional adult or toddler. Family Pass is £70 for four or £100 for six and must include an adult aged 18 or over. ASD sessions are £14 per person (Tue 5.30pm and Sun 10am). Spectator tickets £1 each. Flip Out grip socks must be worn when bouncing; the sock price is not stated.
Checked by FamDays on 19 Oct

Imagine That!

Wavertree
From £8.95
All agesWeekends and school holidays: child 3 and over £19.95, toddler aged 1 and 2 £15.95, adult £8.95, baby under 12 months free with a paying sibling. Midweek Toddler Hangout (September to May, term time): toddler under 4 £12.95, adult £5.95, child over 4 £15.95, baby under 12 months free. The venue advertises 20 percent off for booking early. All bookings are non-refundable.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
From £4.95
All agesOver 2s £9.95, under 2s £4.95, parents and accompanying adults free of charge. No weekday or weekend difference shown. The venue describes play time as unlimited. A 10 Play Session Card costs £79.60 for over 2s or £39.60 for under 2s, has no expiry, can be shared and is sold at the counter. Socks must be worn and are sold at reception; price not stated.
Checked by FamDays on 19 Oct
From £14.95
Ages 3 and up1 hour £14.95, 2 hours £21.95, ages 4 and over. Mini Ninjas soft play for 0 to 3s is booked separately, £3.50 for one parent and one child. Adults on the course need their own ticket.
Checked by FamDays on 19 Oct

Willowbees Adventure Play

Newton-le-Willows
From £6.50
All agesChild play only, 2 hours: £6.50 Mon to Fri, £8 weekends and school holidays. One adult free per paying child, each additional adult £1. Under 1s free. Play and Eat £10.50, Mon to Fri 3.30pm to 5.30pm in term time only. Registered childminders and foster carers pay £3.60 per child Mon to Fri in term time (maximum four children, ID required) and foster carers £4 at weekends and holidays. Children of Have a Go Active Gold members get half price entry.
Checked by FamDays on 19 Oct

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Local parent insider tips

Before you set off

  • Book the big ones, turn up to the small onesThe safari park, the big soft plays and anything with a timed entry sell out in school holidays. Parks, beaches, most museums and the libraries never do. Every card says whether you need to book.
  • Go early or go lateMost paid attractions are quietest in the first hour and the last two. Free museums in the city centre are busiest between 11 and 2 on a wet Saturday.
  • Train beats car for the coast and the centreMerseyrail stops next to the beach at Crosby, Freshfield and Southport, and under the museums at Liverpool Central. Under 5s travel free and a Saveaway covers the day after 9.30 on weekdays and all day at weekends.
  • How we checkEvery listing is rechecked against the venue's own website every week, and each card shows the date it was last confirmed. If something has changed since, the Tell us link on every page reaches a person who fixes it.

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Prices and hours in this guide come from each venue's own website on the day we checked them, and the cards above update every morning. Always check with the venue before you set off.