Essex Parks

The Best Playgrounds for Toddlers in Essex

The Essex Toddler Playground Guide

We have some incredible playgrounds in Essex! We have put together a list of the BEST playgrounds for toddlers and preschoolers! These playgrounds offer engaging and interesting equipment to entertain little ones.

Here you can find the best playgrounds for toddlers in Colchester, Chelmsford, Harlow Chigwell, Southend-on-Sea and all across Essex! Click through to each playground for more information on facilities, toilets, parking and more photos.

This post features the following toddler friendly playgrounds in Essex (click to scroll to the playground):

Great Baddow Recreation Ground
Gunners Park
Compass Gardens
Stanway Lakelands Centre
Broomfield Village Hall
Grove Wood Playing Fields
Boxted Playground
Runwell Park
Shoebury Common Playground
Paradise Road Park
Pelican Playground
King Georges Playing Fields Rochford
Oak Tree Meadow
Pet's Corner Playground, Harlow Town Park

Great Baddow Recreation Ground

📍 Great Baddow Recreation Ground

Chelmsford

CM2 9RL

Great Baddow Recreation Ground Playground

There are two separate play areas at Great Baddow Recreation Ground. The toddler play area is enclosed. The playground is bright and there are lots of interesting prompts on the floor. There is a climbing frame with slide, ride on equipment, seesaw, slide, pirate ship and swings including a sweet bear swing! There is plenty for older children too at the bigger playground. There are also lovely playing fields.

Gunners Park Toddler Playground

📍Gunners Park Toddler Play Area

Warrior Square Road Shoeburyness

SS3 9QB

This small playground is perfect for toddlers from toddler swings, climbing frames and a small merry go round. There are unique and interesting play equipment including a scoop pulley system and lots of educational interactive equipment including facial features and a clock. The car park is conveniently located next to the playground and a lovely cafe (with excellent cake!), Adventurous toddlers will enjoy exploring the nearby Gunners Park Nature Reserve too. Read More

This playground is also close to the beach! If you are looking for a beach playground in Southend-on-Sea, check out our guide to Beach Playgrounds in Southend.

Compass Gardens

📍Compass Gardens

South Woodham Ferrers

Chelmsford

CM3 5GU

This playground is great for preschoolers as it is so engaging. My kids loved this brightly coloured, enclosed playground! The playground has a nautical theme. There is a large pirate ship with different climbs and slides. There are steps up to the tunnel slide.

There are swings, a seesaw, zipwire and spinning equipment. There is a climbing frame for smaller children and also ride on equipment.

There is lots of brightly coloured animals and objects in the flooring, which my kids seem to always love. The flooring is also super springy and feels very safe for kids that always take a tumble.

Accessible play equipment includes sensory equipment and roundabout.

The equipment here is in such good condition. There are benches inside the play area and picnic benches just outside on the grass.

Stanway Lakelands Centre

📍Stanway Lakelands Centre

2 Western Approach

Stanway

Colchester

CO3 8DX

Lakelands Centre Stanway Playground — Lakelands Centre Stanway

Inclusive playground at Stanway Lakelands Centre

This inclusive playground has lots to offer! There is a large sandpit with a wooden climbing frame running through it. The climbing frame has slides, variously climbs and a ramp.

There are also a variety of swings including accessible swings and nest swings. There is also a trampoline, ride on equipment and roundabout.

There is sensory and musical play equipment.

Please be mindful that the play area is not enclosed, and next to a car park. There are picnic tables and benches around the play area. Read More...

Broomfield Village Hall

📍Broomfield Village Hall

Broomfield

Chelmsford

CM1 7AH

This is a great enclosed playground for toddlers! There is plenty of relevant play equipment and the playground is next to a great kid friendly cafe.

The star of this playground is the large, pirate ship climbing frame. The climbing frame has many different climbs, a slide and lots of interesting puzzles/movable equipment such as maps, an anchor and treasure on the bottom level. Other equipment includes a variety of swings, a long swing, a large climb on truck, roundabout, climbing frame, rope bridge and spinning equipment.

