Last Updated on June 24, 2024 by Suzy McCullough
Below you will find a list of more than 15 + great role-play centres in England. These are not soft play centres with a role play section added. These centres are just for kids to enjoy role-play. My son is only 6 but my goodness do I wish we’d had centres like this when he wasn’t in school.
They all look and sound such fun. A few do accept children 6 and over so hopefully, we will get the chance to visit one soon. Do you have a great role-play centre near you that’s not made the list? Please do let me know in the comments below. All of these centres are bookable in advance in timed sessions. I recommend you do this before you visit so that you don’t miss out.
Apple Tree Town, Newcastle, Staffordshire
What’s Inside Apple Tree Town – “Venture into an imaginary Town….. where the only limit is your child’s imagination. With 10 real-world play spaces. One minute your child can be directing a play in the theatre, teaching a class in school or even driving to the salon for a trim, the possibilities are endless.
Always remember the green cross code and watch out for the cars! At Apple Tree Town children are free to fully explore, learn and enjoy themselves in an immersive and exciting way. With lots to discover and explore, it will give you plenty of time to relax and socialise over a latte and bite to eat from our bistro café.”
Address: Industrial estate, Unit 6 Loomer Road, Newcastle, Staffordshire, ST5 7LB
Prices – Children are £6.50 and the first adult is free. Additional adults are £2 each.
Children’s Play Village, Budbrooke, Warwickshire
What’s Inside The Children’s Play Village – “The Children’s Play Village is for any child of any age who loves to play. The role-play areas have been designed to appeal to children aged 3 and upwards, only stopping when your child no longer enjoys this type of play.
Steady, confident walkers under the age of 3 will also love exploring all the Play Village has to offer with close parental supervision. For babies and crawlers, we have a dedicated separate area for safe play.” They have a role play tea room, hair and beauty salon, post office, theatre, supermarket, village hall and picnic areas. Plus campsite, fire station, emergency, vets and school.
The outdoor play area will shortly be developed for ‘throw the doors open’ kind of days for those children who love to feel the wind on their faces.
Address: Unnamed Road, via, Hampton Rd, Budbrooke CV35 8HA.
Prices: You can pre-book online for 2.5-hour sessions with 3 play sessions a day. Toddlers and walking children are £10.95 on weekdays and £13.95 at weekends. Babes in arms are free, the first two adults are £2.50 and active babies and crawlers are £5.50 – 6.95.
Curious Kids Town Sheffield
What’s inside Curious Kids Town – “This is a different kind of indoor play combining education, imagination and so much fun your curious little people won’t realise they are learning whilst they play. Based in a century-old industrial building on the banks of Sheffield & Tinsley Canal we have created a new and exciting child-sized town complete with its own village green.
Children love to play make-believe. Our miniature version of a town has all the usual shops and businesses to inspire your child to get into character, socialise and share whilst acting out real-life roles. Curious Kids Town isn’t just for rainy day play. We have air conditioning to cope with our tropical Summers and huge windows let in heaps of natural light. Easily accessible by car and Supertram or we like the short walk along the banks of the canal. We are ten minutes from Victoria Quays – allow extra time depending on leg length!”
Address: Bankside Works, Lumley Street, Sheffield, S4 7ZJ
Prices: You can book 80-minute sessions. Children: £6.95, Pre-walkers under 1 year are free with a paying sibling. There is 1 free adult space per paying child. Additional adults: £3.50.
Dream Big Role Play, Chester Le Street, County Durham
What’s inside Dream Big Role Play – “At Dream Big, our play town is custom-built for children so we maximise the fun for everyone. In each of our 7 play areas, we have the relevant role-play costumes and toys to go with the role, so the children will waste no time getting into character! The 7 role play areas we have are – Supermarkets, Builders Yard, Vets, a Beauty Salon, a Jail, a school and a Cafe.
We are a family-owned business, after running a well-established nursery school for over 30 years and seeing the daily benefits of role-playing we are now branching out into Dream Big a dedicated role-play centre for children. Roleplay has huge benefits for children.
Address: Grange Villa, Chester le Street DH2 3LN.
Prices: You can pre-book a session online. Pre-walkers can turn up any time for £2 each. Off-peak costs £5.00 per child for 2 hours and £5 peak for 90 minutes of play.
Imagination, Camberley, Surrey
What’s Inside Imagination – “Our rooms have been created to encourage children to use their imagination in a fun and safe learning environment. Children can explore our different rooms and areas which include a Pirate Ship, Home Corner, Vets, Garden, Military Room, Supermarket, Dressing up area, Ride On Toys and a designated area for babies.” Imagination is an interactive role-play centre suitable for 0-6-year-olds.
Address: 28abc Princess Way, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3SP.
Prices: Monday to Thursday they operate 8 2-hour sessions a day. On Fridays there are fewer sessions at different lengths. At weekends and school holidays, they have 4 90-minute sessions a day. An off-peak child is £7.50 and £8.00 peak. This includes 1 free adult, additional adults are £3.75 each. Pre-walkers are £2.00.
Little street – Centres in Frimley, West Byfleet, Maidstone, Chichester, Horsham and Sevenoaks – South East
What’s Inside Little Street role-play centre – “Responding to children’s love of role play, we have created a realistic street designed with little people in mind. Our play centres feature a scaled-down version of a typical town, inspiring children to explore life in the world around them.
