Days Out NI
Soft Play Derry

The Play Shed

Two play frames, a baby zone and a barista coffee shop on Derry's east side.

3 photos
Check aheadMon 10am-5pm, Tue-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1pm-5…
Paid entryPaid entry per child, adults in free wi…
DerryThe Play Shed, Unit 2b Altnagelvi…
Get directionsOfficial website
2 hrsHow long
Babies–12Best for
IndoorsAll-weather
On siteParking
Paid entryPer child

The Play Shed — Two play frames, a baby zone and a barista coffee shop on Derry's east side.

  • Little ones sorted — Yes, a separate renovated baby zone plus a dedicated toddler frame.
  • The café for the grown-ups — Coffee shop, 5-star hygiene rating, sandwiches, paninis, soups, hot food, specialty coffee, free WiFi.
  • How long & cost — Around 2 hours; Paid entry per child, adults in free with them; prices change, check before you go.
  • Getting in — Walk-in most of the time; ring ahead for weekends, holidays and parties.
  • Socks — Not confirmed online; most soft play needs grippy socks, so bring some and check on arrival.
  • Parties — Yes, eight years' experience, they handle everything, private hire available.
Plan your visit

Paid indoor play + coffee shop, walk-in or book

The Play Shed is a paid soft play centre on the Waterside, off Trench Road in Altnagelvin Industrial Estate. Prices change, so check before you go, but you pay per child and adults go in with them. There are two separate frames built by House of Play: a junior frame for roughly ages 5 to 12 and a toddler frame for the little ones, plus a recently renovated baby area for crawlers. You can walk in most of the time, though it is worth ringing ahead at weekends and during holidays as parties and group bookings fill the place. They have a proper coffee shop with a 5-star food hygiene rating, free WiFi and somewhere to sit while the kids burn off steam.

Indoor Baby + toddler areas Coffee shop Walk-in or book Parties Free WiFi
Good to know before you go:

Soft play centres run toddler mornings, school-holiday sessions, quieter sensory hours and birthday parties through the year. Check The Play Shed's own Facebook page for current session times, party packages and prices, as these change.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🧦Grippy socksA pair of anti-slip socks per child — most centres need them on the frame, and often for adults too.
  • 👕A spare topBall pools and big slides make for warm, mucky kids — a change of top saves a soggy drive home.
  • 💳Card or cashFor entry and the café — the coffee is the grown-up reward.
  • 🚰A water bottleClimbing and sliding is thirsty work, and there is a wipe-down at the end of it.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Paid entry per child, adults in free with them; prices change, check before you go
Best for ages
Babies and toddlers up to juniors around 5 to 12
Under-3s area
Yes, a separate renovated baby zone plus a dedicated toddler frame
Socks policy
Not confirmed online; most soft play needs grippy socks, so bring some and check on arrival
Cafe / food
Coffee shop, 5-star hygiene rating, sandwiches, paninis, soups, hot food, specialty coffee, free WiFi
Booking
Walk-in most of the time; ring ahead for weekends, holidays and parties
Parties
Yes, eight years' experience, they handle everything, private hire available
Opening
Mon 10am-5pm, Tue-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1pm-5pm (can change, check their Facebook)
Parking
On-site at Altnagelvin Industrial Estate; confirm if visiting at busy times
How long to allow
Around 2 hours
Address
The Play Shed, Unit 2b Altnagelvin Industrial Estate, Trench Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 2ED
Questions

Before you go

How much does it cost?
Paid entry per child, adults in free with them; prices change, check before you go
What ages is it good for?
Babies and toddlers up to juniors around 5 to 12
Do we need grippy socks?
Not confirmed online; most soft play needs grippy socks, so bring some and check on arrival
Do I need to book?
Walk-in most of the time; ring ahead for weekends, holidays and parties
Is there somewhere for the little ones?
Yes, a separate renovated baby zone plus a dedicated toddler frame
Getting there

The Play Shed is at The Play Shed, Unit 2b Altnagelvin Industrial Estate, Trench Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 2ED. On-site at Altnagelvin Industrial Estate; confirm if visiting at busy times. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around DerrySee what else is close by More soft play & rainy-day fun across NIIndoor frames, ball pools and toddler zones
The story

About the centre

The Play Shed opened in April 2014 on the Waterside side of Derry, in Altnagelvin Industrial Estate off Trench Road. It runs two custom House of Play frames, splitting babies and toddlers from juniors, with a combined capacity well over a hundred children, alongside a coffee shop that has earned a 5-star food hygiene rating.

Eight years of running birthday parties means the staff take care of both the kids and the adults on the day, leaving you to bring the cake. With free WiFi, specialty coffee and a hot food menu, it is set up so parents can actually sit down while the children play.