Soft Play and Rainy-Day Places Near Farnham

Families in Farnham have 11 places for soft play and indoor play within reach in 2026, and this guide puts them together with who each suits, prices, opening hours and how to book. Every entry checked against the venue’s own site on 27 October 2026.

Two you may remember that are not here. The Funkey Monkey soft play on East Street still turns up in directories, but its website no longer loads and it has no current food hygiene record, so we could not confirm it is open. The toddler soft play sessions at Brightwells Gostrey have also gone from Farnham Town Council’s directory. If either is running, tell us.

1. The Play Barn at Birdworld, Holt Pound

Birdworld has opened two new play areas, and the Play Barn is the indoor one: the park describes rope bridges, suspended nets, slides and poles, built from FSC-certified Robinia hardwood, with nest swings and wheelchair-friendly routes woven through. There is seating with food and drink for the adults.

Staff do not supervise the play areas. You cannot buy a Play Barn-only ticket; a park ticket covers it, and Birdworld says its seasonal events are included in standard admission.

Carers go free with a registered disabled guest. Pet dogs are not allowed, only registered assistance dogs.

In its own words, Birdworld is “the UK’s only dedicated bird park”, set across 18 acres of landscaped gardens with more than 1,000 birds from 181 species, and it pairs the birds with indoor and outdoor play, daily animal talks and feeds. The park says it runs something new in every school holiday; this year’s have included penguin activities, an Easter adventure, Meet the Dinosaurs and an Awesome Autumn science show. In December, Santa and his elves host Santa’s Magical Christmas Show from Saturday 19 to Thursday 24 December, with a gift for every child. What’s on at Birdworld

Open winter, 10am to 4.30pm daily
Price adults (16+) and children (2 to 15) £22.95 online, £24.95 on the day; over-60s and students with ID £20.95 online, £22.95 on the day; under-2s free; free parking
Booking online in advance saves £2 a ticket birdworld.co.uk/tickets-membership
Food cafe serving hot food, snacks and drinks; menu birdworld.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Birdworld_Menu_A2.pdf
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 1 June 2026
Address Holt Pound, Farnham, GU10 4LD
Website birdworld.co.uk/play/#indoor
Good for a whole day out with indoor and outdoor play, animal talks and feeds, annual memberships

In and around Farnham

Pirates Landing, Brightwells Yard

An indoor adventure playground for children up to 12, in the Brightwells Yard development off East Street, and part of a small chain with sites in Camberley, Wokingham and High Wycombe. The chain’s prices page lists children under 2 at £9 off-peak and £11 peak, 2 and 3-year-olds at £10 and £13, and children 4 and over at £12 and £15. Peak means weekends, school holidays and inset days. Adults (16 and over) go in free but must come with a child, and every child needs an adult. Booking seven or more days ahead takes 20% off; four to six days, 10%. A newborn who will sleep through the visit does not need a ticket. Opening follows the bookable session times, and the centre is open every day except Christmas Day. The coffee shop sells pizzas, toasties and a children’s meal deal, and you cannot bring your own food. Food hygiene rating 4 (5 November 2025). 13 Old Market Place, GU9 7SF. Parking: Brightwells Yard car park or Sainsbury’s on South Street. pirateslanding.co.uk

Challengers Farnham Playcentre, St James Avenue

The disability charity Challengers runs play for disabled and non-disabled children aged 4 to 12 together, at a purpose-built centre with a double-level soft play, a sensory room, an art room and an outdoor play structure. Its after-school Stay and Play runs on Fridays from 4pm to 6.30pm, according to Surrey County Council’s family directory; Challengers asks families to book a free ticket because spaces are limited. Its play scheme runs on Saturdays in term time and on weekdays in the half-terms and Easter, summer and Christmas holidays, 10am to 4pm, at £37 a day; children register first and staff agree 1:1 or 2:1 support with parents. St James Avenue, Farnham, GU9 9QF. Telephone 01483 579390. disability-challengers.org

Ceramics Cafe, Downing Street

A paint-your-own pottery studio in the town centre, which says it has been open for more than ten years and seats up to 47 painters. You pick a piece, paint it, and the studio fires it; pieces are usually ready to collect in three to seven days, and the date is printed on your receipt. The studio recommends booking every time because it gets busy. The listing site Day Out With The Kids gives a £2 studio fee plus the price of the piece. Open Monday to Wednesday 10am to 6pm, Thursday 10am to 10pm (from 6pm adults only), Friday and Saturday 10am to 6pm, and Sunday 11am to 6pm. Two-hour children’s parties are offered. The studio suggests the Wagon Yard car park. 13 Downing Street, GU9 7PB. ceramicscafe.com · Our directory listing

Museum of Farnham, West Street

Free, and the town centre’s indoor fallback. The museum, founded in 1961, fills Wilmer House, a Grade I listed Georgian townhouse, and Farnham Town Council’s listing says it holds three major exhibitions a year, some designed for children and families. Children can follow a trail around the house or pick up an activity pack, there is brass rubbing, and half-term brings craft sessions. Behind the house is a walled garden with a history garden running from Roman planting to a Second World War allotment, which the council’s listing calls perfect for picnics. Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm; admission free. The council lists wheelchair access to the ground floor, shop, toilet, Garden Gallery and garden. 38 West Street, GU9 7DX. farnhammaltings.com/museum

Reel Cinema Farnham, Brightwells Yard

The six-screen cinema that opened with Brightwells Yard, next door to Pirates Landing, which makes the two an easy wet-afternoon pair. Reel’s Farnham listings and booking are on its own site, and the chain runs Parent and Baby screenings; check the Farnham times there before you go. The cinema’s food counter has a food hygiene rating of 4 (4 March 2026). 8 Old Market Place, GU9 7SF. reelcinemas.co.uk

Leisure centre soft play

Everyone Active runs Waverley’s four leisure centres for the borough council. Its pages list soft play at two of them, Haslemere and Cranleigh. Its own “soft play prices, times and booking” link for both currently opens another centre’s page, so ring the centre for session times before you set off. Farnham Leisure Centre on Dogflud Way does not list soft play.

