Looking for things to do in Flintshire?

When you have pre-schoolers (especially more than one) it pays to have a few places up your sleeve that you can take them. A mixture of indoor and outdoor locations is always beneficial too.

Whilst there are so many things that can be done at home, and whilst for example, my little ones love to play with their trains and dinosaurs, their cars, their sisters’ Barbies; and whilst they love to colour, to chalk outside, to play in the sandpit, to hunt for bugs in the garden, or dig in the soil, to bake, to help me with tasks, to do puzzles and play number and colour games – there are days when I just need to get them away from the house and doing something else.

I think in Flintshire, we are pretty lucky with places for children of all ages. Friends that live in other parts of the country often say that there isn’t much for their little ones locally.

I’ve included here some of the best places to go in Flintshire with pre-schoolers, but if you have different favourites locally, or equally want to share a great location in your area, do leave a comment below to help others.

Tŷ Bugs

It’s always good to have a play centre nearby to take little ones too. The problem with lots of places is their size, the noise level (children, adults and music combined), and the fact that if you go in the holidays or when older children have finished school, little ones can get knocked over by older children. If you find the volume levels and commotion of larger soft play centre’s unbearable, this sociable, small-scale centre will come as a welcome change.

The simple layout means parents are able to sit and relax, taking time to enjoy the Café, whilst being able to keep an eye on their little ones playing. There is no music playing in the background, so you can identify your child’s shout much faster too.

Weekly activities include classes from Jo Jingles and Diddi Dance, as well as a visit from Mickey or Minnie Mouse and their pals for Storytime! This play centre is located just outside Mold.

Tŷ Bugs offers a wide variety of hot or cold refreshments, freshly prepared at Tŷ Bugs. Their aim is to offer reasonably priced, locally sourced, good quality food and I think they have succeeded.

They have available barista style coffee, teas and yummy hot chocolate, as well as soft drinks. Free water is available as well as jugs of juice for £1, for younger visitors.

You can buy a snow cone in a range of flavours for £1 – not and expensive slush in sight and there are also other treats available, which are all well priced.

Entry for children 3 and under is £3, you don’t pay for babies or adults and children 4 and over pay £4 – this makes this centre superb value, so if your child is having a bad day and have to leave, or dash off for some other reason, which lets face it can happen – you don’t feel like you’ve wasted lots of money in the process.

This play centre is clean, spacious and staff are friendly and welcoming. There is plenty of seating available and the artificial grass floor makes it feel like a bit of outside, inside. This stuff is so comfy to walk on and seems like a really sensible choice of flooring as it is very easy to clean.

If you haven’t been yet, do check this play centre out. You can find them on Facebook – oh and there is plenty of free parking available.

Pirates

If you are looking for a play centre in Flint, you could try the pirate play centre at the leisure centre. The Jade Jones Pavilion Flint Leisure Centre’s children’s adventure soft play area – which was named Pirates of the Pavilion by local primary school children – opened in July 2012.

This is very handy if you have older children having swimming lessons, or you are looking to kill time between other activities. It isn’t great for very small children, but over two years becomes a bit easier.

It’s well looked after, kept clean and tidy and you can purchase good quality, well priced food and drink on site. Toilets and baby change facilities are close by and if you have an Active Card then entry is £1 cheaper per child.

This play facility includes a four metre wavy slide, dizzy disc spinner, walk of fear rope bridge, mirror maze, ball pool, sensory zone, toddlers area (although this is not closed off and gets filled with older children, or toddlers just crawl or climb out), octopus lair, ball cannon.

Plenty of free parking is available.

Flint Castle

When you want to get outside, try a walk around Flint Castle. My little boys love to hunt for the dragon and the princess in the tower when we visit. If they are feeling energetic, you could walk up the coastal path, or just hunt for the Gruffalo or a good stick in the little wood next door.

There is free parking available.

Lots of dog walkers park here, so if your little ones aren’t keen just know that before you go.

Bowling Parent and Tots

If you want to do something different what about Toddler Bowl for£2 at the Flint Pavilion?

Available Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1pm – 4pm during term time only. Price based on 1 adult 1 child aged 4 years and under. 1 lane for half an hour. Additional half hour slots available for £2.

It’s a great way to introduce little ones to bowling. Shoe sizes go down as small as 6 and you could always link in with doing the pirates play centre as well.

Explore the local parks

There are loads of parks of all different sizes to explore in Flintshire. Why not work your way around all of them? Parks are great because they are free, you can go for just half an hour in between other things or, in the nice weather you could stay all day and take a picnic.

One of our favourite parks is Cornist Park in Flint. It’s a really big park, with plenty to occupy all ages, including sand which is always popular. It feels safe and always seems quite well looked after. The only downside is there isn’t really anywhere to park, so you normally end up parked on the side of the road.

Wepre Park in Connah’s Quay is also good and has loads of free parking and toilets. Some of the smaller parks in Mold are also great, and there is a large one at Deeside Leisure centre too. It really depends what you are looking for.

Chocks Away

Chocks Away Diner is located at Hawarden Airport. The diner, which opened it’s doors in 2007, was originally set up by Caroline Gardner and Head Chef James Powell. In 2012, the diner relocated to the General Aviation Centre which provides great views of the runway and aprons, which makes it an ideal spot for aviation enthusiasts, however small they might be!

The diner serves food all day from Breakfast to Brunch into Lunch and light snacks and then Afternoon Tea. Dishes range from classic comfort food to modern-style bistro lunches. All food at Chocks Away Diner is freshly prepared using local produce to help support local business’.

There is a lovely play area out at the back, with loads of seating outside, so you can grab a drink and a snack on the way in and then head straight out to play.

The food is of a very high standard, as is the play equipment.