Willowbees is the soft play inside Newton-le-Willows Health & Fitness, run by St Helens Council's Go Active leisure service. The frame is 7.4 metres tall with three slides and a little library tucked into it, aimed at children up to 11, and there is a separate area for 0 to 3s. It is council-run, which shows mostly in the prices.
Two hours of play costs £6.50 on a weekday and £8 at weekends and in the holidays, under 1s are free, and one adult comes in free with each paying child. The term-time Play and Eat deal, 3.30 to 5.30pm on weekdays, is £10.50 with food. Opening is 9am to 6.45pm on weekdays and 9 to 4.45 at weekends.
The cafe serves Costa and there are plenty of seats, which is most of what a parent wants. The same building has a 25 metre pool, so a swim-then-soft-play morning is possible under one roof. Ring first on a Saturday: private parties close it early more often than you would guess.
What it costs: Monday to Friday £6.50 for two hours of play; weekends and school holidays £8.00. Play and Eat, term-time weekdays 3.30 to 5.30pm, £10.50. Under 1s free. One adult free with each paying child, then £1 per extra adult. Registered childminders £3.60 per child in term time. Go Active Gold members' children half price.
Worth knowing: Up to age 11, with a 0 to 3 area.
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