Better Days Out, Children's Activites, East Mids
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Indoor Activities

If you would like to be listed here or enhance your listing, please contact Meghan meg@betterdaysout.co.uk / 01903 531 490.


Boogie Babies
Various venues in Nottingham and Derby
Tel: 07988 198499
Funky fun with your little ones! Boogie-babies is a monthly disco event for kids aged 7 and under. It's the perfect way for grown ups and kids to have fun, make new friends and express themselves. When it's time to boogie, Boogie Babies transform the disco to ensure it's the perfect environemnt for you and your little ones to let your hair down (if they've got any yet) on the dancefloor.
*Boogie Babies events will be postponed until further notice*
Bowling (AMF Bowling Centre) Barker Gate House, Belward Street, Nottingham NG1 Tel: 0115 950 5588
An amusement venue for all the family with bumpers to prevent the ball sliding into the gutter, lightweight balls and ramps for younger children.
"Took my daughter of three years to amf bowling and she loved it! And it was free of charge. Hire shoes go down to a small 5 so why cant the young ones play. They have food, drinks, toilets, and other fun arcade games. They also provide childrens parties and all at reasonable price. A great day - we are going again. My three year old actually beat me at bowling! They have small light-weight bowling balls other facilities to help them play and be part of family activities perfect for all!!!!!!!"
Chucklebutties Play & Party Centre Belper Mills, Bridge Foot, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1YD
01773 880123
An indoor soft play area with a difference - adults love it too!  With views from massive windows overlooking the beautiful Derwent and Belper River Gardens, adults can sit in comfort and relax while the children play.

The award-winning cafe serves mouth-watering homemade cakes, hearty meals and snacks with a healthy emphasis, as well as real coffee and loose-leaf, fairtrade teas.
 
Children from toddlers to 10 year olds can run off steam on the slides, bouncy castle, mini car track, climbs and rope bridges, while babies have a separate play area within the café to enjoy. And to make every visit different, the friendly and welcoming staff run “Busy Busy Activity Sessions” every weekday at 11am and 2pm, including crafts, cookery, story time, singing and organised play. 
 
Open Monday to Friday 10-7, Saturday 10-8 and Sunday 10-7 (Babies and pre-schoolers only before 3.30pm every Tuesday)

For information about stress-free birthday parties at Chucklebutties, please click here.


Crazy Crocodiles
Abbey St, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 8DN
(0115) 944 1555
It's a great place for kids under 10.  It has everything you need under the one roof. The large 2 storey structure is a winner with the kids and it also  houses 2 separate 'toddler only' areas as well. There is a large seating area for parents/carers to sit and watch the young ones and the choice of food is great with the quality being outstanding! It also offers organised birthday parties (separate party room available)where all the hard work is done for you. This place is always clean and tidy and the staff extremely helpful and polite. Highly recommended!
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9:30am - 6:00pm, Sundays and bank holidays 10:00am - 4:00pm
£3.50 - 2 Hour Play Session
"We definitely recommend crazy crocs, my two have been going since they were tiny and love it. We had my son's 3rd birthday there, it was the best day. The food they offer is healthy and appeals to the kids."
Win a FREE entrance voucher!


Cyrils nut hut Unit 3, Acton Road, Long Eaton, Notts. (0115) 973 6532
It is a great place with a giant 3 storey structure, the place is really clean and smells really nice when you walk in. It has a large seating area for the adults and serves really nice reasonably priced food and drink. The staff are all really helpful and friendly. They have a big party room too and cater for kids parties at good prices.
Admission to all play areas, unlimited play: £3.50 per child, Babies not crawling yet FREE, Babies crawling £1.75
Open all year
Opening Times: 10am to 7pm
Parent & Baby / toddler sessions: Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm, £2.95 per child, includes unlimited play and a juice drink.
"Cyrils nut hut is a very good place to visit especially when the weather is bad, its got good food at a good price and you even get a biscut with your coffee. It's got air conditioning wich is good as some places haven't and you find it getting hot and your child is wet through. It's got alot of room so you're not sitting on top of each other. There's a baby changing room and area 4 the little ones as well."


