Playgrounds offer opportunities for children to develop physical, social and imaginative skills as well as gain self confidence and critical thinking experience. Bailiwick residents are relatively spoilt when it comes to play areas and IslandFamilies has brought together information on all indoor and outdoor spaces to take your little ones. So why not try somewhere new?
Outdoor
Beau Sejour Park
Sitting behind the leisure centre and perfect for a pre/post swimming play, the Beau Sejour Playground has an extensive offering and something for every age. There’s toddler apparatus, climbing frames, steppingstones, roundabouts, slides, a seesaw, and rope climbing to name some of them. The Jubilee Skate Park is adjacent to the park if your little ones want to try their hand at that too.
Perry’s 1 J3
Crabby Jack’s
This family-favourite restaurant, just a stone’s throw from Vazon Bay, has a purpose-built, enclosed play area out the back with climbing frames, spinning discs and slide amongst other things all sitting on a cushioned floor. There are plenty of tables surrounding this area so the whole family can be together at this unique area in Guernsey.
Perry’s 14 B1
Delancey Park playground
With views across the east coast, the playground at Delancey Park has a variety of different equipment in three age-specific areas – infants, young children, and teenagers. There’s everything from swings, slides and climbing frames to climbing walls, a roundabout and even outdoor gym equipment nearby. The park also boasts 0.6km of non-stop tarmac pathway ideal for scooting and learning to ride a bike.
Perry’s 11 E4
Les Amarreurs playground
Nestled on the north coast between Ladies Bay and Les Amarreurs, this gem of a playground boasts everything from slides, climbing frames, sand pit and monkey bars to swings, a large wooden obstacle frame, dome climber and toddler sized play equipment.
Perry’s 6 B4
Petils Bay swings
Whilst not a play area as such, up in the pine trees on the former Bordeaux landfill site, there’s a selection of rope swings that have been erected over the years. From the car park make your way along the path that runs parallel to the bay and head up the steps into the trees. Turn left at the top for the swings and turn left for some great trees to play in. Please note that these swings are not installed or maintained by professionals so it’s important to always check them before letting youngsters loose.
Perry’s 7 H5
Sark Playground
In a large, enclosed area, Sark’s only public playground lies on Rue du Sermon near the Methodist church. The playground boasts a zipline, rope disc swing as well as a climbing frame with two slides, pole, ladder ramps, steering wheels and ladder. There are four benches and two picnic tables for parents/carers to rest while the youngsters burn off some energy.
Saumarez Park Playground
Home to an adventure playground and outdoor gym, Saumarez Park is the largest play area on the island and can offer an entire day out for the family. The playground is fun and exciting as well as challenging for everyone from toddlers to teenagers with the centrepiece being a large pirate ship climbing frame. There’s an array of swings, slides, and obstacles as well as a zip line. Why not stop at RH Gaudion on the way and pick up some bird feed for the ducks?
Perry’s 15 G2
Styx Centre
There’s a selection of play equipment at Styx Community Centre offering swings, a seesaw, slide and a climbing area as well as some adult exercise equipment with picnic tables alongside. An additional benefit is that it’s contained which makes taking more than one child less stressful than it can be at open playgrounds.
Perry’s 27 F1
Indoor
Earlswood Garden Centre
The play area at Earlswood comprises of a climbing wall, swings, slide, treehouse and climbing rope. Located in the plant greenhouse at the back, it’s a perfect spot to entertain children whilst browsing the garden centre or before/after a bite to eat at the Garden Café.
Perry’s 6 C5
Petit Play
This two-tiered soft play zone nestled inside Cafe des Amis at Le Friquet Garden Centre offers a safe, engaging, and active pastime for the kids whilst parents and carers relax, free of charge.
Perry’s 16 A3
Oaty & Joey’s Playbarn
Oaty & Joey’s Playbarn, based at Oatlands Village, is one of the largest soft play areas in the UK. Boasting six slides, including a giant astra slide, crawling pipes, ball movers and cannons, ball pits and obstacles galore, there are also separate areas for babies, toddlers and under 12s.
Perry’s 10 A2
Saumarez Park Café
If you’re heading to Saumarez Park, why not pop into the café and take advantage of its offerings while the adults get to relax? There’s a blackboard room, bouncy castle and a selection of coin operated ride-ons.
Perry’s 15 G2
The Discovery Room
The Discovery Room at Candie Museum is a space dedicated to hands-on learning; visitors of all ages can enjoy retro games and traditional toys as well as check out the Cabinets of Curiosities for this year’s display. There are trails and activity sheets for the exhibitions to allow a deeper interaction with the galleries as well as the Time Warp, which for 2021 is a Viking ship.
Perry’s 1 H5
Kidz Play Zone
The soft play area at Beau Sejour features an array of soft play equipment, various apparatus, and sensory installations to keep little ones busy. Located next to the café and open when the centre is, the play area is free to use for those six and under.