This is honestly the best experience we’ve had in a soft play centre. Adventure Reef felt spacious and clean and there was plenty for my 1-year-old to do even though he couldn’t access lots of the multi-tiered play areas for bigger kids.
Located in Barnsley Metrodome in West Yorkshire, it is deep sea themed and suitable for children 0-14. Each session is 2 hours long.
Opening times and tickets:
It is open Monday to Sunday and tickets are cheaper for toddlers, and cheaper still for babies under 6 months. Click here for more information.
Parking and Travelling:
There is a large free car park at Barnsley Metrodome which usually has plenty of spaces even on the busiest of days.
It is about a 15 minute walk from Barnsley Train Station and only a 5 minute walk from Barnsley Interchange for those catching a bus.
Prams and Accessibility:
There is plenty of space for both prams and wheelchairs here. There is a sensory room available for anyone to use during all opening hours, and SEN sessions are offered on a Sunday morning, with dimmer lights and no music.
Things to do at Adventure Reef:
1. Play!
There is a 1 tier toddler play area suitable for children 1-5 and includes some simple climbing areas, interactive panels and a couple of slides. These were the first slides that my baby has loved! A larger play area encompasses the rest of the area, with netted climbing frames, large slides and higher places to scramble up. Around the play area there are also some well designed little cars and plenty of space for the little ones to whizz around on them. There is also a sectioned-off soft area, perfect for tiny babies there with older siblings.
2. Explore the sensory room, games area, football arena and role play section!
The large sensory room has everything from bubbles, books and beanbags and is a wonderful chill out space. The role play area offers the opportunity for the little ones to do a bit of cooking and shopping, giving them a break from throwing themselves around the soft play. A football arena is perfect for the many football mad kids, and a games room only for 8-14 year olds has a pool table, table football, dart board and video games.
3. Grab a snack.
The Shark Snack has quite a range of food available, from burgers and snacks to pastries. They also offer a children’s menu, which includes a meal and a drink. I actually brought in my own drink and snacks which nobody seemed to mind.
Things to do nearby Adventure Reef:
1. Explore the rest of Barnsley Metrodome
There is a wonderful waterpark, complete with toddler area and massive water slides (and the water is actually suprisingly nice and warm too!).
Cannon Hall Farm, located in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, is a working farm with a massive variety of activities to keep the kids entertained. With hundreds of animals, multiple adventure playgrounds, activities and events, you could easily spend all day here.
Don’t miss Cannon Hall Museum and gardens too, which are separate from the farm and have free admission.
This National Trust property in South Yorkshire is a fantastic spot for families to explore together. There are lots of things for little ones to spot, from statues and follies to wildlife and winding trails, so you can easily spend several happy hours there without running out of adventures. Whether you’re packing a picnic or just fancy a wander, it’s a day out that offers something for everyone.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a brilliant family day out in West Yorkshire, just a short drive from Leeds and Wakefield. Set in over 500 acres of beautiful parkland, it’s packed with striking sculptures, woodland trails, and open space to explore. There’s plenty to spark kids’ imaginations, and it’s easy to spend a full day adventuring here.
This National Trust house, gardens and parkland are wonderful for exploring for all ages. Its a great place for walks and there is a lovely cafe that serves a scone of the month as well as light bites and hot and cold drinks.