We offer a high-quality experience by operating pre-defined play sessions and keeping the numbers attending ‘little’. At the end of each play period, we take the time and care to restore Little Street back to its original state so that the next group of children will enjoy the ‘wow’ factor; every prop will be returned to the right place to stimulate their curiosity and inventiveness.”
Address: Multiple, please see their website for exact locations
Prices: Prices are set by each franchise. You can expect to pay around £6.95 per child and adults are around £4.95 each and pre-walkers are free.
Play Avenue, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire
What’s Inside Play Avenue – “Within our safe and secure purpose-built play area, little ones can try their hand at a whole host of ‘grown-up’ jobs. From vet to builder, hairstylist to police personnel, they are free to explore while you kick back with a coffee in our café. Each area is kitted out with realistic and age-appropriate props to give Play Avenue a ‘grown-up’ feel. After each session, Play Avenue is ‘reset’ ensuring every visitor has the full experience. We have 15 areas specifically designed to inspire, encourage and entertain little minds.”
Address: Kirton Rd, Messingham, Scunthorpe DN17 3RD.
Prices: You can book 90-minute sessions. You can walk in but they do recommend booking. Peak prices are £10.50 child (includes one free adult) extra adult £5.00. Off-peak prices are cheaper.
Playmania, Sheffield
What’s Inside Playmania – “Playmania had the vision to create something unique ….. We’ve worked closely with a professional design team to create something not seen in other play areas… The result is a fabulous interactive Garage and Supermarket. The children not only have a great time on the soft play but are also learning and developing through creative and imaginative play in the purpose-built Playmania Garage and Supermarket.”
Address: 51a Orgreave Drive Dore House Industrial Estate, Sheffield S13 9NR.
Prices: This seems to be the only place I found not running sessions. Prices are also hugely varied according to age. Over 5’s are £5.95 and supervising adults are free. Younger children are slightly cheaper
Rainbow Street, Halesowen, West Midlands
What’s Inside Rainbow Street – Rainbow Street is a role-play centre located in Cradley Heath, Halesowen, West Midlands. It comprises many of the amenities we encounter during day-to-day life but is child-sized.
They offer three play sessions every day and two on Sundays enabling them to keep group numbers small. Between each session, roleplay areas are re-set and cleaned ready for the next session. The centre has a number of themed role-play areas based on a town. Such as builders, a supermarket, a cafe and doctors. They can also host your child’s birthday party including exclusive hire of the venue.
Address: 130 Colley Gate, Cradley Heath, Halesowen, West Midlands, B63 2BX
Prices – Children are £6.95 each and this includes free entry for 1 adult. Siblings are £4.50 with a full-paying child.
Tiny Town, South Anston, South Yorkshire
What’s Inside Tiny Town – “Tiny Town is a mini village built on creativity and learning through play. Tiny Town is not soft play, it’s different. Sharon McCook and Peter Dabill, said: “Myself and Sharon have used our wealth of experience in early years learning to design a space where ideas know no limits, and where imagination comes to life.
For children, it’s a place where learning happens, a tiny town that replicates everyday life in a way that children understand and can learn from. For adults, it’s a calm space where parents and carers can be confident the children in their care are learning through play. Learning through play and imagination is vital for children when it comes to their perception and comprehension of the world around them. Tiny Town is for everyone. There is no age limit.”
We offer 4 play sessions Monday to Friday at 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm and 4 pm, and 5 sessions Saturday and Sunday at 9.30 am, 11.30 am, 1.30 pm, 3.30 pm and 5.30 pm.
Address: Ryton Rd, North Anston, South Anston, Sheffield S25
Prices: Non-crawling babies are free, all other children are £6.25. We have a ‘no outdoor shoes’ policy for all visitors so please bring socks or slippers.
TotCity, Andover, Hampshire
What’s Inside Totcity – Andover’s new family-friendly play café, with a scaled-down street designed to inspire young children to explore and pretend to their heart’s content. All children love to play make-believe and dressing up, and at least 9 role play areas, equipped with child-sized resources and dressing-up outfits, will entice them to let their imagination fly. They can make an ice cream sundae in the café, repair a broken wing mirror in the garage or do the weekly shop in our supermarket – they can be whatever they want to be today.”
Address: 22-24 Chantry Way, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 1LX.
Prices: Each session lasts for 80 minutes. A child ticket costs £5.00 online. Adults and babies are free and crawlers are just £2.00 each.
Tots Town, Norwich, Norfolk
What’s Inside Tots Town – “Tots Town near Norwich is a unique interactive play centre based around a child-sized town. Think supermarket, café, doctor’s surgery, town square, hairdressers, shoe shop and even a theatre. Take coffee orders, be the star on the stage, examine patients’ X-rays or check mum’s shoe size. Watch your child immerse themselves in their imagination and join in to help make their play believable.
Each scene is crafted to promote self-confidence, communication skills and social awareness in a familiar real-life scenario. Our team of consultants includes Early Years educators, special needs advisors and child play specialists who have guided every setting’s features to maximise the role-play opportunities.”
Address: 4, Station Court, Station Ln, Hethersett, Norwich NR9 3AY.
Prices: It is advisable to pre-book. Sessions run for 1 hour. £7.95 per child. Adults are £3.50 and pre-walkers under 1 are free with siblings.
