Clowntown

Clowntown is a big indoor playground in North London, the sort of place that saves a rainy day and then takes a fair chunk of your energy with it. Reviews describe it as spacious, multi-storey and well arranged, with plenty for children to clamber over and explore. It’s clearly popular for birthday parties too, with staff getting repeated praise for looking after everything. For families, the main upside is simple: the kids have a proper runaround and parents can get involved rather than just hovering by a wall. There’s a decent range of coffees and snacks, and one reviewer called the children’s meals menu excellent. It also sounds like a good place to go midweek if you want a calmer visit, with one family practically having the place to themselves. The drawbacks are the usual soft-play suspects: wear and tear is starting to show, and the food sounds a bit hit-and-miss if you want something healthier than fried fare. It can also get very busy in school holidays, so booking ahead matters. Sessions are timed at 1 hour 45 minutes, though some families stayed a bit longer and still felt it was enough, which is probably the most honest review of all.