Haslemere Leisure Centre

Everyone Active lists soft play alongside a 25-metre pool, a teaching pool, a gym, three squash courts and a cafe, and offers the soft play for children’s birthday parties. The centre is open Monday to Friday 6am to 10pm, Saturday 7am to 7pm and Sunday 8am to 9pm; soft play sessions are booked through Everyone Active’s app or website. Food hygiene rating 5 (8 November 2024). Kings Road, Haslemere, GU27 2QT. Telephone 01428 658484. everyoneactive.com

Cranleigh Leisure Centre

Everyone Active lists soft play here too, with a cafe, two pools, a gym and two squash courts, and runs soft play birthday parties. Open Monday to Thursday 6.30am to 10pm, Friday 6.30am to 9pm, Saturday 8am to 7pm and Sunday 8am to 8pm. Food hygiene rating 5 (16 September 2026). Waverley is building a new leisure centre for Cranleigh, due in 2028; this one stays open until then. Village Way, Cranleigh, GU6 8AF. Telephone 01483 274400. everyoneactive.com

Bigger play centres and trampoline parks nearby

Run-About, Farnborough

An indoor play area for children up to 10 inside The Challenge Centre on the Fairway estate, about seven miles north-east of Farnham. Adults go in free. Babies under six months are free, 6 to 12 months £5, ages 1 to 3 from £9, and 4 and over from £10. Book online or on 01252 370721. On Fridays in term time a meal deal includes an after-school tea. The cafe serves hot meals as well as snacks, and parking is free on site. Opening times are on the booking page. Food hygiene rating 4 (5 February 2026, listed as Run-About and Laser-Fun). Armstrong Way, The Fairway, Farnborough, GU14 0LP. challengecentre.co.uk

Jump In, Camberley

A trampoline park on Admiralty Way, run by the AirHop group, with a separate soft play area as well as the trampolines, airbags, battle beams and slides. Soft play costs from £7.45 off-peak and £10.95 peak for 90 minutes. Toddler Takeover, for children 6 and under, from £11, brings out ride-ons, sensory toys and bubbles. SEN sessions, from £12, are capped and quieter with no music. Open Jump on the trampolines is for ages 4 and up, from £15.95 for an hour. In term time it opens at 10am on Mondays and Fridays, 3.30pm Tuesday to Thursday and 9am at weekends, and from 9am every day in the school holidays. Book online. Food hygiene rating 5 (15 June 2026). 6-7 Admiralty Way, Camberley, GU15 3DT. gojumpin.com

AirHop, Guildford

The sister park on the Midleton estate, with trampolines, giant airbags, augmented reality trampolines, a Clip’n Climb wall with 21 climbs and laser tag. Toddler Takeover for children 6 and under is from £11; SEN sessions with softer lighting and no music are £12.45; Open Jump for ages 4 and up is from £15.95 for an hour, £16.95 at peak times. AirHop says the park is closed all day on Thursday 29 October 2026 for repairs; otherwise it opens from 9am in half-term. Food hygiene rating 5 (14 March 2025). 10 Midleton Industrial Estate Road, Guildford, GU2 8XW. airhop.co.uk

How we chose

These are the indoor play places within reach of Farnham that people search for and whose details can be checked on their own websites. Every venue with a cafe has a food hygiene rating of 4 or 5 from the Food Standards Agency, and none had posted a closure notice. We left out places whose website no longer works or whose sessions no longer appear in any official listing. Prices and times come from each venue’s own site; the hygiene ratings come from the Food Standards Agency, Challengers’ Friday times from Surrey County Council’s family directory, and the museum details from Farnham Town Council. Run a place that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@farnhamtoday.co.uk.

When it is dry, see our guide to Farnham playgrounds and walks near Farnham. For coffee with children in tow, there is Farnham cafes. See also things to do in Farnham, what’s on in Farnham this month, the Farnham Leisure Centre Halloween fun day on 31 October, or browse local businesses in Farnham in our directory.

Frequently asked questions

Is there soft play in Farnham town centre?

Yes. Pirates Landing at 13 Old Market Place, Brightwells Yard, is an indoor play centre for children up to 12. Adults go in free; children pay from £9 to £15 depending on age and whether it is a peak day, with 10% off for booking four to six days ahead and 20% off for seven or more. It has a coffee shop and a food hygiene rating of 4.

Is there soft play for disabled children near Farnham?

Challengers runs its Farnham Playcentre on St James Avenue for disabled and non-disabled children aged 4 to 12, with a double-level soft play. Its Friday Stay and Play, 4pm to 6.30pm, is free with a booked ticket, and its Saturday and holiday play scheme costs £37 a day. Jump In Camberley and AirHop Guildford both run quieter SEN sessions with no music.

Can you go to Birdworld’s Play Barn without a full ticket?

No. Birdworld says the Play Barn is part of the whole park, so a park ticket covers it: £22.95 for adults and children aged 2 to 15 booked online, £24.95 on the day, and free for under-2s, with free parking. In winter the park is open 10am to 4.30pm.