I was really excited to be invited along for an early viewing of the new soft play at Yarnton Home & Garden with my little one today. There’s been much anticipation of it’s arrival and perfect for me as it’s so close. I used to get excited about the open of a new cocktail bar, now it’s all about the soft play centres especially when it’s been raining non stop for a week.
Situated in Yarnton Home & Garden (previously knows as the Yarnton Garden Centre), Yarnton Magic Garden has taken it’s inspiration from nature. The space is drenched with light and there’s an outdoor and gardening theme running throughout.
With an upper age limit of 10, I’d say it’s most suited to up to 8 max. My eldest is 8 and he’s starting to grow out of soft play unless it’s the really massive ones like the Riverside Hub or Sprouts at Millets.
There’s a mid sized multi level frame section in muted greens and several routes to traverse to reach two sets of slides. One smaller double green slide is great for little ones and the curly wurly white one for speed demons. I went down it a few times with my almost 3 year old and he loooooved it. It’s mostly padded but the structure is made from wood so kids running at full pelt around corners might need to be careful.
Little ones who aren’t ready to go climbing yet have their own area with soft play shapes and a mini slide.
My son spent ages with the new friends he made in the ‘garden shed’. It’s got a squidgy see saw which I haven’t seen at any other soft plays, pretend rocks and massive soft play garden tools. There’s one little red wheelbarrow that all the kids were drawn too and I can imagine they might need a couple more when they open to the public. Around the back of the ‘shed’ are drain pipe runs and balls to feed into them.
At the other end of the soft play is a great outdoor camp station perfect for imaginative play. The country play kitchen is lovely with lots of wooden utensils, a tent, swinging hammock (I was tempted to curl up in there for a nap) and tepees.
One thing I also loved was all the space around and there’s lots of seating capacity whether you’re having a bite to eat from the Magic Garden Cafe or just want to chill out on a sofa.
Yarnton Magic Garden Soft Play Sessions
There will be two types of sessions, peak and off-peak.
Peak sessions will run on weekends, school holidays and bank holidays. There are three sessions per day from 9.30am – 11.30pm, 12.00pm – 2.00pm, 2.30pm – 5.00pm.
Off peak sessions will be during school term Monday – Friday. There will be two sessions per day from 9.30am – 12.30pm & 1.00pm – 5.00pm.
Yarnton Magic Garden Soft Play Prices & Booking
You can book online in advance via their website or purchase your entry onsite. Onsite, you’ll need to go to a central hub at what will be their nature inspired toy store rather than at the soft play itself.
Peak Prices:
0-1 years: free
1 years: £4.50
2-4 years: £7.50
5+ years: £8.50
Adults: free
Off-Peak Prices:
0-1 years: free
1 years: £3.50
2-4 years: £6.50
5+ years: £7.50
Adults: free
Parking & Facilities
There’s a great big free car park and there are toilets and changing facilities within the soft play so you don’t need to go in and out to the garden centre when the need arises.
Soft Play Parties
There is a private party room and the Yarnton Magic Garden soft play will be offering parties in due course.
CLICK HERE for all the best soft play centres in Oxfordshire
