Best Soft Plays in Gosforth
From award-winning play centres to soft play cafes with cocktail bars, Gosforth has more options for keeping little ones entertained than you might think.
When the weather isn't cooperating — which, let's be honest, is fairly often — a good soft play is a lifesaver for parents of young children. Gosforth is well served, with several options right on the doorstep covering everything from baby sensory sessions to full-scale climbing frames, plus a couple that let the grown-ups enjoy a decent coffee (or something stronger) while the kids burn off energy.
Here's our guide to the best soft plays in and around Gosforth.
Hopscotch Play Cafe
Hopscotch on Gosforth High Street has been a hit with local parents since opening. The venue is smartly designed with five distinct play zones: The Gym for under-1s with sensory play and soft surfaces, The Frame for under-6s with a bespoke climbing structure featuring a rope bridge, three climbing towers, and a spiral slide, The Arches for imaginative play, The Den for older children (up to 12) with books, games, and arcade equipment, and The Yard for outdoor play.
The cafe is a genuine draw in its own right — good coffee from Morpeth roasters, homemade cakes, and a fully licensed bar. Yes, you can have a cocktail while the kids play. Sessions last up to 1 hour 45 minutes. Walk-ins are welcome but booking online is strongly recommended, especially at weekends.
Best for: Under-6s, stylish cafe with bar, High Street convenience.
Captain Ted's
Captain Ted's is tucked away on West Avenue in a converted church hall, and it's won multiple awards — including Best Soft Play Area in Newcastle (Northern Enterprise Awards 2023) and North East's Favourite Soft Play 2024. The pirate-themed venue has two separate play areas: one for toddlers and babies, and a larger area for juniors with toys, dressing up, and active play.
Beyond soft play, Captain Ted's runs a breakfast club (with school drop-off to Archibald First School) and an after-school club with cooking, arts and crafts, ball games, and board games. Birthday parties are available with food, drinks, and exclusive play area hire. Sessions run up to 2 hours. Opening hours are 9:15am–3pm on weekdays during term time.
Best for: Award-winning play, after-school clubs, birthday parties.
Pizza Dough Co — The Playhouse
Pizza Dough Co at the Three Mile on Great North Road combines soft play with proper New York-style pizza — a winning formula for families. The Playhouse features a soft play area, sensory zone, and a Netflix corner, designed for children up to 148cm. Admission is £5 per child for 90 minutes.
Soft play is walk-in only before 3pm (Monday–Friday, 9:30am–7pm, last entry 5:30pm). From 3pm you can pre-book dinner and soft play together — the Feed the Family deal (two regular pizzas, two kids' pizzas, four drinks for £25, Monday–Wednesday) is excellent value. A practical option that keeps everyone happy: kids play, parents eat pizza.
Best for: Combining soft play with a family meal, good value deals.
Dobbies Gosforth
Dobbies Garden Centre at Gosforth Park (NE3 5EP) has a soft play area suitable for ages 0–8. It's a smaller setup than the dedicated play centres, but it's useful to know about — particularly if you're already visiting the garden centre, grabbing a coffee in the Dobbies cafe, or doing a weekend shop. Sessions can be booked online through their events page. A handy add-on rather than a destination in itself.
Best for: A quick play session while visiting the garden centre.
Know of another soft play near Gosforth we should include? Let us know via our contact page.