Amersham’s leisure facilities have undergone a huge revamp recently. We visited the soft play inside the new Chiltern Lifestyle Centre & the King George V playground, situated just outside.
The soft play is open every day and is suitable for children up to around 8 years old. It comprises of a tall play frame with loads of different levels and ways in, up and around.
There are lots of mirrors and different types of slide, including one which you climb up! My 4 year old headed straight in and up to the top, and my 18 month old was keen to follow! The eldest was able to manage it all by herself, but it was a bit too high for the youngest to do.
There is, however, quite a large younger children’s area at the bottom. This has lots of features too – including climbing apparatus, soft building blocks, slides, mirrors, sensory walls and a ball pit. There’s even a shoot that children can put runaway balls into, and when there are enough they get released back into the ball pit – ingenious!
Opposite the soft play is the fab looking Clip and Climb area, which looks amazing for older children and adults. There are several different climbing walls and methods to try out. This needs to be booked separately to the soft play.
There’s lots of seating both inside the soft play frame area and just outside, and you can order food from the cafe to eat here too. We went out of the soft play room to the main cafe area with a view of the swimming pools and splash pad – another feature to try out next time! There is quite an extensive menu, with hot and cold options for kids and adults alike. We went for the kids’ lunchboxes (£5.50 for a sandwich, crisps, drink, dried/fresh fruit and treat).
The coffee was excellent and they had lots of snack options available. Watching swimming lessons through the glass while she ate her lunch was a big hit for my 4 year old too – she’s asked me to sign her up!
Chiltern Lifestyle Centre Parking & Access
There are several pay and display car parks around the centre, and it’s also very close (5-10 minutes walk) to the railway station and town centre. We were able to park in a long bay by the side of the centre.
The front of the centre has accessible access, and there is a lift inside the side entrance too. This takes you up to reception.
Chiltern Lifestyle Centre Soft Play Booking
You have to be an Everyone Active member to book the soft play, but you can join on a pay as you go membership for free.
As it was our first visit, we checked in at reception and were given our membership card that would give us timed entry access to the soft play room. In future, we can just book via the app and head straight in using the card to gain entrance.
The Chiltern Lifestyle Centre felt clean, modern and welcoming, and as well as the pools, soft play, climbing areas and cafe, also incorporates the library, community centre, gym and spa which are going to make it a real hub of the community. We’re looking forward to going back and trying out some of the other facilities too!
