Published 30 March 2026
UK soft plays to break up your family road trip
Britannia Rescue has launched the ‘Road Trip Soft Play Guide’, a definitive guide to the top ten UK soft play centres near major motorways. The guide has been designed to help parents, carers, grandparents, aunts and uncles find the perfect pit stop to break up a road trip with little ones.
Our research reveals how car journeys with kids in tow can be a little stressful…
- 32% of parents dread getting behind the wheel with kids on board.
- 54% say it’s one of the most stressful parts of parenting.
- 51% say the hardest part of a long journey with kids is keeping them entertained.
Our research also reveals the average parent gets pestered for snacks four times every car journey with their kids, and deals with at least four ‘I’m bored’ moans from the backseat. The new guide collates the best indoor play centres for caregivers to grab much-needed road trip respite.
Jag Kullar, Head of Trading, at Britannia Rescue adds "Rescuing drivers and parents is at the heart of what our 24/7 car breakdown service cover offers, and we’re proud to have been awarded ‘best breakdown service of 2025’ by What Car?*. We know that long car journeys with tired, bored and unsettled children are a tension point shared by so many. That’s exactly why we created this guide, as a valuable resource to help relieve some of the stress that goes into travelling across the country with young kids and also make breaks an enjoyable part of the trip for all of the family.
How was the soft play guide created?
Britannia Rescue brought together a group of parenting influencers with young children to review some of the UK’s leading play centres. Each influencer visited the venues anonymously with their children to put them to the test. Centres were assessed across a range of criteria, including fun factor, parental amenities (coffee!), nap-boosting powers, and overall suitability as a convenient roadside respite stop.
How can I access the guide?
This is free and can be downloaded below. Like what you see and want to know more? More information about each soft play can be found on the influencers’ channels.
Our top ten soft plays to break up a long drive…
- Adventure Forest – Manchester
- Clown Town – London
- Conifox - Edinburgh
- Fun Shack - Newcastle
- Little Centurions - Cheltenham
- Mambo Play - Cardiff
- Play Zone - Swansea
- Snakes & Ladders - London
- Space World - Liverpool
- The Play Shed – Bristol
So, before you set off, make sure to prioritise your pitstops, to prepare for a smooth ride. And if breaking up the journey with a fun filled soft play break doesn’t work, check out our top tips on keeping little ones entertained while in the car, to avoid the dreaded “are we nearly there yet?” question!
And just in case of any bumps in the road, be sure to check out our guide on what to do if your car breaks down.
Happy driving!
