If you feel like you have exhausted all the soft plays and play parks, why not take your children along to “Little Morpeth”, for a new sensory and explorative experience.
Situated just up the road from Morpeth train station, Little Morpeth is a new role play centre for children. Ideal for families with children under the age of six years, who are looking for an indoor activity to fill a couple of hours in the day.
Little Morpeth
- A role play cafe for under 6s near Morpeth Train Station making it an ideal train trip from Newcastle with kids
- Booking ahead online is recommended
- The centre is a mini version of Morpeth with a mini vets, supermarket, nursery, police station and more
- It's easy to keep an eye on children from the tables where grown ups can enjoy a hot drink and there is a dedicated baby area making it ideal for visiting with babies and pre-schoolers at the same time
- Cakes from a local baker are for sale and kids toasties are just £2.50. GF bread is available.
- Prices from £1.80-£6.50 per child, adults are free
- Everything is in excellent, clean condition
- A perfect rainy day idea in Northumberland
- Free parking outside
I headed along to Little Morpeth, one damp morning in February. We had booked our time slot online the previous week (this is advised as if there aren’t enough bookings on any particular day then the sessions can’t run). Book your time slot here: https://littlemorpeth.co.uk
The time we chose was a morning session, running from 9.45am to 11.15am. My daughter was definitely not ready to leave and could have quite happily spent the whole day, playing make-believe and dressing up.
Little Morpeth has been cleverly designed to represent a smaller version of the town of Morpeth. With Northumbria Vets, LM supermarket, Nursery, building area “Jude’s Yard”, police station, Heidi’s House and fire station.
Children can explore whichever area they want, moving freely between each play space. It is obvious that a lot of time, thought and care has been put into making each space as engaging as can be.
From dressing up props to builder’s tools, there is everything you would expect to find in creating that perfect role play area. Encouraging imaginative play, children get to play make-believe as they explore the world around them.
It was great to watch my daughter take on the different roles and act out characters she has observed from real life encounters.
She tucked the babies into bed and changed their nappies, then moved onto putting out a fire and making important telephone calls in the police station. You get the idea… she was fully immersed and engaged in the game she was playing.
I spent some time playing along with her, but it soon became obvious I was getting in the way of her play. So, I ordered myself a coffee and sat at one of the tables, from where I could watch her safely, and happily playing.
The room is secure so your little ones can play freely without you worrying about anyone escaping or trapping fingers in doors. There is also a dedicated area for babies, which is great if you have multiple children with varying ages.
The Café & Menu
I knew that there was a counter serving drinks and snacks, but I wasn’t expecting there to be such an offering from the menu. GF bread is available.
Everything was reasonably priced and some of the cakes and bakes are provided by local businesses in Morpeth itself.
In particular I found the children’s menu to be great value and gives the option for them to have light snacks or a more filling lunch. A meal deal is priced at £4.50 and includes a choice of sandwich or toastie, crisps, cucumber sticks or cheese snack and a drink.
Grown-ups can enjoy a bacon bap for just £3.50.
Helpful things to know:
As previously mentioned, you need to pre-book your session via the website. There may be a chance you can get in that same day.
Prices are:
- 0-3 months: £1.80
- 4-11 months: £3.50
- 12 months – 6 years: £6.50
Adults are free with a paying child.
Check the website for the latest opening hours as these vary depending on the time of year you are visiting. Reduced opening hours apply during the winter months.
It is worth following Little Morpeth on Facebook and Instagram as they often run special events and welcome group bookings. https://www.instagram.com/littlemorpeth/
You can book your child’s party at Little Morpeth with two party packages available.
Package one is the Standard Party booking and costs £10.50 per child (up to 20 children can attend.) Includes one hours play in one of the bookable sessions, thirty minutes for food and cake and a free visit voucher for the birthday child.
Package two is the Private Hire Party package and gives you and your party exclusive hire of the centre and café. There is a minimum booking of ten children for this package and the cost is £250.
Visit the website for full details and enquires to book.
Little Morpeth is a new business that has opened at what I think, is a very challenging time for small businesses. Heating costs are obviously very high at the moment and for this reason, the heating in the centre is put on for short periods of time.
On the morning of our visit, I received a message informing me that the centre may be a bit cold and they recommend I bring slipper socks and layers for my daughter to keep warm. This didn’t deter my daughter from playing and I think the slight chill didn’t bother her at all.
Other ideas for things to do in Morpeth:
- Rainy day ideas in Northumberland
- 14 things to do in Morpeth
- How to find Morpeth Steppy Stones
- Dobbies Morpeth Soft Play Review
- Pirate Crazy Golf in Morpeth Review
I have noticed a lot of soft plays can be quite chilly when you are a parent sitting watching, so I was quite used to this. I wouldn’t let this put you off and hopefully as the business becomes more established, heating costs won’t be an issue!
Little Morpeth is very transparent with this however, and the owner, Steph, shares updates on this on the Little Morpeth Instagram page.
There is free parking out the front. Use postcode: NE61 2TW
I hope you and your children love visiting Little Morpeth as much as my daughter and I did. It is great to see a role play centre in this part of Northumberland.
Another role play centre accessible by public transport worth checking out is Acorn and Oak at Royal Quays and if you're looking for more soft play ideas, check out our guide to North East Soft Plays and not forgetting our guide to North East Pubs with Indoor Play Areas too.
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