Playgrounds are a great way to get outside and have fun with your children. There are so many benefits to playing outside and with most playgrounds being free they are a great way to entertain children. I am lucky to have lots of playgrounds near me in Loughton, but sometimes we want somewhere a bit more special where we can happily spend a few hours, or even the whole day, so I have pulled together a list of brilliant playgrounds London and Essex that are worth travelling to.
All of these playgrounds have something a bit special about them and are highly rated by my family and other local parents. They are all free entry, but there may be charges for parking and some of the activities. Many of the parks include other attractions including splash parks, skate parks and boating lakes (subject to seasonal opening and these may be chargeable).
There are so many great playgrounds in London and Essex, these are the ones we think are the best. |
25 Plus Of The Best Free Playgrounds In London & Essex
1. Baddow Hall Park, Chelmsford, CM2 7QT
The playground in Baddow Hall Park contains a couple of climbing frames and some swings, but the real highlight is the BMX track. There is also plenty of green space and a wild flower meadow. There are no toilets or car park on site.
2. Barking Park, Longbridge Road, Barking, IG11 8UD
Barking Park has a great play area which is mostly sand based, but there is
plenty to explore. A splash park (open April to September, prebook 90 minute
sessions,
check their website
for current prices and information), boating lake with pedalo hire (weekends,
public and school holidays April to October), hard courts, skate park, cafe
and toilets. Plenty of friendly squirrels around and birds on the the lake
including geese, swans and heron.
Car park and street parking
available.
3. Battersea Park Children’s Playground, Battersea, London, SW11 4NJ
In the south-west corner of Battersea Park is a great playground with areas
for different ages from toddlers upwards. The 3 playgrounds are all next to
each other with separate areas for toddlers, juniors and a more challenging
adventure playground for children 8 to 12 years. Understandably given it's location
in one of London’s favourite parks this playground can get very busy. There is
a Go Ape next to the playgrounds and the London parks also has a Children's Zoo.
There are kiosks in the area serving refreshments as well as a café. Toilets are located
in the café as well as on the other side of Go Ape.
Battersea Park has great play areas for all ages |
4. Bedfords Park Playground, Broxhill Road, Havering-atte-Bower, Romford RM4 1QH
When you turn into the entrance of Bedfords Park from Broxhill Road there is a
long drive to the far end of the car park where you will find the playground.
The wooden play structures are nicely designed with activities suitable for different
age groups. A short walk away towards the Discovery Centre is an enclosure
where you can see Red Deer. There is also plenty of green space to run around
in this 215 acre parkland.
Toilets are available in the Discovery Centre and the parking is free.
Bedfords Parks Playground |
5. Belhus Woods Country Park Playground, South Ockendon, Aveley, RM15 4XJ
The play area at Belhus Woods Country Park has a number of outdoor percussion instruments
as well as wooden climbing frames, slides, swings and a sand pit. You can borrow story bags free of charge from the Visitor’s Centre (when open)
which contain books, activity sheets and den building kits.
There are toilets near the car park and visitors centre.
Car park charges currently £2.80 for an hour up to £6.30 for all day.
6. Castle Park Playground, High Street, Colchester CO1 1UG
The main playground in Castle Park is near the café, a short walk from the Colchester High Street park entrance next to the castle. There is also a second playground (Kings Meadow
playground) on the far side of the park. The main playground is suitable for
toddlers up to age 12 and includes swings, climbing frames, slides, zip wires
and a sand pit with a pirate ship.
A café and toilets are close to the play
area. There is plenty more to explore in Castle Park include a boating lake and
Pitch and Putt
Parking (chargeable) is available in the numerous city centre car parks
including Nunn’s Road, Priory Street and Osbourne Street.
Read our guide to visiting Castle Park here.
7. Clissold Park Playground, off Church Street/ Green Lanes, Stoke Newington N16 9HJ
There is a good range of play equipment for all ages at Clissold Park, some of
which is on sand. Activities include: slides, a climbing tower, various
climbing frames, swings and more.
As well as the play area Clissold Park has an aviary, goats, fallow deer, a
river, fountains, hard courts , skate park and toilets. The Paddling Pool is
currently closed and there are plans for renovation, but no completion date
has been announced. As well as the café and refreshments kiosk in the park
there are a great range of family friendly food places a short walk a way in
Church Street.
