Holmside Park: Things to Do, Prices, Activities & Family Visitor Guide

Looking for a family day out in County Durham where children can stay busy for hours, whatever the weather? Holmside Park is a large family adventure park in Edmondsley, near Durham City, offering more than 20 indoor and outdoor activities across around 50 acres of space.

From giant inflatables and soft play to roller skating, mini golf, archery and outdoor adventure areas, there is plenty to keep different age groups entertained. The park also offers all-day admission, meaning families can take their time rather than rushing through a short activity session. For parents, that combination of indoor and outdoor attractions is one of Holmside Park’s biggest advantages. You can arrive in the morning, take a break for food, and continue playing throughout the day.

But what exactly can you do at Holmside Park, how much time should you allow, and is it suitable for toddlers as well as older children? This guide covers everything you need to know before visiting.

What Is Holmside Park Like?

Holmside Park is a family adventure park in Edmondsley, County Durham. The attraction combines a large indoor barn with extensive outdoor areas, creating a mix of activities for children and families. The park covers around 50 acres, with approximately 50,000 square feet of indoor space and more than 20 indoor and outdoor activities. Unlike attractions where you pay for a short timed session, Holmside Park promotes all-day play with no standard time limit. This gives families more flexibility, particularly if children want to repeat their favourite activities.

The attraction is also designed for a broad range of ages. Younger children can use soft play and toddler-friendly activities, while older children can move between inflatables, sports, roller skating, mini golf and outdoor adventure activities.

Things to Do at Holmside Park

There is a lot to choose from, so it helps to know which activities are likely to appeal to your family before arriving.

Try the Giant Inflatable Obstacle Course

The giant inflatable obstacle course is one of the park’s most energetic attractions. Children can run, climb, bounce, and make their way through different obstacles while burning off some serious energy. It’s particularly appealing for children who enjoy physical challenges rather than quiet play. Because the inflatable area is indoors, it can also be useful when the weather outside isn’t suitable for outdoor activities.

Explore the Soft Play Area

Soft play gives younger children a place to climb, slide and explore in a more controlled indoor environment. It’s a particularly useful option for toddlers and younger children who may not be tall or old enough for some of the park’s more adventurous attractions. Parents can also use it as a quieter activity between more energetic sessions.

Go Roller Skating

Roller skating adds another activity that isn’t always available at traditional family attractions. It gives children and older visitors a chance to be active while trying something different from inflatables or soft play. If roller skating is one of the main reasons for your visit, check the current session arrangements before travelling because activity schedules can change.

Play Mini Golf

Mini golf provides a slower-paced alternative to the park’s more physical attractions. It’s a useful activity for families who want to take a break from climbing and bouncing without completely stopping the fun. It can also work well for mixed-age groups because adults can join in rather than simply supervising.

Try Archery

Archery allows older children and families to try something a little more structured. It’s different from the free-play attractions because participants need to follow instructions and concentrate on hitting their targets. Age and participation requirements can apply, so check the current rules before planning your visit around archery.

Take on the Outdoor Adventure Playground

When the weather is good, the outdoor areas add another dimension to the visit. The adventure playground includes features such as forts, tunnels and slides, giving children plenty of space to explore. The outdoor area is particularly useful because it means families aren’t limited to the indoor barn during a full-day visit.

Try Football and Other Sports

Holmside Park also includes sporting activities such as football and basketball. These are useful options for children who enjoy competitive games or simply want somewhere to run around. Having different types of activities available is one reason the park can work well for siblings with very different interests.

Explore the Jumping Pillows and Outdoor Attractions

Outdoor activities include jumping pillows and other adventure features, with additional attractions such as a zipline and small karting-style experiences available as part of the park’s wider activity offering. These attractions are particularly enjoyable on a dry day when families can make full use of the outdoor space.

Is Holmside Park Good for Toddlers?

Yes. Holmside Park has several activities aimed at younger children, making it more than just an attraction for school-age kids. Soft play is an obvious choice, while toddler-focused activities and themed sessions can provide additional entertainment. The park also runs dedicated toddler-focused offers during certain term-time periods. 

For example, current Toddler Tuesday sessions are designed for under-4s and include a range of toddler activities and themed extras. If you’re visiting with a toddler, it’s worth checking the current toddler programme before booking because special sessions and offers can change.

What About Very Young Children?

If your child is too young to use many of the main attractions, the value of a full admission ticket may be different. Check the current age requirements for individual activities and ticket types before booking, especially if you’re travelling with a baby or very young toddler.

Is Holmside Park Good for Older Children?

This is where Holmside Park can have an advantage over attractions focused mainly on soft play. Older children can move between more active experiences such as:

• Giant inflatables
• Roller skating
• Mini golf
• Archery
• Football
• Basketball
• Outdoor adventure play
• Jumping pillows
• Zipline-style activities
• Karting-style attractions

That variety means a child who is starting to outgrow traditional soft play can still find plenty to do. The park can therefore work particularly well for families with children of different ages.

