The Fun Zone Durham Soft Play Review

Thanks to Cat for this review of The Fun Zone in Durham which is based on a visit in December 2021. For more ideas for days out with young children in and around Durham, you can find Cat on Instagram here. Over to Cat.......

The Fun Zone is a soft play and role play centre based at Littleburn Industrial Estate in Langley Moor, a couple of miles from Durham City. It's a relatively new business, having launched in the midst of the Pandemic.

The Fun Zone isn't far off the A690. If travelling by car, DH7 8HG will get you to the Industrial Estate and then follow the road all the way round to the left and The Fun Zone is the very last unit. There is plenty of free parking outside just be mindful that it's a busy Industrial Estate with lots of vehicles moving about.

The entrance to the Fun Zone is down the right hand side of the building and isn't signposted. It's not particularly obvious to spot if you haven't visited before. The Fun Zone is marked with the red dot on the map below.

The Fun Zone Durham Soft Play Review - location

Prices are very reasonable -

Under 1's - £2.50

3's and under - £3.95

4's and over - £5.00

There is no additional charge for supervising adults which I think is great. You sign in when you enter and keep hold of your own shoes.

The Fun Zone is situated in a huge industrial unit. It's a vast space filled with a wonderful selection of activities including a fun soft play frame, role play village, 2 bouncy castles, bouncy slide, two trampolines, a baby area, ride on vehicles, prams and pushchairs, baby bouncers, playhouses, books, rides for younger children, grabber machines, air hockey (there is an additional charge for the games) and absolutely loads of comfortable seating!

There is so much to keep children entertained, the first time we visited we ended up staying three and a half hours. 

It is worth noting, the Fun Zone are having some heating issues at the moment and the building can feel quite cold. The kids don't seem to mind as they're running round and it doesn't bother me, I just tend to take an extra layer and keep topped up with hot drinks while I sit watching them.

The Fun Zone have said they will be sorting out the heating as soon as they can after Christmas and New Year but in the meantime, they have some industrial heaters which take off the chill, particularly in the cold weather.

There are plenty of places to sit. There are lots of tables with chairs as well as comfy sofas which are ideal if you're not eating.

The soft play is great for younger children. I think it's best suited to children 7 and under. I have a 2 year old and a 7 year old and they love the equipment and layout. There's nothing too high or scary and because the layout is set around the edge of the unit, you can see your children at all times, even if you're sat down. My 2 year old can confidently climb around the soft play without any help and because he can see me at all times, he doesn't need me to go and rescue him when he gets lost.

There are four small role play rooms which are based on a theme, including a fire station and a shop. There are dress up clothes, wooden toys and play equipment that matches the theme of the room, my two particularly love the shop.

The Fun Zone serves the best food I have ever eaten in a soft play. Their onsite eatery is known as Fat Daddy's and serves delicious homemade food with huge portions and very reasonable prices. We've eaten every time we've visited and we've been very impressed. The food can also be pre ordered and taken away, even if you're not visiting the soft play. I don't think a lot of people know that as they don't seem to be any where near as busy as they should be on a lunch time.

The Fun Zone Durham Soft Play Review - pizza

I can highly recommend the loaded chips, pizzas and burgers. Everything we've had has been really tasty and very well priced. The menu is quite extensive with things like Parmos, stone baked pizzas and lighter bites like jacket potatoes and toasties, earlier in the day they also serve breakfast options like scrambled egg on toast.

As well as a pretty extensive menu, they have a good selection of cakes and sweet treats and they even stock Beckleberrys ice cream. Tea and Coffee is a fuss free and costs an across the board - £2.50. At the counter you can also buy things like sweets, balloons and candyfloss.

There are lots of high chairs and clean toilets with changing baby facilities.

At the moment, it isn't very busy during the day on week days so it isn't necessary to book in advance, weekends are busier and they ask that you book online and stick to the time slots.

The soft play is very clean and staff are very attentive, tidying up toys and moving them back into their specific areas once they've been discarded by children.

They also offer an after school club with 2.5 hours free play and a meal for your child for £7.50 as well as a party room.

The Fun Zone is the only soft play we visit now as we're never disappointed. It's always clean and tidy, staff are lovely and friendly and the food is amazing.

https://www.facebook.com/TheFunZoneFEC