The Jungle is an indoor play area catering for children up to 4' 9" tall (around 8-9 years of age is probably the age limit although none is actually specified).

Play takes place on three levels. At ground floor level is an area for under 3's. This soft play area has has a low padded wall and consists of a few large foam shapes, a low climbing platform decended by a slide and a few punch bag type foam balls hanging from the climbing platform. Baby toys are also available here and it's an idea safe area for smaller children to explore.

Stairs lead up to a mezzanine floor with another baby play area. The stairs are safety gated off but are still a little steep for my liking, especially when carrying a small baby. This area is usually quieter however and much better for meeting up with other new mums if you want to be able to chat whilst sat on a comfy sofa.

We don't use the baby areas nowadays as at 2 years and 4 months littlest HonestBob deems himself ready for the over 3's area (he's been dragging me into this area for months actually). This area covers all 3 levels of the building and consists of a sizeable ball pit, various obstacles, padded areas to climb, rope nets to scramble over and rotating poles to squeeze through, culminating in either an enclosed curly slide or a four lane wavy slide. This area is certainly challenging for littles HonestBob and I wouldn't let him go through the entire play area on his own (what would be the fun in that?) as yet, but I do feel it's OK for him to use this over 3's area with close supervision.

For those with children who let them sit down whilst at The Jungle, Sky Sports is available on selected days (posters are put up advertising football matches for Dads press-ganged into weekend childcare). The Jungle Express Cafe provides a range of hot and cold beverages, sandwiches (paninis etc..), soups, jacket potatoes and cakes. The children's meal deal is particularly good, consisting of your choice of sandwich and cup of orange or blackcurrent squash and two further items from a list of fresh fruit, yoghurt, biscuits or crisps (we go for the grapes and find this a very generous portion). This costs around £2.50 and is much healthier than stopping off at the golden arches down the road.

Our favourite part of this indoor play centre are the trampolines. On the bottom level of the over 3's play area are two fully enclosed rectangular tramplines. These make a change from simply dashing about and climbing stuff and are working wonders on littlest HonestBob's co-ordination, balance and stamina. I just wish adults were allowed on them! Despite there only being two trampolines there is rarely a queue of children waiting to go on them as every child (during the schoolday at least) just hops on and bounces for a couple of minutes or so before coming off and heading for a different activity.

As well as the usual indoor play stuff The Jungle also holds Messy Monkey sessions (painting and sticking arty stuff), Tiger Tunes (songs, action rhymes and instruments), Sleepy Snakes Story Time (speaks for itself!), Funky Fitness sessions (stretch & have fun exercising). There is also a jacappella musical programme available and baby massage. All of these events are timetabled for different days so it's best to check out the website www.thejungle.uk.net to ensure that you get the right day for the activity you want to attend. We like messy monkeys (the mess stays there rather than on my carpet!!).

As with all indoor play centres, the venue is available for Birthday Parties. We haven't been to one here so I cannot comment from experience, but I'm pretty sure HonestBob would love to have his third birthday here.

Opening Times from 10-6 every day.
Admission Prices: £4.50 for members and £5.00 for non-members.
Little cubs sessions (under 5's term-time) from 10-3 are £4.00 for member's first child and £3.50 for additional children, non-members pay £4.50 and £4.00 respective.
Babies under 1 are free
On Mondays twins and multiples are only charged for the first child.
There is also a reduced rate for Childminders on production of I.D.
Groups discounts are available if you regularly meet with other mums (I'm guessing this will work like the school discount at £3.50 per head for 10+ children.

Membership (Jungle Explorer) is free on completion of a brief form and comes with benefits including reduced admission prices, a free gift (sorry, never got around to collecting ours!) and advance notice of events.

One word of caution, sometimes they spray the wavy slide with something(?!) to maintain its slippiness. A notice warning about this would be nice since the speed at which you descend it increases significantly in the days after it has been sprayed. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!