Jolly Jungle

Tucked inside a leisure centre in Dagenham, Jolly Jungle is one of those soft play spots that works well for the really little ones — we’re talking 1 to 6, so don’t expect anything massive. There’s a slide and sandbox to keep toddlers occupied, and parents tend to appreciate that the whole thing is enclosed and easy to keep an eye on. A few locals have flagged that cleanliness can be hit or miss depending on the day, so maybe avoid peak weekend chaos if that bothers you. It does a decent job as a birthday party venue though — staff are generally helpful and you can bring your own cake, which saves a bit of money. Parking’s straightforward and there are toilets on-site, so the basics are covered.