Soft Play and Rainy-Day Places Near Dartford

The quick answer: for soft play near Dartford, most families go to Dinotropolis at Bluewater, three storeys of dinosaur-themed soft play; Mad Play in Greenhithe, a walk-in, family-run centre that has been going since 1999; or the under-5s Active Play and Bounce sessions at Fairfield Leisure Centre in the town centre. For older children, Lakeside’s trampoline park, climbing walls and bowling alley are just over the river. Every entry was checked against the venue’s own website on 27 October 2026.

We have not visited these places for this guide, and nothing here is a review. Each entry sets out what the venue publishes about itself: prices, opening hours, ages and booking rules. We have added each venue’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) food rating, because all of them serve food. Prices change during school holidays, so check the venue’s own page before you set off.

At Bluewater

Dinotropolis

A dinosaur-themed play centre on Bluewater’s Upper Plaza. It describes “three storeys of soft play in the Dino Jungle”, a Raptor Run and a Discovery Cove for crafts. The Dino Jungle is for ages 4 to 12, and a separate zone is kept for children aged 18 months to 3. At peak times (weekends, bank holidays and school holidays) sessions last an hour and a half, and online prices are £17 per child from 19 months, £3 per baby and £7 per adult aged 16 or over. Everyone needs a pass, and paying on the door costs £2.50 more per person. On weekdays in term time it sells all-day passes (£16.50 per child, £6.50 per adult), and you can leave and come back. It shuts to children at 4.30pm on Thursdays and Fridays for adult-only sessions, and last entry is 5pm on other weekdays and Sundays. Buggies are left at the downstairs entrance, and no outside food is allowed apart from baby food for children under one. The nearest car park is Thames Upper Mall. FSA rating 5 (February 2026). Upper Plaza, Bluewater, DA9 9SG (Dinotropolis, FAQs).

Showcase Cinema de Lux Bluewater

The cinema on Bluewater’s Plaza is the obvious choice when it rains and the children are too old for soft play. On the cinema’s own page, a family ticket costs £35 every day before 5pm, and tickets bought at the cinema on Mondays start at £6.99. There is a sensory-friendly screening every Sunday at 10.30am. The cinema says recliner seats come as standard, there are wheelchair spaces in every screen, and at least one subtitled showing runs each day. Parking is free in the yellow Plaza car park. FSA rating 3 (October 2024). Bluewater Plaza, Greenhithe, DA9 9SG; 01322 422722 (Showcase).

Greenhithe and Dartford

Mad Play, Greenhithe

An independent, family-run soft play centre on Charles Street. It says it has been “creating smiles and laughter since 1999” and calls itself “Dartford’s favourite family destination”. There is no booking: it is walk-in only, with a two-hour limit, and when it is full it runs one in, one out. Off-peak prices are £5 for children under one, £8 for ages 2 to 4, £9 for ages 5 to 12 and £2 for adults. Peak prices (weekends and school holidays) are £9.50 and £10.50 for the two older age groups. Published hours are 10am to 2.30pm Tuesday to Friday, with a second session from 3.30pm to 5.30pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, and 10am to 5pm at weekends; no Monday hours are listed. A sensory room with bubble tubes, an infinity wall and light panels is open 10am to 2.30pm Tuesday to Friday in term time. The kitchen stops serving an hour and a quarter before closing. FSA rating 5 (April 2025). 208 Charles Street, Greenhithe, DA9 9AJ; 01322 385800 (Mad Play, hours and prices).

Fairfield Leisure Centre: Active Play and Bounce

The town’s council leisure centre, run by Places Leisure for Dartford Borough Council, puts on Active Play and Bounce for under-5s, who must be with an adult. Sessions include a bouncy castle, soft play and a trampoline with a qualified coach. Times are Tuesday 10.15am to 11.30am and 1.15pm to 2.30pm, Thursday 9.30am to 10.45am and 11am to 12.15pm, and Friday 10.30am to 11.45am. You have to book in advance. In school holidays the upper age limit rises to under 8, and there are no sessions on bank holidays. The centre page does not give a price. The centre also has a pool, an inflatable with 14 obstacles for pool parties, a Changing Places toilet and a cafe, Cafeology (FSA rating 5, August 2024). Lowfield Street, Dartford, DA1 1JB; 01322 421166 (Places Leisure).

Swanley

White Oak Leisure Centre

Swanley’s leisure centre, run by Everyone Active, has a soft play area and a Ninja Tag Active arena, an obstacle game for older children with a rope bridge, a mirror maze and a spider wall. Players must meet height and weight rules and take a safety briefing first. Soft play hours are 9.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays and 9am to 6pm at weekends. Tag Active opens at 11am on weekdays and 9am at weekends. The centre also has a learner pool alongside the main pool, which has a movable floor. Prices are behind the centre’s booking pages, not on the centre page. Cafe FSA rating 5 (April 2026). Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BT; 01322 610200 (Everyone Active, Tag Active).