Grove Woods Playing Fields

📍Grove Woods Playing Fields

Rayleigh

SS6 8UQ

There are two play areas at Grove Woods, both are enclosed. The play area suitable for toddlers is across the field. The playground is suitable for a variety of ages, including toddlers.There are several climbing frames with slides, seesaws, swings, zipwire and interactive play equipment. The playground is enclosed and there is seating inside the playground.

Boxted Playground

📍 Boxted

Cage Lane

Boxted

CO4 5RE

Boxted has a great play area. As well as a toddler play area, there is a good sized open play area with balancing equipment, in floor trampolones and swings. There is also a large skate ramp and zipwire. The toddler play area is enclosed. There is a climbing frame (with steps), slide, swings, springy ride on equipment, seesaw and a seperate smaller slide. There are plenty of benches and picnic tables surrounding the play area.

Runwell Park

📍Runwell Park

Church End Lane

Runwell

SS11 7DP

There are two play areas at Runwell Park catering to a variety of ages. The enclsoed play area is perfect for little ones. There are climbing frames suitable for toddlers and small children and also a climbing frame suitable for preschoolers upwards. There is also a merry-go-round and swings.

Outside of the enclosed play area, there is more play equipment, suited for older children. There is a rope bridge between two hills, and a large slide.

Shoebury Common Playground

📍Shoebury Common Playground

Shoeburyness

SS3 9HQ

Shoebury Common Southend — Shoebury Common Playground

This great toddler playground in Southend has a nautical theme, there are boats, ship climbing frames and sea creature climb on equipment. There are a variety of swings, interesting sensory equipment and games. The playground is enclosed and there are plenty of picnic benches inside the playground.

Paradise Road

📍 Paradise Road

Writtle

Chelmsford

CM1 3HP

The play area at Paradise Road Playground is enclosed. The playground is suitable for toddlers and children until junior age. There are several climbing frames (including toddler friendly) with slides and different climbs including climbing walls and ladders. There is also a zipwire and several swings. There is also a small climb on train and lots of sensory boards.

Pelican Playground

📍 Pelican Playground

Chigwell

IG7 6DP

This play area has a large sandpit. There are two wooden climbing frames in the sand. The biggest climbing frame is a ship on two levels, climbing ropes, a sitting area and slide. The smaller climbing frame also has a slide. There are also small nest swings and seesaw.

There is a lot of grassy space around the sandpit. Plenty of spaces for picnics. Read More...

King Georges Playing Fields Rochford

📍King George's Playing Field

Rochford

SS4 3HF

There are three play areas here and lots of open space to play! For little ones there is a sand area with tyre swing and there is an enclosed play area with climbing frames, slides, ride on play equipment, roundabout, swings. There is also an open play area with zipwire, slide and climbing frame for older children, trampoline, nest swing.

Oak Tree Meadow

📍Oak Tree Meadow

Heybridge

Maldon

CM9 4LE

This playground is great for all ages, and has a great selection of play equipment for toddlers! For smaller children there are boat and castle themed play equipment - climbing frames, slides and climb on and spinning equipment. The playground is enclosed and there are benches and picnic benches inside and outside the play area. There is also a shaded seating area.

Pets Corner Playground

📍Town Park

Harlow

CM20 2QG

The adventure playground here is excellent. It has equipment suitable for all ages and most importantly it is accessible! There is lots of equipment for toddlers! The entire playground is enclosed. There is a large, rope bridge and mound with a tunnel underneath. There is spinning equipment, musical equipment and sensory boards. There is an accessible frame with lots of musical equipment and educational areas. There is an accessible roundabout. There is also an accessible play house.The last section of the play area has a farm theme. There is a climbing frame with slide, accessible seesaw, climb on tractor and sensory boards.

Don't forget to check the Park Directory for more park inspiration -

A-Z of over 100 Parks in Essex

The Best Playgrounds for Toddlers in Essex

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