Soft play & indoor play in Preston

Preston's three indoor options split by how much bouncing you want. Rascals Play Centre at Bamber Bridge, minutes off the M6, is the big general centre, with a sports court, a disco room and a quieter SEN session on Tuesday evenings, though it does not publish prices. Flip Out at Fishwick Park has trampolines, a Kids Arena, slamball, a stunt zone and two soft plays, one of them for toddlers, with jumps from £13 and under 5s from £8.

Wacky World on Campbell Street is the town's largest indoor inflatable park: wipeout-style inflatables, a rodeo bull and a base jump for bigger children, a toddler corner on the mezzanine and under-5s sessions. Two hours on a Sunday is £14.95, and there is a weekly calm session for ASD and disabled children. Check Flip Out's term-time hours before you set off, because it is shut on Mondays and does not open until 12.30pm on weekdays.

Soft play & indoor play in Preston

Flip Out Preston

Preston~40 min

★★★★☆3.7(687)

Preston's Flip Out: trampolines, a Kids Arena, slamball, a stunt zone and two soft plays, one for toddlers. In term time it is shut on Mondays and opens at 12.30pm on weekdays.

Jumps from £13, under 5s from £8IndoorsAges 1-14

Rascals Play Centre

Preston~35 min

★★★★☆4.3(1,122)

Preston's big indoor centre at Bamber Bridge, minutes off the M6, with a sports court, a disco room and a quieter SEN session on Tuesday evenings.

Price not listedIndoorsAges 0-11

Wacky World Inflatable Park

Preston~55 min

★★★★☆4.3(821)

Preston's largest indoor inflatable park, with wipeout-style inflatables, a rodeo bull and a base jump for the bigger ones, a toddler corner on the mezzanine, under-5s sessions and a weekly calm session for ASD and disabled children.

Sunday 2 hours £14.95, other prices when you bookIndoorsAges 1-12

Soft play & indoor play elsewhere in the North West

Giggles Play Mill

Warrington~10 min

★★★★☆4.2(164)

Two-tier soft play frame, low climbing wall, pirate ship, crawl tubes and a bouncy slide, plus Messy Monday and sensory sessions during the week.

£6.75 a child, adults freeIndoorsAges 4-8

Jellybeans Play Centre

Warrington~15 min

★★★★☆4.3(504)

Bigger than the average soft play: multi-level frame, a spooky room, an astro slide, a climbing wall, two mini bowling lanes and a slot racing track. The bowling is what makes it work when you have a toddler and a seven-year-old to keep happy at once.

£6 off-peak, £12 at weekends and half termsIndoorsAges 4-9

Fun2b

Warrington~10 min

★★★★☆4.2(200)

Straightforward multi-level soft play with a café that adults can actually sit in. Nothing fancy, reliably works.

Session priceIndoorsAges 4-8

Tenpin Warrington

Warrington~10 min

★★★★☆4.2(1,663)

Soft play plus bowling under one roof, which solves the two-different-ages problem in a single trip. Ask for the barriers if anyone is under about six.

Per game / sessionIndoorsAges 4-11

Play & Sensory Centre

Warrington~10 min

★★★★★4.5(16)

A council-run play centre in Woolston built for disabled children and adults and anyone with additional needs, with a sea-themed soft play, a calm zone, a pre-school area and a full sensory room with a hoist. Sessions are booked in advance.

Price not listedIndoorsAges 4-8

Holiday Clubs (HAF)

St HelensIn town

★★★★★5.0(17)

Funded holiday clubs with food included, ages 4 to 18, for families on benefits-related free school meals. Worth a look even if you assume you won't qualify.

Free if eligibleIndoorsSchool holidaysAges 4-11