🧸 Best Kids Soft Plays in Derby 2026 Indoor Guide

Updated February 2026

Derby mums know the drill: it’s raining again, the kids are bouncing off the walls, and you need somewhere with coffee, slides, and big enough to wear them out.

I’ve dragged Kimi and Eliza round most of Derby’s soft play centres, so here’s my 2026 list of where’s still open, what’s changed, and which places are worth your socks ending up grey with our top indoor playground guide.

Local mums let us know your top picks and any new spots! abbie@ey-up.co.uk

⭐ Infinity Parks Derby – A New Indoor Play Park in Derby

If you’re looking for one of the newest soft plays in Derby, Infinity Parks Derby is a large indoor play park that has recently opened in the city centre. This modern indoor play center combines traditional soft play equipment, inflatables and activity zones to create what many local parents are already calling one of the best indoor playground options in Derby DE.

Address: Unit 4 & 5 Riverlights, Morledge, Derby DE1 2AY
Website: infinityparks.co.uk

Infinity Parks offers a large indoor playground area designed for young children, big kids, and older children, with a separate area for smaller visitors so everyone can play safely. The centre features climbing frames, slides, ball pits, ball pools, inflatables and soft structures similar to a mini indoor playground and indoor jungle gym kids areas.

This new indoor parks venue focuses on active play, helping children develop motor skills while having fun in a safe environment. Like many modern indoor playgrounds, the space has been created with a good design layout and plenty of room for children to explore. Indoor playgrounds help kids stay active all year round, especially when the weather makes the outdoor playground less appealing.

Infinity Parks feels closer to an inflatable theme park than a traditional soft play, with bounce areas and activity zones similar to a kids trampoline space or extreme trampoline style sessions, although it is still suitable for general family visits.

Parents will find this a suitable place to meet friends while children enjoy active play, and the venue includes free WiFi and a seating area. There are plans for special events, toddler morning sessions and birthday party packages, making it an easy choice for regular visits or celebrations.

While Derby already has several kids playgrounds, Infinity Parks acts as a newer commercial indoor playground center playground with a modern feel and flexible play zones. The large open layout means children can enjoy a good experience business atmosphere where families can stay for a long time without feeling crowded.

Top Tip

Visit during a quieter weekday session if you have young children, as weekends can be busy with birthday party packages and group bookings.

This new venue is quickly becoming one of the best indoor soft playground options locally and a strong addition to the choice of best indoor kids activities in Derby.

🎉 Fun Valley, Derby

📍 Unit 2, Shaftesbury Street South, Derby, DE23 8YH

💷 Term-time toddler mornings from £5.50

Website: Fun Valley Derby

Fun Valley is loud, bright, and full of climbing frames and slides so the perfect place for open play. The ball pool is Eliza’s idea of heaven, while Kimi charges around the top level like he’s training for Ninja Warrior on the indoor play equipment. There’s a café that does chips, nuggets, drinks, and ice cream — the usual mum fuel stops for an indoor playground.

• What I like: Fair price, plenty for toddlers and older kids, staff don’t mind you nursing a latte while the kids wear themselves out.
• What’s not so great: Gets rammed in the school holidays, so term-time mornings are the sweet spot.
  
• Pricing
  0-3 YRS : £6.25
  4+ YRS : £7.25
  ADULTS £2.00
  UNDER 1s go free with paying Sibling
  20% off on weekdays during Term time.

🐒 Berzerk – Kingsway Soft Play (previously known as Hickory Dickorys)

📍 Unit C, Kingsway Park Close, Kingsway Retail Park, Derby DE22

🅿️ Free parking at Kingsway Industrial Park

Website: Berzerk

Berzerk is the classic Derby soft play area everyone ends up at. It’s massive, with a huge play frame, racing go-karts (extra cost), and a proper separate toddler area. It’s noisy, it’s chaotic, but the kids love it.

• What I like: Big enough that the kids never get bored, café does proper hot meals and cold drinks, and you can actually get Wi-Fi if you’re desperate.
• What’s not so great: Saturdays = pure carnage. Car park fills up fast, so go early.
• Cashless site so make sure you take your cards.

👉 Heads up: they do SEND/quiet sessions, which a lot of mums rate.

