Looking for places to take a toddler, or somewhere exciting for the kids in the school holidays? Here's our guide to loads of great places to go with young children.  For opening times and admission charges, please call the attraction or visit their website.

If you're still breastfeeding your baby, you might also want to have a look at our list of breastfeeding-friendly venues in Stevenage, Hitchin and Letchworth.

If you can help us add to or update this list please do: email web@nct-hertsnorth.org.uk

 

Activity Centres

Angel’s Reply, Bedford Road, Hitchin.  Telephone (01462) 450219.  Family pub with free soft-play area.  Large ball pool and special toddler area.

Tumble Tent, 12-13 The Gallery, The Wynd, Letchworth.  Telephone (01462) 483322.  Very friendly soft-play area for under-fives.  Café.

The Wilbury, Wilbury Road, Letchworth.  Telephone (01462) 484014.  Family pub with Pirate Pete’s Indoor Playden.

Parks and Playgrounds

These are now on a separate web page - see PLAYGROUNDS (too many to list here!)

Farms and Wildlife Parks

Shepreth Wildlife Park, near Royston, Cambridgeshire.   www.sheprethwildlifepark.co.uk
A range of wild animals, petting zoo, bug city, waterworld, adventure play area, toddlers’ soft-play area and café. 

Standalone Farm, Wilbury Road, Letchworth.   www.standalonefarm.com
Telephone (01462) 686775.  Open farm with a range of animals large and small, play area, model railway, ride-on tractors and café.  Activities such as milking, lamb-feeding and tractor rides available at certain times.  

Waterhall Farm & Craft Centre, Whitwell, Hitchin.  Telephone (01438) 871256.  Open farm with rare breeds.  Play area with straw bale battlefield, sand-pit, slide and old tractor. 

Wimpole Home Farm, Arrington, Royston, Cambridgeshire.  www.wimpole.org
Telephone (01223) 206000.  Range of rare animal breeds, adventure playground, pedal tractors and daily activities and demonstrations.

Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, Dunstable.   www.whipsnade.co.uk
Telephone (01582) 872171.  One of the largest wildlife conservation centres in Europe.  Attractions include over 2,500 wild animals, penguin feeding, safari bus tour, adventure playground and children’s farm. 

Woburn Safari Park, Woburn, Bedfordshire.  www.woburnsafari.co.uk
Telephone (01525) 290407.  As well as the famous safari drive-through, there is a children’s playground, animal contact areas, boats and a train. 

Woodside Farm & Wildfowl Park, Woodside Rd, Slip End, Luton.  www.woodsidefarm.co.uk Telephone (01582) 841044.  As well as a wide range of animal and birds, there are many play areas including a heated indoor play barn, tractor rides, sandpit, trampolines, paddling pool.

Paradise Wildlife Park, White Stubbs Lane, Broxbourne.   www.pwpark.co.uk
Telephone (01992) 470490.  Range of wild animals, adventure playground, indoor play area for under-fives, miniature railway.

 

Railways

Nene Valley Railway, off the A1 near Peterborough.   www.nvr.org.uk
Telephone (01780) 784444.  Steam and diesel trains, small play area, café and shop.  Special activities at weekends and during holidays, such as Thomas the Tank Engine days and Santa Specials.

Summerfields Miniature Railway, near Haynes on the A600 between Shefford and Bedford.   Telephone (01234) 262366.

 

Shops and Garden Centres

Van Hage’s Garden Centre, Pepper Hill, Great Amwell, near Ware.   www.vanhage.co.uk
Telephone (01920) 870811:  Small animal zoo, miniature train (summer holidays and weekends).  Café with highchairs and baby-changing facilities. 

Vanstone Park Garden Centre, Hitchin Road, Codicote.  
Telephone (01438) 820412.  Train, ducks, pets and coffee shop.

 

Theme Parks and Attractions

Bekonscot Model Village, Beaconsfield, Bucks.   www.bekonscot.org.uk
Telephone (01494) 672919.  Six 1930s model villages with model rail network, ride-on railway (weekends and holidays), outdoor play area and model shop.  Indoor and outdoor picnic areas and snack bar. 

Gulliver’s World, A509, Milton Keynes.   www.gulliversfun.co.uk/miltonkeynes.htm
Telephone (01925) 444888.  Theme park with a range of rides and attractions, under five’s play area. 

Legoland, Windsor (on the B3022 Bracknell-Windsor road).   www.legoland.co.uk
Telephone (0870) 504 0404.  A huge range of rides, shows and attractions.  Ideal if you have children of different ages but still more than enough to keep tinies occupied all day.

 

For rainy days, Letchworth Cinema shows cheap films in the school holidays. Children pay £1.50, parents go for free.