Denz
131 Queens Rd, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2FE Tel: 0115 925 5007
Situated in an old church, this new softplay centre has loads of space with comfy sofas and a cafe. Separate areas for babies and toddlers, a four level play frame for children, themed party rooms, hot and cold food and drinks plus a selection of desserts.
Open 7 days a week from 9:30-6pm. Win a FREE entrance voucher!
"My 7 year old daughter said it had the best climbing frame out of all the play centres we've tried and we've tried them all! It is also really nicely decorated and quite funky."
"Denz in beeston nottingham was fantastic, very clean and suitable for children ages 6 months to 12 years even the parents can join in. we had an excellent time and will deffently be going back."
"The play area at Denz in beeston is just fab, with lots of different fun entrances to get in.  The centre was really, really clean too which is always good, as some I have been to recently you would rather not take your shoes off! The food and drinks were very reasonable too.  The themed party rooms were really cool and very nicely decorated. I was so  impressed I am now going to book my son's party there!"
"My daughter is is 3 years old and really loves denz indoor play at beeston it is really well set out. She can play really well here on her own or mum can join in too there are craft activitys on wednesdays during school term and seperate play for baby. They have a nice cafe and 3 party rooms too for that all important birthday. I hope all children that go enjoy it as much as my daughter has."
"Excellent for childrens parties, very clean and excellent food and service"


Escape Play
6 Pentrich Road, Giltbrook Industrial Park, Giltbrook, Nottingham NG16 2UZ Tel: 0115 9386206
Escape Play is not merely a Soft Play Centre, but the largest, newest purpose built play centre in Nottinghamshire. Based in Giltbrook, Nottingham on the Ikea Retail/Industrial Park, Escape Family Entertainment Centre is ideally located between Nottingham and Derby, just 5 mins from Junction 26 of the M1.

• Massive 4 tier Soft Play Area for over 4s
• Separate under 4s Play Area
• Electric Indoor Go Karts (twin seats for Parent and Child!!!)
• Enclosed Mini Football and Basketball and Netball Area
• Disco Room with interactive lights and music
• Private Party Rooms
• Coffee Bar/Restaurant with quality food and drinks
• Contemporary leather seating area for families
• Temperature controlled environment for comfort

Please ring 0115 9386206 for entry prices and further details.
"I recently took my grandson to Escape near ikea Nottingham. It was fantastic, very spacious and clean, staff friendly, adults could go on the play area with the children. We as grandparents had a great time, my grandson is nearly 3  and keeps asking to go back!!!!"


Freddy's Play Kindgom - 50 Nottingham Road, Spondon, Derbyshire, DE21 7NL Tel: 01332662322
A large area for under 4's, a three-tier climbing frame with tube slide, ball pits, underground 'dungeons', and themed display areas. There is also a bistro area with papers and magazines for parents.
"The indoor play centre is split into two areas. It's under 4 section is the best I've seen with a softball section, climbing frames, a Wendy house, baby walkers, all aimed at toddlers who aren't ready for the larger indoor play area. The Staff are always friendly and helpful. The cafe area has plenty of tables. The food is reasonably priced and well cooked and presented. They also cater for parties and have a loyalty scheme which entitles your child a free entry after so many visits."

Funky Pots
- The Pottery Café, 278 – 280 Huntingdon House, Huntingdon Street, Nottingham NG1 3LY 0115 959 8866
Little ones will enjoy this fun and creative painting experience. You can choose from a variety of pots, mugs, plates and even figurines like dolphins or turtles and you get a drink while you paint! Prices vary depending on which pottery you choose.


Galleries of Justice High Pavement, The Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1HN Tel 0115 952 0555
"Educational and a great day out. You can take a short tour or the extended one. Visit the old courts and see how a trial was run, you might even get to play one of the characters! Visit the old prison cells and take a look into the life of a prisoner before they were shipped off to Australia. Lots of fun... I guarantee it!"


Happy Days Play Den
24/26 Station Street, Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottingham NG17 7AS Tel: 01623 753032

Happy Days Play Den indoor play centre provides a 360° approach to children’s play in a safe, clean, and stimulating environment for physically active children aged 10 and under to play in and explore.

Happy Days Play Den is a supervised, visually open play area that ensures children's safety, whilst challenging them to reach, think, interact, explore, and have fun. The play area is a 2 level play structure with 4 slides, high level tunnel, 2 ball parks and much more for children over the age of 2, a smaller play area for toddlers an area for imaginative, creative and messy play, a café bar (serving hot & cold meals) with seating to accommodate 60-75 persons at a time. 

For pre-schoolers there is a comprehensive activity timetable that encourages younger children to be creative, imaginative and messy.

