Inside the jungle-themed indoor soft play parents are raving about following £2.5million makeover
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Plus, a Sun Travel writer visited one of the biggest soft play centres in the UK
- Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter
SOFT play just got even better with the opening of a new jungle-themed attraction in Kent.
The soft play in Maidstone Leisure Centre reopened in October 2024 after a £2.5million refurbishment.
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Formerly called Polar Adventure, it was closed for six weeks last year while the transformation was underway.
Just months later, it reopened with a purpose-built, three-story soft play centre called Amazon Adventure.
Based on a jungle theme with volcanoes, children can climb, go down slides, and even venture through a maze.
Also on-site is a new cafe for parents.
One guest raved about it on Tripadvisor: "The soft play is huge! Loads of slides, loads of interactive areas throughout, a smaller section for little children, it just goes on forever over 3 levels."
Another added: "They've done a really good job, it's awesome!"
The soft play area is open between 10am and 4pm on weekdays and during school holidays.
Toddlers can also attend sessions on weekends between 11am and 2pm, and each slot has a maximum capacity of 50 children.
There is also a dedicated under-5s area with a ball pit and toys.
It wasn't just the soft play that got a makeover, the pool facilities were also improved.
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There was even the addition of a new mini-waterpark for children.
There are slides, water cannons and interactive features in the shallow pool, now known as the Totem Splash Pad and Pool.
One recent visitor on Google Reviews said: "The new splash pool is so much nicer than the old pool.
"Kids young and old have really enjoyed using it. Glad they changed time back to an hour and a half. We have also enjoyed the aqua challenge."
Ticket prices for the splash park vary from £7.45 for adults and £6.95 for children.
Also in Kent is the ‘Royal’ English town that's one of the UK’s fanciest Wetherspoons named top place to live.
And plans for £11million attraction with rooftop bar by the beach.
One Sun Travel writer took a trip to Riverside Hub in Northampton...
AS seasoned soft play samplers, my boys thought they had seen it all - until I took them to family favourite Riverside Hub in Northampton to check out the UK’s largest playframe, set over four floors.
You know you're onto a winner when your tween's eyes light up in wonder and you hardly see your children from the moment you arrive until home time.
Described by one industry insider as a soft play on steroids, there's so much to do here that it's a struggle to fit it into the two and a half hours that each session is allocated.
We could have happily spent the whole day and still have gone back for more.
What's even better is that Riverside Hub, which has been making a name for itself for the last decade, is just around the corner from Billing Aquadrome.
So it's perfect for a visit if you're checking out some of the new facilities at one of the UK’s oldest holiday parks, that's not long been under new ownership and has had a massive amount of investment in the last couple of years.
With three boys aged between five and 12, it can sometimes be difficult to find somewhere that has enough to keep all ages happy as the older two are getting a bit big for soft play, but that certainly wasn't a problem here.
Laser tag, crazy golf, two climbing poles, go-karts and even arcade machines all included in the price.
The main issue is keeping an eye on all your children as they head off in opposite directions to make the most of everything on offer.
While the youngest was taking a spin on the carousel, my middle son was clambering up the two 10m climbing poles, one in the shape of an oak tree and the other a beanstalk, in the centre of the hub.
As with most indoor play spaces, you can't bring your own food, but you can always time your visit so it doesn't clash with mealtimes if you don't want to pay to eat out.
Riverside Hub was certainly a revelation and lived up to its reputation. We will be back!
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