Designing for Pay to Play at Wild Things Play Project

A natural indoor play area with a wooden climbing structure, artificial trees, and netting, surrounded by seating in a bright, open space.

Wild Things Play Project set out to revolutionise the concept of soft play by creating an imaginative and engaging natural indoor environment for children ranging primarily between 3 and 8 years old.

Following the success of their first location in Bristol, they expanded with a second site in Plymouth, located in the Drake Circus shopping centre. TouchWood Play worked with the team to design and create bespoke play equipment, focusing on details and durable materials to meet both the functional and creative needs of the space.

A unique indoor play space in Plymouth

At the heart of the play area is a large, intricate play frame designed to challenge kids and spark their imagination. This labyrinth of corridors, crawl spaces, nets and scrambling routes is complemented by:

A play kitchen for imaginative roleplay
A double-lane slide for friendly racing
Loose material play alongside the frame, encouraging older children to engage with younger or less confident kids below, using pulleys and chutes to transport materials.

To add an extra dimension to the play experience, we included:

A timber tangle – a challenging balance route made of Robinia logs
A Plymouth-themed sandpit area, complete with a Punch and Judy puppet show and boulders for climbing
A beach zone with sand pulleys and chutes to transport sand
A buggy park, offering a neat, themed space for prams

We also helped design seating, flooring and café layouts to create a cohesive experience.

Welcoming all abilities to play

The play frame features climbing routes for varying abilities, while loose material play encourages interaction across age groups. Once it opened in December, the space was an instant hit, drawing families to enjoy its unique play and hospitality offerings.

From outdoor playgrounds to innovative indoor hubs, we turn big ideas into memorable play experiences. If you’re ready to explore how bespoke play solutions can elevate your retail space, let’s start the conversation today.