Parking is limited so public transport may be the easiest option. If you are
visiting for a short period the nearby supermarkets have the largest car
parks.
8. Coram’s Fields Playgrounds, 93 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1DN
A short walk from the British Museum you can find Coram's Fields which is a large enclosed space
designed for under 16s and no adult can enter without a child. You can’t see
into this large courtyard like space from outside which makes it a little
mysterious (I say as an adult who walked past for years before I had a child I
could actually go in with). Once inside there are separate play areas for
different age children which are well spaced out, but as an open space it is fairly easy to see across from one area to another if you have older children playing
at a distance. There are grass areas, football pitches and a sand pit as
well as a splash park in summer months.
The site did have some farm animals, but they are currently being housed
elsewhere.
Coram’s Fields has toilets and a café.
One of the preschool play areas and sand pit in Coram's Fields London |
9. Diana Memorial Playground Kensington Gardens
The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens is inspired by the story of Peter Pan. It has a large pirate ship as it’s centrepiece as well as a
sensory trail, teepees and small boats to play on surrounded by sand.
While this is a free playground entry is restricted to children under 12 and
adults. At peak times they limit numbers so queuing may be necessary.
Some of the smaller play structures at the Diana Memorial Playground from Me, Him, The Dog And A Baby |
10. Great Notley Country Park, Braintree, Great Notley, Essex, England, CM77 7FS
Great Notley Country Park has is a long play trail which will definitely burn off a lot of energy. At the far end of the trail there is a large sand pit which is
fun way to spend time however there are no toilets near here. We take a travel
potty because there is NO WAY you can make it back to the toilets from here
with a recently potty trained toddler. On the farside of the lake to the sand pit is a cafe on an industrial estate. This is slightly closer than the Visitor's Centre cafe so might be worth checking out.
I like that there are various things to explore and play with hidden away all
around the park which makes exploring even more fun.
There is a large car park near the Visitor's Centre which includes a café and the toilets. The car park currently costs £2.80 for 1 hour going up to £6.30 for all day.
The large sandpit play area at Great Notley Park is at the far end of the play trail |
11. Greenwich Park, Greenwich, London SE10 8XG
If you are visiting Greenwich with children then stopping by the
playground in Greenwich Park will be a highlight on a sunny day. Found in the North-East corner of the park different parts of
the playground are suitable for toddlers through to older children and there
is a sandpit too next to the toilets.
If you can persuade your children away from the playground and up the hill to
the Royal Observatory then you will be rewarded with amazing views.
There is a hut serving snacks and drinks in the playground, but I would
recommend checking out Greenwich Market for great food and taking it to the
park to eat.
There is limited pay and display parking around the park so public transport
is advised. The playground is near Maze Hill station and plenty of buses run
along Trafalgar Road which is a short walk away.
Greenwich Park has great play areas for different ages and a sandpit |
12. Hanningfield Waterside Park, Hanningfield Reservoir, South Hanningfield, CM3 8HX
The Waterside Park at Hanningfield Reservoir has a fairly new playground as
well as cafe, toilets, gift shop and free car park. The playground includes wooden structure climbing frames, swings and slides.
If you fancy a walk you can park at the Waterside Park and walk clockwise around the reservoir to the Essex Wildlife Trust Hanningfield Reservoir Centre and the Wind in The Willows Sculpture
Trail (a map is available from the Visitors Centre when open for £1). Alternatively you could drive between locations as they both have free parking.
Near Hanningfield Reservoir there is a great playground with plenty to entertain toddlers to tweens |
13. Harlow Town Park, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2QG
Harlow Town park has several play areas with the newest located near Pets’
Corner (a small, but free farm). The new play area is nicely designed and looks great, however the older play area is much larger so better to visit on busy days. The larger playground is 5 to 10 minutes
walk from Pets' Corner (child speed), it has a good range of equipment for all ages including a large climbing tower. There is also a paddling pool in the Town Park summer.
There are several car parks (paid) and it can get busy in good weather. Pets' Corner is free entry. Even when closed they normally have some animals in the paddocks which can be seen. The toilets are near the Pets’ Corner play area.
