Frequently Asked Questions

At the Lollard Street Adventure Playground we run play sessions based on Free Play. This means that the play is child-initiated rather than adult led. We have several play structures outside such as a zipwire, tyre swings and a slide as well as indoor space with crash mats, toys and games - not to mention plenty of loose parts throughout the playground. Children can build dens, climb structures, play sports, roller skate, ride bikes, drum, interact with nature, and much, much more!

Free Play means that children have the freedom to play however they want, following their own interests and wishes in the moment. It is unstructured, voluntary, and child-initiated. The role of our Playworkers is to create a dynamic, varied play environment and facilitate children’s play, rather than lead it.

Our age range is 6-16 years old.

No. It is important to know that we are not a childcare facility but an open access playground, which means that children are free to come and go as they please. Of course, if a young child wants to go home, we will always phone up a parent/carer to ask them to collect the child but we cannot physically prevent a child from leaving the playground.

Nope! There is no cost to attend the playground or access any extra provisions (such as food and holiday trips).

Children must be registered with us before attending a play session. Registration can be completed online (click here for registration form). If you are having trouble filling out the form online, you can come along to the playground on Wednesday - Friday 15:30 - 17:30 and we can help you register. Please note that all registrations take 24 hours to process.

We do not allow parents/carers to attend play sessions with their children. This is in line with most adventure playgrounds across the country. We believe this allows children to play more freely.

Our catchment area is the SE11 postcode. Children must either live or go to school in our catchment area to attend a play session. Here is a map of our catchment area:

Something that you are happy to get dirty! We encourage nature play and interactions with the elements and so children’s clothes can end up muddy and messy. Please also be sure to wear appropriate footwear and dress for the season!

Yes. We have our very own Playground Cook who prepares a fresh, hot meal at every play session. Meals are free for all children and you can find each week’s menu on our website and on our notice board.

Absolutely! It’s true that we encourage risky play at the playground, meaning that children can climb, jump and even sometimes use tools. However, this is all under the supervision of our trained Playworkers, who are there to ensure that, even while taking risks, children are safe from harm. We also have a robust risk assessment in place.

Staffing levels vary depending on the day but we will always have at least three Playworkers working during a play session. We have a ratio of 1 Playworker to 10 children.

As mentioned above, our staff to children ratio is 1:10 and so if we reach capacity, we cannot allow any more children in until others have left the playground. Children are welcome to line up outside and wait but we cannot guarantee them a space.

During the school holidays we deliver a programme of activities on top of our usual free play sessions. We plan 1-2 main activities per day that include arts & crafts, sports competitions, structured games and more. We also run free trips during the holidays, although places on the trips are limited. We publish our holiday programme schedule on our website a few weeks ahead of each school holiday.