FOR ALL AGES
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Miniature golf is an excellent way to spend a couple of hours with the family. It’s one of those rare games where people of all ages and fitness levels can compete on a relatively equal basis. Plus, most of the courses are outdoors, helping to keep things safe during the time of coronavirus. Here, we round up some of the best in London.
Not a lot, really. All are like miniature golf courses with a series of obstacles to overcome. Crazy golf is an older term, and conjures images of knocking balls through windmills at the seaside. Mini-golf appears to be the more popular term these days -- more respectable and less, well, crazy. You’ll also find the sport badged up as ‘Adventure golf’. This is basically mini-golf with bonus dinosaurs or pirates -- or some other family-friendly theme.
Mini-golf courses were forced to close in March, along with just about everything else. They recently reopened, with strict safety measures in place. All equipment will be disinfected between rounds. Visitors must stay apart from other household groups, and wear masks in enclosed spaces. You’ll also need to prebook (always a good idea anyway).
Like chess-boxing or pubs with Thai kitchens, the coupling of dinosaurs and mini-golf shouldn’t work, but it does. The London area contains a number of reptile-enhanced courses, including those below:
Borehamwood: Dinosaur Safari Adventure Golf
New Maldon: Jurassic Adventure Dinosaur Golf
Northolt: Dinosaur Escape Adventure Golf
Sidcup: Mr Mulligans Dino Golf
Walthamstow: Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf
Not all adventure golf is prehistoric. Take a swing at these themed courses around town.
Croydon: Dragon Quest Golf is effectively another dinosaur golf course, but with fictional reptiles instead of extinct ones.
Dagenham: The UK’s largest adventure golf course is over in east London, at Golf Kingdom. The Moby course is suitably nautical, featuring a pirate ship, large lagoon, and a frankly terrifying model of Moby Dick.
Edgware: Lost Jungle Golf, just north of the town centre, offers three themed courses to try out. Brave the cascading waterfalls and ancient ziggurats on the Amazon course; watch out for giant snakes and gorillas on the Congo course; or leave the clubs in the shack and try a round of foot golf.
Greenwich Peninsula: The mini-golf course near the O2 relies less on fibreglass animals and instead looks like an actual golf course in miniature. Indeed, its 18 tiny, tiny holes are said to be inspired by those on famous golf courses around the world.
Oakwood: Opposite this extreme-north-London tube station can be found Jungle Falls. This is another tropically-themed course, with “life-sized hungry creatures prowling lush jungle marshes”. Perhaps an exaggeration, but the course is still fun and very-well equipped for families.
Plonk courses: Expect courses full of wacky interventions at Plonk. Loop-the-loops, perilous leaps, UV lights and smoke effects are almost literally par for the course. At the time of writing, the group has courses in Camden Market, the Horniman Museum and London Fields, though new places come and go.
Putt in the Park: A series of more traditional miniature golf courses all ran by the same organisation, and located in Wandsworth Park, Battersea Park and Acton Park (plus Colchester).
Before coronavirus, miniature golf course were popping up in every quarter -- in old shops, on car park roofs, hidden down in basements… Not all have reopened, but there’s still plenty of putting pleasure to be had around town. Most indoor venues are geared up to an adult audience, with licensed bars and pumping music. Puttshack, at Lakeside and White City, also caters for kids. Its courses are neon-lit and tech-heavy, giving a different twist to the game. Junkyard Golf in Hoxton also allows accompanied children Sunday to Wednesday before 7pm.
Well, since you ask, here’s our complete guide to becoming a mini-golf master.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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