Cookie Island Ilford

“Five star all round, is there a better soft play out there right now in East London that can compete with this place? Probably not in my opinion. Kids loved the space and timing wise you get 90 minutes which is enough time to keep them occupied. You got everything you need here, spacious, clean, halal and veg option food, party areas, arcade games, football and basketball ball area (amazing), sensory space, spaces for all ages, 0 to 3, 4 to 6 and 6 plus. A lot of activities to do, parking available at a good price. Only thing I would say but everyone does this, peak prices can be slightly cheaper, it’s not just this soft play but everyone puts prices up for weekends and half term, businesses should try to help parents and kids to come and enjoy instead of putting prices up which deters you from your place and instead go to another. You can be the different one, then you can even get more business, just an opinion ☺️ Having said that though, because of how good it was, I’m still giving it a 5 star. Plus the staff we encountered were professional, friendly and courteous! Have visited twice already since its opening, definitely again when I’m in the area!”

“My kids love this soft play centre. It is clean big with plenty of play areas for all ages. They serve halal food. Convenient parking ( Park on level P3). Would definitely recommend people to come and join. Only downside is that it is a bit pricey compared to other soft play centres.”

“This soft play centre has so much potential to be one of the best in the area with just a few improvements. My daughter genuinely enjoyed her time there, and the play equipment itself is lovely for little ones. However, one major concern was the lighting in the soft play area. It was extremely dim much darker than you would expect for a space specifically designed for babies and toddlers up to 2 years old. At that age, children need a bright, safe, and easily visible environment, and the low lighting made it difficult to properly supervise them. The staff member at the front did try to turn the lights on, but we were told they weren’t working, which was disappointing. The entry price is slightly higher than other soft plays nearby, and I found the food prices particularly steep. £7 for a children’s sandwich meal deal (for a “small sandwich with crisps or a drink”) felt quite excessive. There’s a lovely spot just outside the soft play, opposite H&M, that sells pastries and halal paninis for £2–4, which I would personally recommend as a more reasonable option. Most parents don’t expect to spend £17 for a soft play session and a simple sandwich for a one-year-old. The staff could also benefit from more customer service training, particularly around how to interact with young children. Several staff members (mainly male staff) seemed quite disengaged, and at one point simply stared blankly at my 1-year-old when she said hello to them, rather than offering a friendly smile or acknowledgment. This isn’t expected for staff when they are choosing to work around young children. The only exception was the lady working in the café area, who was genuinely warm and helpful. Overall, this place truly could become a top choice for families with just a few key improvements starting with fixing the lighting and enhancing staff training to create a more welcoming, child-friendly atmosphere”

“It's big, new and clean. TBH as a children's play area I can't really fault it but the prices are extortiante. Paid £30 for just myself and my 2 year old daughter. Then with buying a chicken nugget meal and paying for all the little rides and games I spent £55 in one hour. You could buy a theme park ticket for that much.”