As a parent navigating the challenges of raising young children in the UK's often rainy climate, indoor play centres typically evoke mixed feelings. While they offer a welcome escape from the weather, many come with drawbacks like overcrowding, limited age-appropriate zones, and less-than-appealing environments. However, one exceptional venue in North Yorkshire has transformed this experience, earning the title of the UK's best indoor play centre and garnering enthusiastic praise from families across the country.
Award-Winning Indoor Play Destination
Stockeld Park's Playhive was crowned Best Indoor Play Centre over 20,000 square feet at the prestigious 2025 Association of Indoor Play Awards. This recognition comes as no surprise given its impressive scale and thoughtful design. As one of Europe's largest indoor play centres, it attracts more than 250,000 visitors each year, yet its expansive layout prevents the overcrowding commonly found at similar attractions.
Immersive Themed Adventure Zones
The Playhive features four interconnected adventure zones under the themes of jungle, sea, space, and air. Everything is supersized, from massive spacecraft to larger-than-life gorillas, creating an immersive environment that captivates children's imaginations. The facility includes towering walkways, spiralling tunnel slides, interactive games, and a dedicated toddler play area that ensures younger children can explore safely without being overwhelmed by older visitors.
For those willing to brave the elements or equipped with appropriate outdoor gear, the Enchanted Forest offers a separate woodland playground complete with zipwires, whimsical houses, and smaller attractions designed specifically for younger children. While all play areas are designed for both adults and children to enjoy together, teenagers might prefer the covered ice skating rink available during winter months.
Family-Friendly Dining Options
Stockeld Park significantly elevates the typical soft play dining experience with multiple food and drink options that surpass the standard beige fare. The aesthetically pleasing Playhive Pizzeria serves freshly cooked pizzas, pasta dishes, jacket potatoes, and other substantial meals. For lighter options, the Woodland Cafe offers sandwiches, paninis, and sausage rolls, while Gretel's Cabin provides quick caffeine fixes and emergency snacks.
The park allows families to bring their own food to help manage costs, though packed lunches must be consumed at outdoor picnic benches rather than within indoor catering areas. This policy strikes a balance between accommodating budget-conscious visitors and supporting the park's food service operations.
Overwhelmingly Positive Visitor Feedback
Nearly 7,000 parents and caregivers have awarded Stockeld Park the highest possible "excellent" rating on Tripadvisor, resulting in an impressive overall score of 4.6 out of five. Recent visitors have described their experiences in glowing terms that highlight the attraction's broad appeal across age groups.
Sarah R, who visited with her children recently, called Stockeld "an exceptional place" with "so much to do, and the best indoor play area." She particularly praised the Playhive Pizzeria for its reasonable prices, good variety, and excellent portion sizes, concluding with "Can't wait to go back."
Mother Lauren M described her family's visit as "a wholesome day" during which they spent five hours at the park that "absolutely flew by." Grandmother Tara S shared that her day out with three- and four-year-old granddaughters was "magical" despite wet weather, noting that "the Enchanted Forest had so much to see and do that the little ones didn't notice the weather so much, to be honest neither did the grown ups."
Zaynab I, another recent visitor, appreciated how the park catered to different age groups, saying "Both indoor and outdoor [are] brilliant and the children aged 18 months, 4, 6, 10 and 13 all enjoyed it." She particularly noted that the older children enjoyed ice skating at reasonable prices and expressed her intention to revisit during summer months with a picnic.
Practical Visitor Information
For February half term and winter weekends in 2026, entry to Stockeld Park costs £10 per person, providing access to both The Playhive and Enchanted Forest. The ice rink can be booked separately for £12 or added to a general admission ticket with a £5 upgrade. During February half term only, the park offers a Heroes and Villains show in the Stockeld Theatre for an additional £3 per person.
This award-winning attraction demonstrates how thoughtful design, age-appropriate zoning, quality dining options, and reasonable pricing can transform the indoor play experience from a necessary evil into a genuinely enjoyable family outing that keeps visitors returning season after season.
