boy hanging upside-down from climbing frame

Angel

Swing through
the tree tops

Get messy, climb, create a superhero lair, try indoor arts and crafts and junk modelling, paint masterpieces, collect minibeasts, play sports and games or simply read a book and chill out

Start your child’s adventure

Playing at our adventure playgrounds is free. All you need to do is register.

Register Now  What’s on

boy with gecko

Lead your band of adventurers through the forest, across aerial runways and swings, back to your treehouse hideaway. If you suspect danger might be on its way make a secret call to your friends in the sandpit and willow igloo below. They can alert any adventurers in the underground tunnels.

But if forest life gets a bit much, you can always take refuge indoors or at another part of Waterside. You can run your own tuck shop, dance, play football, climb, cook and so much more. Rain or shine, there’s plenty for any adventurer to do at Waterside.

Play is free for six to thirteen-year-olds and supervised by our Awesome playworkers – all you have to do is register and have fun.

What's on?

Amelia

“I get to play with my friends”

Amelia

Information Boring bits!

Opening times


Term time
Tuesday to Friday: 3.30pm – 6.30pm
Saturday: 11.30am – 4.30pm
Family play sessions:  Saturday 11:30-1:30pm(Term Time only)

Sunday and Monday closed for private hire

School holidays
Monday to Friday:

Session 1 – 10:30-1:30

Stay and Eat- 1:30-2:30pm

Session 2 – 2:30-5:30pm

Planned Closures

  • Bank Holiday closures
  • 7th and 10th April 2023
  • 29th May 2023
  • 28th August 2023
  • 29th March 2024
  • Inset Day
  • 20th June 2023
  • 27th June 2024
  • Annual closures
  • Maintenance and Repair closure: 3rd – 7th July 2023
  • End of summer closure:  5th – 9th September 2023
  • End of year closure:  25th – 29th December 2023

Parents Guide

Contact us

Tel: 0207 359 6200
Email: kit@awesomecic.co.uk

Location

How to find us

Address: 50 Dame Street N1 7FR
Where is it: In the south east of the borough off Essex Road
Nearest tube: Angel
Nearest bus: 38, 56, 73

Forest dwellers

Meet Waterside Adventure Playground’s awesome playworkers

Playworker

Tiger Queen

Playwork Coordinator & Designated Safeguarding Lead

Not so little John

Playworker

Lady of the Forest

Did you know?

Child sat in Waterside

Waterside started its life on 24th June 1972 when a group of local residents and children, supported by workers from the National Children’s Bureau, cleared a disused factory site on Baldwin Terrace to make space for children to play. Islington Council then allocated the land, which sat on the edge of the Packington Estate, for use as an adventure playground. With support from play leaders, children began building their own adventure playground which was originally called Baldwin. In 2009 the playground was rebuilt from scratch with the help of local children, and the redevelopment provided a lovely new building and several awards for innovation! And where did the new name come from? Being situated next to the canal, it was renamed Waterside.

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Stuff for grown-ups

Awesome Adventure Play 2023-04-03T11:26:59+01:00