🎈 Jumpin Fun Derby

📍 Siddals Rd, Derby city centre

Website: Jumpin Fun Derby

This one’s technically an inflatable and trampoline park rather than a soft play, but it earns its place. Wall-to-wall inflatables, slides, and interactive games. Great for older kids, though they do toddler activeplay sessions so the littler ones don’t get trampled.

• What I like: Wears Kimi out in under an hour. You can book party packages, bring a birthday cake, and not have to tidy up afterwards.
• What’s not so great: Loud, sweaty, and my hair always sticks to my face as i try to force my way through the inflatables. I have to get in with Eliza, it’s a workout and not something I look forward to, but with Kimi, it’s a great place for him to explore and build confidence. Definitely a “bring water bottles” kind of place.
• If you go outside of the toddler sessions, you need to stick by their side as it’s too old for them to be let on their own.

🦁 Jangala Soft Play – Hilton

📍 Amber Business Centre, Hilton, Derby DE65

Website: Jangala Soft Play

Jangala’s the softer option. It’s a family-run soft play venue with a decent separate toddler zone and an outdoor play structure for sunny days. Inside, they’ve got comfy sofas, free Wi-Fi, and a café that does toasties and hot food.

• What I like: I can actually finish a hot coffee while Eliza plays — rare miracle. Safe, small enough to keep an eye on both kids.
• What’s not so great: Smaller than Berzerk, so if you’ve got older kids, they might blast through it quickly.

🐻 Tubby Bears Play Zone

📍 Carrington Court, Great Northern Rd, Derby DE1

Website: Tubby Bears Play Zone

Tubby Bears is a bit of a hidden gem. It’s tucked down Great Northern Road and unless another mum tells you, you might never find it. Inside it’s smaller, but it’s clean, friendly, and perfect for toddlers. They’ve got ball cannons, tunnels, and a little café that sells chips, hot drinks, and cakes.

• What I like: I can see both kids without doing laps myself. Party packages are simple — they do the food, you bring the cake, job done.
• What’s not so great: If your kids are older, they might get bored quicker than at the big centres.

🎭 The Play Village – Ashbourne

📍 Station St, Ashbourne DE6

Website: The Play Village

This isn’t your normal soft play area. It’s a role-play world with a mini hospital, supermarket, and fire station. Eliza absolutely loves bossing me around in the “shop” here. It’s calmer than the big indoor play areas, and more about pretend play than tearing round a slide. I love it it and so does Eliza!

• What I like: A lifesaver if you’ve got little ones who hate the chaos of Berzerk.
• What’s not so great: Pricey compared to other places, and you have to book but in my eyes relly worth it.

🌳 Markeaton Park & Derby Leisure Centres

When all else fails, I fall back on Derby Active’s bouncy castle + soft play sessions at places like Springwood Leisure Centre. They’re short sessions for toddlers, cheap, and you usually get one adult free. Handy backup if everywhere else is packed.

🎂 Soft Play Birthday Parties

Honestly, I’ve given up hosting at home. For children’s parties, soft play centres are my sanity saver. You rock up with a birthday cake, they feed the kids, and you don’t spend Sunday scraping icing out of the carpet. Fun Valley, Tubby Bears, and Berzerk all do packages that keep it simple.

❓ Quick FAQ

Which soft play in Derby is best for toddlers?

👉 Tubby Bears or Jangala — both small enough to keep track of little ones.

Do they have free parking?

👉 Yes — Berzerk (Kingsway), Jangala (Hilton), and Tubby Bears (Carrington Court) all do.

Are they open in school holidays and bank holidays?

👉 Yes, but expect crowds. Always check the website before setting off.

Best place for older kids?

👉 Jumpin Fun Derby or Berzerk — plenty to climb, jump, and crash about on.

👩‍👧 Final Bit

So that’s the Derby soft play venues we’ve actually been to and survived. Some are massive and loud, some are small and friendly, but all of them will buy you at least 45 minutes of peace and maybe — just maybe — a hot coffee. If you’ve got a favourite I’ve missed, drop me a message — I’ll add it in next time (and probably see you there, hiding by the coffee bar while the kids are in the ball pool).

Have we missed your favourite best indoor play zone venue? Why not let us know where you love to go and why? Email abbie@ey-up.co.uk.