There is a nearby chargeable car park in Schools Lane (Nettleswell Cross car park) but if
that is full and you don’t want to drive around looking for street car park
there is a bigger car park on the other side of the park near Harlow station.
Harlow Town Park has multiple playgrounds and a free mini farm (Pets' Corner) |
14. The Highams Park, Henry's Avenue, Woodford Green, IG8 9RB
This park has great views over Epping Forest a play area for Under 7s with swings, slide and a climbing frame. There is a big lake to walk around and spot ducks as well as the occasional squirrel. There is also a café and toilets. Limited street parking available, most of which needs to be paid for.
15. Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 8FS
Hylands Park is the large estate of Hylands House. Often a location of
festivals in the summer months there is plenty to explore, but the main
playground has an amazing wooden adventure castle structure and is located near the Greenbury
Way entrance. It’s a big playground with activities in the
castle and fort as well as outside in the "hamlet" area for younger children. One of the
sections of castle is "fully inclusive" and suitable for wheelchairs, although personally I think there is a limited amount for wheelchair users. This
playground may be closed at times when festivals are on so check their website/ social media.
There is a refreshment kiosk, toilets and picnic tables near the playground. Parking charges were introduced in late 2022. It isn't too far to walk from the playground to the Pleasure Gardens where there are lots of pretty flowers and a duck pond.
Read more about the playground and visiting Hylands Estate in this review.
The playground at Hylands Estate is castle themed and lots of fun |
16. King George’s Playing Fields, Ingrave Road, Brentwood CM14 5AE
King George’s Playing Fields have recently had a significant redevelopment and while this is near completion, parking is still limited. There is a new pavilion (with soft play and assault course), splash pad, play area, cafe, changing facilities and sensory room.
There are a lot of brilliant activities which you can read about in this post, but be warned any of them need to be booked a paid for, including one of the playgrounds (for age 8 plus). There are still free playgrounds and woodland to explore though. There are 4 car parks around the playing fields which now have a tariff.
17. Lloyd Park, off Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 5JW
Lloyd Park behind the William Morris Gallery is a lovely park with a good playground, natural play area and sand pit. There is a nice mix of equipment for all ages including swings, slides and climbing frames. It also has a cafe, toilets, outdoor gym, skate park and formal gardens with a moat (and ducks). The skate park has a small section which is popular with little children on scooters.
There is small pay and display car park next to the main entrance on Forest Road (on The Bell side), but parking is limited to 2 hours and there are restrictions on all of the surrounding roads. Public transport is advisable.
Some of the play equipment at Lloyd Park in Walthamstow |
18. Promenade Park, Maldon Park Drive, Maldon CM9 5JQ
The playground at Promenade Park is a hugely popular attraction for children with a large pirate ship play frame, sand pits and other play equipment. The playground with the pirate ship and another near the large sandpit are being replaced in September/ October 2024. The Splash Park next door is generally open from March to September for around £3.25 a session, there is another playground at the top of the hill, adventure golf (Pirates Bay), a petting zoo and a model boating lake. You can also hire a beach hut and visit the BMX track or skate park and go crabbing.
19. Raphael Park Playground, Main Road, Romford RM2 5EB
Raphael Park play area is good with lots to climb on and swings. The park also has ornamental gardens and a lake to explore. There is also a café, kiosk and toilets next to the play area. Originally part of Gidea Hall Estate the park still has a number of historic features.
There is a pay and display car park across the road from the main entrance, near Lodge Farm Park, although the playground is at the other end of the park so you may find street parking closer.
Lodge Farm Park across the Main Road from Raphael Park also contains a playground and a miniature railway (runs 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month April to October, 11am to 4pm).
20. Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, Mucking Wharf Road, Mucking, Standford-Le-Hope SS17 0RN
Situated on the edge of the Thames Estuary and with views over Mucking Flats there are plenty of birds, wildlife, boats and cranes to see at Thurrock Thameside Nature Park. The play areas include a wooden boat and light house as well as swings and a zipline.
The Discovery Centre, where there is a café, toilets and shop, is open everyday 10am to 5pm (or 4pm in Winter months).
The car park is free (donations welcome).
Read more about what to expect on a visit to Thurrock Thameside here in our review.
21. Tumbling Bay Playground, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Olympic Park Avenue, Stratford, London E20 1DY.
