WITH the weather finally getting better in the UK, it’s time to get back outside with the kids.
According to the Met Office, temperatures will hit 16C in the south east of the country tomorrow – much warmer than is expected this time of year.
And across the country are some amazing outdoor playgrounds to explore with zip lines, rope bridges and even fantasy villages – so here are five of our favourites.
Fort Douglas Adventure Playground, Scotland
Fort Douglas Adventure Playground is found in Scotland’s Dalkeith Country Park.
They’ve got a huge fort as well as zip lines, a jumping pillow, tube slides, a sky maze which is made from treehouses and rope bridges.
For the little ones, they have a mini maze in a designated toddler area and a mini jumping pillow too.
For the adults, you can grab a warm drink at the cabin, and snacks. There are also picnic benches around the park to sit down and enjoy them.
The playground is on the Fort Douglas Estate and is open seven days a week with two sessions each day – so book either for a morning or afternoon visit.
During the winter, adults can enter the park for £4, tickets for children between 5-12 cost £8.50, two- to four-year-olds are £7.50 and children under one go free.
If you book two days in advance then you can save £1 per ticket.
Lilidorei at The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland
For the ultimate day out head to Lilidorei at The Alnwick Garden, which was created by the Duchess of Northumberland, Jane Percy.
The magical kingdom has the largest play structure in the world standing at 26 metres high – taller than the Angel of the North.
It’s based around a magical story with the play tower being Elfwin Drin castle, home to King of Lilidorei.
Around the Lilidorei village are nine clans and a team of Secret Keepers which create an immersive escape. Some clans are good, some are bad – and there might be loud noises along the way.
Across the playground, there are three huts for a food break; in the Groggery savoury hut, you can get BBQ sausages cooked on a grill, gourmet mac and cheese, or fried spiral potatoes.
There are sweet treats in a designated hut where you can enjoy churros, waffles, and ice cream. The Magic Muffin offers hot and cold drinks and of course, muffins.
One reviewer said “the whole experience exceeded all expectations,” while another added they spent seven hours in Lilidorei and “the kids didn’t want to leave.”
Tickets cost £13.20 for adults, children 3-16 are priced at £11 with children 0-2 entering for free.
There’s also an option to buy flexi tickets which are an additional £1.50 each – but allows you to reschedule your ticket up to three times.
A morning ticket allows for six hours of playtime, with the afternoon ticket offering three hours when the playground closes at 4pm.
Each ticket comes with garden entry included too.
The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
This playground is centred around a wooden pirate ship, inspired by Peter Pan, and can be found in Kensington Gardens, London.
The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground also has a sensory trail, teepees, a beach around the pirate ship.
Over one million visitors enjoy the playground every year with one visitors saying it’s “the best playground we’ve visited, with such a variety of play structures to keep the kids entertained for hours”.
And to make it ever better, it’s completely free to visit.
Admission once full is based on a one in one out system so on the days it’s very popular there will be a queue.
Children up to twelve are allowed entry with supervising adults.
Don’t try and visit after summer though – the playground will be closing in autumn for a revamp, and reopening spring 2026.
The Lost Castle Adventure Playground, Lake District
In the Lake District, you’ll find The Lost Castle Adventure Playground – and it’s literally set in the grounds of a ruined castle.
Set within the ruins of Lowther Castle this is one of the largest playgrounds in the country with towers, slides, tunnels, bridges, zip wires, firepoles, sand pits, swings, rope bridges and climbing nets.
You can take wheelchairs and pushchairs up onto the main castle play area and there’s a dedicated part for toddlers too.
Next to the castle is another area to explore with logs, den building as well as a cafe.
Entry to the playground also means you have entry to the castle and gardens too with adult tickets at £15, children between 3-15 at £10.
They also offer a family day ticket (two adults and up to three children, or one adult and up to four children) for £45.
Great Play Park, Windsor
Hidden in the woodland next to The Savill Garden in Windsor, you’ll discover the Great Play Park, a world of walkways, slides, sculptures and treehouses.
There are different areas for the park for smaller children like mini climbing calls, tree stump trails and swings.
For the older children there’s lots to explore on the huge wooden climbing frame that also has slides and rope bridges.
Scattered across the park there are over 100 wooden mice to spot.
There’s also a lot of seating around the park to keep an eye on the little ones as well as a cafe with hot and cold food options, and a gift shop.
Tickets for adults range from between £10-12, with children 2-17 costing £13-16 depending on whether you book a peak or off peak day and time.
Each booked session lasts two hours.
We took a trip to Lilidorei – and loved it
Catherine Lofthouse took her two sons to explore the Lilidorei playground…
There’s lots to love at Lilidorei, but as my largest little one is more tall than small nowadays, I wasn’t sure if he’d find it all a bit too childish instead of charming.
But even he couldn’t fail to fall for the towering turrets and whimsical wooden structures. Lilidorei is all about magic and imagination and every twist and turn of the path brings something new to marvel at.
The boys couldn’t wait to explore the huge 26m play structure, there were rope bridges to rampage along, slides to slip down, spiral staircases to scramble up and spherical cages to sit inside suspended in the sky.