For family celebrations, such as birthdays and special occasions, Happy Days Play Den offers birthday parties and private hire hosted by trained staff to provide a child with everything he/she would want in a birthday - supervised fun on the play structure, cake and biscuits, party bags, food and beverage, present and photo. 

Happy Days Play Den desires playtime to be as rewarding for the parents as it is for the children, as they spend time together.  So come along and join in the fun!


Hood's Hideout
Beechdale Swimming Centre, Beechdale Road, Bilborough, Notttingham (0115) 915 1575
Located on the first floor of the centre. Have a swim, get something to eat, let the kids run wild in the indoor soft play - they have special days and cater for parties. It's a stimulating play environment for children under-11 with a separate area for under 5's. There is also a cafe at the centre for drinks and snacks.
Opening Times:M T TH F 7am-9:30pm, Wednesday 7am-10pm, Saturday 8am-7pm, Sunday 8:30am-7pm

Johnny & the Raindrops
Johnny and the Raindrops are a musical explosion of lively and original rock’n’rollin’ music for young children and their families. They play gigs for cool kids and their families and have made five groovy CDs available on their website. Sing along and dance to their skiffle-tastic songs about pirates, planets, princesses, mermaids, frogs and robots. Join Johnny, Andy, Matt and ‘Double Bass’ Darren for this fun and interactive introduction to live music. For upcoming events please click here.
Email johnny.raindrop@ntlworld.com


Jungletastic Nottingham Road, Nuthall, Nottingham NG16 1AE (0115) 975 1113
An exciting new children's indoor soft play centre in the Nuthall area of Nottingham. The centre provides fun and safe entertainment for children aged 0 - 11 years in a relaxing air conditioned environment for parents and carers. Cafe and parties available. Located just off the A610 on Nottingham Road Nuthall, a few minutes drive from Phoenix Park and M1 Junction 26. By bus (Rainbow 1) or tram (Phoenix Park). Opening Times: Everyday 10am - 6pm
"I took my daughter to Jungletastic recently, its a new indoor play area in nutall.
It was new and clean and lot's for children to do."


"I recently took my 1 year old to Jungletastic and was very impressed by the cleanliness of the facility - all the highchairs were spotless and the staff were constantly cleaning up - not easy in a place like that!"


Kool Kids Indoor Adventure Playground Nottingham Coummunity College, Carlton Road, Nottingham (0115) 950 0125
This spacious soft play centre has a baby area, toddler areas, bouncy castle, and a snack bar. There are stairs up to the play area. The little snack bar is quite good for kid's drinks and for adults to rest - there is a TV and they offer snacks, tea & coffee. There are toilets and changing facilities.
Open all year
Opening Times: Open 7 days a week, 10am - 8pm


Lanky Bill's Funshack, Unit 6, Cromford Road, Langley Mill, Notts
01773 767 050
Suitable for 0-9's with a separate softplay area for 0-4's. Fantastic slide and soft climbing/mainframe area. The beauty of this place is that the open plan table area allows parents to stay seated with a coffee whilst the kids play. You can see your children from wherever you are seated without having to follow them into a play room separate to the eating area. Genius! It also has bar type stools overlooking the younger softplay area so parents can relax with a drink whilst watching their toddler simultaneously. The food is very nice and they offer bowls of fruit as a healthy alternative to chips - our kids loved the banana, orange and grapes bowl. Also have Family toilets, safety gate, and are available for birthday parties. Overall, great fun for the kids, relaxing and stress free for the parents!


Little Drivers Soft Play Centre
, Stapleford town centre at Plowmans court, off Halls road Stapleford NG9 7FP Tel: 01159392211
Little Drivers Soft Play Centre our proud to provide a high quality fun experience for kids between the ages of 0 & 11 years, in a safe, secure, bright, friendly and clean centre.

  • Soft play area, Separate areas for baby's and toddlers
  • A quality health conscious & traditional snack bar
    with a choice of hot or cold food & drinks
  • Trained staff to make your time here fun & safe
  • A fantastic party room available for bookings
  • Large plasma TV with sofa seating area
  • A laser tag centre designed for use by younger children - the arena is designed in the same way as large laser tag centres with simalar lighting and effects but small enough not to faze. The arena is open by appointment for pay and play and partiess.
  • A  indoor child five a side football pitch for partiess, purpose build by our soft play provider to provide a safe venue for parties.
Open 7 days a week

"Little Drivers by the way is a fabulous place - very clean, small but great for toddlers the owners have got it just right also the food for adults and kids is brilliant - not all chips and nuggets!!!"
Win a FREE entrance voucher!