There is lots to explore on the former main site of the 2012 Olympics including 2 playgrounds and water fountains to play in outside the stadium (running March to October). Our favourite of the playgrounds is Tumbling Bay to the north of the site. It contains a sandpit, water play, treehouse, swings and slides hidden amongst the trees.
Starting outside the Timber Lodge café (where you will find toilets) is the sandpit and continuing along in a line until the large wooden climbing frame which is great fun for older children. On our last visit (September 2024) parts of the large climbing frame were fenced off due to damage. Younger ones may prefer to stay in the sand and water areas or head to the other playground near the stadium. Tumbling Bay Playground can be hard to navigate if you have a pushchair and it can be hard to keep a visual on children, it is definitely worth visiting with children age 5 and upwards though.
The playgrounds are a short walk from Westfields Shopping Centre and the interesting food places in East Village. We normally park in Stratford International car park or there are the Westfield car parks and public transport. If heading to the shopping centre there is also a nice playground outside Westfield between the shopping centre and Stratford International station.
Tumbling Bay Playground at the Stratford Olympic Park is great fun for children age 5 and upwards |
22. Valentines Park Playground, Cranbrook Road, Ilford IG1 4TG
This large park in Ilford has a good size playground for children with lots to play on for all ages. There is also a boating lake, outdoor gym, 2 cafes, toilets and multi-use games area. There are ducks, friendly squirrels and other wildlife. Car park on site and surrounding roads.
23. Victoria Park Playgrounds, Grove Rd, London E9 7HW
Another great one of the free parks in London is Victoria Park where there are 2 playgrounds. On the west side near Grove Road is the V&A play area and sand pit which is a great area for preschoolers. On the far side of the park is a playground more suited to older children with long slides and big climbing frame. The play areas are mostly sand based. this second area is next to a fun splash pool (open in Summer months) and a café. If you can get away from the play areas there is also a boating lake, landscaped areas and skate park.
There is street parking around the park which is a combination of free and paid (it can get expensive), alternatively there are good public transport links.
V&A Playground in Victoria Park, London. Image from post by What The Redhead Said |
24. Wat Tyler Country Park Playground, Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea, Basildon, Essex SS16 4UH
Wat Tyler Country Park has a large adventure playground with lots of activities including large climbing frames suitable for toddlers and juniors, swings, 2 zip wires, roundabout, seesaw. Improvements were made to the play area in 2022 to make it more inclusive. In Summer months a miniature railway runs around the edge of the park (but it's currently closed for repairs).
There is a café, toilets and shop. The park gets very muddy in places. There are various trails on the site including a sculpture trail, you can find the maps online.
Read more about what to expect and see photos of the playground in this review.
25. Weald Country Park (Stickman Trail Playgrounds), Weald Road, Brentwood, Essex, England, CM14 5QS
Weald Country Park has 2 main playgrounds as part of the Stickman Trail. The best playground for younger children is next to the main car park and Visitor Centre. In this area there is also a deer enclosure, toilets, shop and the Wigley Bush Café. The shop sells duck and deer food as well as maps of the Stickman Trail.
There are 4 car parks around the site which cost £2.80 for up to 1 hour going up to £6.30 for all day. They advise the car parks tend to be full by 10.30am/ 11am at peak times and they will update their answering machine message (01277 261343) where possible to advise when they are full.
There are some footpaths, but it can be difficult with a pushchair when muddy. Other than the 2 playgrounds the other areas of the Stickman Trail were removed and replaced by a Stickman Sculpture Trail around the lake in Spring 2023, these are mostly around the lake and this path is now more pushchair accessible.
One of the 2 main playgrounds at Weald Country Park Stickman Trail, Essex |
26. Wickford Memorial Park, Rettendon View, Wickford, Essex SS11 8JE
Wickford Memorial Park has a large playground with lots for all ages. Café and toilets. The park is 80 acres and has a small area of woodland to play, riverside walk and a more formal rose garden.
There is parking in 3 areas with Rettendon View closest to the playground. The others are on Highcliffe Avenue and Runwell Road.
I hope you have found this post helpful. I would love to know if you visit any and what you think. You might also be interested in my post about the best places to go with kids in Essex.
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This is very helpful! My kids love to try new parks. I'm stopping by from the Flea Network. Fantastic blog!
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