Bristol has several indoor soft play centres for children, mostly aimed at the under-5s, spread across the city rather than concentrated in one area, so where you head usually depends on which side of Bristol you're on. Prices generally run from around £2.50 to £6 per child, with community centres cheaper than the commercial chains, and most don't require booking outside weekends and school holidays.
Play Patch, Lockleaze (formerly Boing!)
Play Patch, at The Hub on Gainsborough Square in Lockleaze, north Bristol, is a not-for-profit community soft play centre suitable for children under five. It was previously known as Boing! Softplay, which closed under that name at the end of March 2026 after 15 years; the same space has continued as Play Patch, run by Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust. Café sessions run Monday to Friday and cost £2.50 per adult and child over five months if pre-booked, plus a 50p booking fee, or £3 for walk-ins; babies in arms go free. Birthday parties cost £175 for a 1.5-hour exclusive-use slot, run on Saturdays and Sundays. It's a small-scale, relaxed option rather than a big commercial play centre, with home-cooked café food alongside the play area.
Noah's Ark Play Centre, Brislington
Noah's Ark, on Bath Road in Brislington (BS4 5LQ, 0117 971 2599), is a larger commercial play centre with a four-level play frame, a dedicated toddler area, and a café. On weekdays, admission runs from £1 for under-1s (free with a paying sibling) up to £3.90 for 1-year-olds, £5.10 for 2 to 4-year-olds and £6.25 for over-5s, with adults at £1.85; weekend and school holiday pricing is the same. It's open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 6pm and Sundays and bank holidays from 9.30am to 3.45pm. No booking is needed on weekdays during term time, but booking is essential at weekends, in school holidays and on bank holidays, since sessions get busy.
Wacky Warehouse: Emersons Green and Kingswood
Wacky Warehouse, the pub-based soft play chain, has two sites on the east side of Bristol: at the Mill House in Emersons Green and at the Wishing Well in Kingswood. Both charge £6 general admission per child, with a cheaper £4.50 Tots Club rate on weekday mornings during term time (9am to 3pm), and adults and under-1s go in free. Because these are attached to Greene King pubs, you get a full food and drinks menu alongside the play area, and both have free on-site parking. Opening hours follow the pub's hours, so it's worth checking the specific site before you set off, particularly on Sundays.
| Centre | Area | Ages | Price from | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play Patch (formerly Boing!) | Lockleaze | Under 5s | £2.50 per person, pre-booked | Not-for-profit, café sessions weekdays only |
| Noah's Ark Play Centre | Brislington | All ages, toddler area for under-2s | £1 (under 1s) | Book ahead for weekends and holidays |
| Wacky Warehouse, Mill House | Emersons Green | Under 5s mainly, some general play | £4.50 Tots Club / £6 general | Pub-based, food and drink on site |
| Wacky Warehouse, Wishing Well | Kingswood | Under 5s mainly, some general play | £4.50 Tots Club / £6 general | Pub-based, party area for up to 20 children |
Wild Things Play Project: an alternative to traditional soft play
At The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, upper level near the food court, Wild Things Play Project offers an indoor play space built from wood and other natural materials rather than the plastic and foam of traditional soft play; the operators are explicit that they don't consider it soft play at all, describing it instead as an indoor version of outdoor adventure play. It suits children up to around seven, with a treehouse play frame, a giant sandpit and a play kitchen, plus a café with barista coffee for parents. It's a useful alternative if your children have outgrown standard soft play, and it's open seven days a week with no booking required for general stay-and-play visits, though it does get busy on wet days and weekends, when you may be asked to wait if it's at capacity.
Planning a rainy day around Bristol
If you're combining a soft play visit with other rainy-day activities, our guide to Bristol in the rain covers the city's bigger indoor attractions, and our Bristol with kids guide is a good starting point for a wider day out. On drier days, Bristol's best parks covers outdoor play options across the city, from Castle Park in the centre to Ashton Court on the edge of town.