Lakeside, over the river

These three are at Lakeside in West Thurrock, across the Dartford Crossing, where the Dart Charge applies to drivers.

Flip Out Lakeside

A trampoline and adventure park on the Quay at Lakeside. As well as trampolines, it lists a traverse wall, soft play, a Ninja Wipeout, Laser Quest and karaoke booths. General admission starts at £18.95 a person for 60 minutes, 90 minutes or two hours. Mini Flippers, for children aged 18 months to 4, starts at £16.95 and includes one adult. An After School Club runs from 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Thursday in term time: from £8.95, with a meal from the children’s menu. Flip Out socks are compulsory, and the park asks you to arrive 30 minutes before your session. In term time it opens 10am to 8.30pm on weekdays and 9am to 8.30pm at weekends; in the holidays it opens at 9am every day. FSA rating 5 (July 2026). Unit 614, The Quay, Lakeside, RM20 2AD; 01375 807888 (Flip Out).

Rock Up Lakeside

An indoor climbing centre with more than 26 walls, a Vertical Drop Slide (for climbers over 1.2m), a rotating treadmill wall, a traverse wall, soft play for younger children and a cafe. Climbing is for ages 4 and up. Sessions last 90 minutes, including a 30-minute safety briefing, and the centre “strongly” advises booking online. On Wednesdays in term time, climbs start at £12. It also lists toddler climb-and-play sessions and SEND and autism sessions. In term time it opens 10.30am to 7.30pm on weekdays, 9.30am to 8pm on Saturdays and 9.30am to 6.30pm on Sundays, with longer hours in the school holidays. FSA rating 5 (October 2025). Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock, RM20 2ZP; 01708 560080 (Rock Up).

Hollywood Bowl Lakeside

A 24-lane bowling alley next to Flip Out on the Quay. Its own FAQ says bumpers can go up on any lane, lighter balls are available, and ramps “let very young children push the ball themselves”. Junior prices apply to under-16s. There are arcade games beside the lanes and karaoke pods. A bowl-and-eat offer (one game, a burger or hot dog with fries and a drink) starts at £9 a person. On the day we checked, the site showed opening hours of 9am to 11pm. FSA rating 5 (October 2026). Unit 613, The Quay, Lakeside, RM20 2AD (Hollywood Bowl).

How we chose

These are the indoor places Dartford families look for when it rains: every soft play centre in and around the borough with its own published prices and hours, plus the leisure centre sessions and the nearest climbing, trampolining, bowling and cinema. The facts come from each venue’s own website, checked on 27 October 2026, and from the Food Standards Agency’s ratings register. Some places are not here. The Gravity Active trampoline park at Bluewater no longer appears on Gravity’s own website, which now lists only Gravity Arcade there, so we have left it out until it can be confirmed. Gravesend’s Cascades Leisure Centre is being rebuilt with a soft play zone, but Gravesham Borough Council expects the new centre to be finished in 2028. Hangloose Adventure at Bluewater is outdoors, and is covered in our things to do in Dartford guide. Run a place that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@dartfordonline.co.uk.

For dry days, see our guides to Dartford playgrounds and walks near Dartford. For more ideas, there is what’s on in Dartford this month and things to do in Dartford. For eating out with children, try Dartford restaurants, brunch and Sunday roasts, or browse local businesses in Dartford in our directory.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book soft play in Dartford?

It depends where you go. Mad Play in Greenhithe takes no bookings at all: it is walk-in only, with a two-hour limit and one in, one out when it is full. Dinotropolis at Bluewater is cheaper if you book online, and adds a £2.50 fee per person for paying on the door. Fairfield Leisure Centre’s under-5s Active Play and Bounce has to be booked in advance.

How much is Dinotropolis at Bluewater?

Booked online for a peak session (weekends, bank holidays and school holidays), Dinotropolis charges £17 for a child aged 19 months or more, £3 for a baby up to 18 months and £7 for anyone aged 16 or over. Every visitor needs a pass. On weekdays in term time it sells all-day passes at £16.50 per child, £3 per baby and £6.50 per adult, and you can leave and come back.

Is there soft play for babies and toddlers near Dartford?

Yes. Fairfield Leisure Centre runs Active Play and Bounce for under-5s with an adult on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. Dinotropolis has a separate soft play zone for children aged 18 months to 3, and Mad Play in Greenhithe charges £5 for children under one and has a sensory room with bubble tubes and light panels on weekdays in term time.