Monkey Mania
, Fountain Court, Darwin Drive, New Ollerton, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG22 9GW
Tel: 01623 860842
Childrens indoor soft play area and coffee lounge.

National Ice Centre
, Bolero Square, The Lace Market, nottingham NG1 1LA
Tel: 0115 853 3000
Excellent fun for your young ones - even as young as 18 months old! Older children will love it too and it's lots of fun for the accompanying adults. "At first, ours were very unsure and there were even a few tears. We started off slowly, just near the edge holding onto the side wall. Once they were out on the ice and their confidence grew stronger, they were able to enjoy themselves. Going on a regular basis will boost their confidence and their ability."

They have beginner/family sessions that are relaxed and family focused and skate rental is available. Parent & toddler sessions and skating classes are also on offer. Please ring for more information on these.
See pictures HERE

Nottingham Playhouse, Wellington Circus 0115 941 9419(ticketline) 0115 947 6100(minicom)

Planet Happy
Heage Road Industrial Estate, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3GH 01773 748600
"I regularly go to Planet Happy, a soft play place with two storey frames for both tinies and older children. It's fairly small but always nice and clean with a seating area and they have some tasty cakes!"

Open 7 days a week, 9:30am to 6pm. £3 for two hours, under 1's FREE.

Playmania (Mansfield) Ltd
, Unit 1, 134 Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield, Notts, NG19 7AP Tel: 01623 644443
A fantastic soft play childrens centre catering for children 0 - 12yrs old
Open 7 days a week.
Weekdays 10am - 7pm
Weekends 10am - 5.30pm

Parent and Toddler sessions Mondays and Tuesdays 10am - 3pm (term time only).
Two great party rooms available. Great menu to suit all tastes.

Pot Doodle,
34 Cobden Street, Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire NG10 1BP Tel: 0115 9733332
Choose from over 150 different pieces of pottery from tea pots to t-rex. Paint your own pot for a gift or for yourself. Tea, coffee, drinks and snacks available.
"I would like to recommend Pot Doodle it's a new paint a pot studio in Long Eaton, the studio is clean and bright and really exciting for children, there are so many different cups, pots and figures etc to paint. The service is professional and very friendly. The kids love to make their own master pieces and the Mums and Dads can either drink coffee and have a cake or make their own piece. I have enjoyed making a range of personalised mugs for my friends they all loved them.
So it would be a great place to go on a rainy or day when the kids are bored."

Rainbow stripes, Nottingham
Rainbow stripes provide free music and movement classes in Nottingham. There are 10 sessions across the city in Children's Centres and Libraries. They are very popular and great fun.

Run Riot Indoor Play Area Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham (0115) 981 4027
"Fun for most ages, great party packs. Great place to go on bad weather days all 3 of my kids love it. Brilliant."

Tales of Robin Hood 30-38 Maid Marion Way, Nottingham NG1 6GF Tel 0115 948 3284
Ride through medieval Nottingham in unique adventure cars and see, hear, touch and smell scenes from the days when Robin stole from the rich and gave to the poor. But watch out, the Sheriff of Nottingham and his men will be in hot pursuit.
"Its a great day out and you will have time to take a trip to the Nottingham Castle afterwards too..."
"Great for children from 2 - 82! Makes the musuem fun with a st on ride taking you on the journey. Great 1st floor activities afterwards also including bouncy castle, painting, slide and of course a cafe for a cuppa for he tired grown ups!"

Tumbletown Play Centre
107b High St, Arnold (0115) 967 1161
Great fun but can get a bit crowded, especially when there are multiple birthday parties going on. They have a safety gate at the entrance so no little ones can escape - very good! Great for birthday parties too - great party bags for all children, present for the birthday child and staff take the children and play. They have a wide range of food and best of all no cleaning up - all for a great price. no worries!

Water Meadows Swimming and Fitness Complex, Bath Street, Titchfield Park, Mansfield, Notts. 01623 463880
Fantastic place to get your baby or toddler used to the water. The 'beach' pool is really shallow, allowing baby/toddler to wade around by themselves. And there is plenty of room to swim for the more experienced toddler too. There are fun water slides you can go on together. Watch out for the white one, though - very deep water at the end!