Holmside Park Prices & Tickets

Holmside Park uses different ticket categories and frequently runs online offers. Standard admission can provide access to the park’s activities, while restricted adult or supervisory tickets may be available depending on the circumstances. There are also specific offers for toddlers, carers, NHS and Blue Light workers, Defence personnel and Max Card holders. Current offers can change, so it’s better to check the latest ticket options before visiting.

Ticket type	Best suited to	Important point
Full child admission	Children using the activities	Check current age requirements
Full adult admission	Adults joining activities	Not always necessary for supervision
Restricted adult admission	Adults supervising children	Activity access may be limited
Toddler admission	Under-4s	Check current toddler offers
Carer admission	Eligible carers	Valid identification may be required
Annual pass	Frequent visitors	Useful if you plan several visits

One current special offer is a Summer Unlimited Pass, which allows unlimited visits during the specified summer-holiday period. An annual pass is also available for visitors who expect to return regularly. Because prices and promotional periods change, always check the current ticket conditions before purchasing.

How Long Do You Need at Holmside Park?

The main advantage of Holmside Park is that you don’t have to squeeze everything into a couple of hours. With all-day play, families can arrive early, spend several hours exploring activities, take a lunch break and return to the attractions afterwards. For most families, half a day is the minimum worth allowing, while a full day makes more sense if you want to experience several indoor and outdoor activities. A simple full-day plan could look like:

• Morning: Start with the most popular activities and indoor play.
• Lunch: Take a break at the café or have a picnic.
• Afternoon: Move outdoors if the weather is good and try activities you haven’t yet experienced.
• Late afternoon: Return to favourite attractions before leaving.

If you’re visiting during a busy holiday period, arriving earlier can also give you more time to enjoy the park without feeling rushed.

Holmside Park for a Rainy Day

One of the strongest reasons to choose Holmside Park is its large indoor space. The indoor barn provides activities such as:

• Soft play
• Giant inflatables
• Roller skating
• Indoor adventure activities
• Other organised activities and games

That makes the park a useful option when rain changes your outdoor plans. However, it’s still worth checking the weather before visiting because some of Holmside’s attractions are outdoors. On a dry day, you’ll have much more choice.

Pro Tip: Bring a spare layer or change of clothes for younger children. Moving between indoor and outdoor activities can make a difference, especially in cooler weather.

Food & Facilities at Holmside Park

Families don’t necessarily need to leave the attraction for lunch. Holmside Park has an on-site café offering food and drinks, with vegetarian and gluten-free choices available. There are also plenty of seating areas around the park. If you’d rather bring your own food, picnic facilities are available, giving families another way to manage food costs during a full-day visit. This can be particularly useful if you’re visiting with several children.

Is Bringing a Picnic a Good Idea?

Yes, especially if you’re planning to stay for most of the day. Buying food for an entire family can add up, so bringing your own picnic can give you more control over both cost and what children eat. You can still purchase drinks, snacks or treats from the café when you want something extra.

Holmside Park Birthday Parties

Holmside Park can also be used for children’s birthday celebrations. The combination of multiple activities and a large indoor space means children can stay entertained without needing a traditional party format. For larger groups, the park also offers exclusive-use sessions for clubs and teams, giving groups access to the wider park and indoor barn during specific time slots. If you’re organising a birthday party, check the latest party packages, availability and age requirements before booking.

Special Events at Holmside Park

Holmside Park isn’t limited to its standard adventure activities. The park also runs themed and seasonal events throughout the year.

Dinosaur Events

Dinosaur events are one of the attraction’s distinctive seasonal features. During special dinosaur events, visitors can encounter dinosaur-themed areas and lifelike dinosaur experiences, including larger moving dinosaur displays. These events can make the attraction particularly appealing to children who are fascinated by dinosaurs.

Christmas Events

Seasonal Christmas experiences can include themed trails, Christmas activities and visits with Santa, alongside access to other park attractions. Because these events can operate differently from normal admission days, check the event details before booking.

Holmside Park Location & How to Get There

Holmside Park is located in Edmondsley, County Durham, near Chester-le-Street and Durham City. The park’s address is:

Holmside Park Arena
Edmondsley
County Durham
DH7 6EY

Driving is likely to be the easiest option for most families. The attraction has free on-site parking, which is useful if you’re travelling with children and bringing everything you need for a full day. If you’re travelling by public transport, check the latest local bus connections before setting off, as routes and timetables can change.

Places to Visit Near Holmside Park

If you’re staying in County Durham for longer than one day, there are plenty of other attractions worth combining with your Holmside visit.

Explore Durham City

Durham City is an obvious choice for a nearby day out. The city is known for its historic cathedral, riverside walks, independent shops and distinctive old streets. It can provide a good contrast to Holmside Park if you want a quieter sightseeing day.

Visit Beamish Museum

Beamish is one of the area’s best-known family attractions. The open-air museum brings different periods of North East history to life through historic buildings, transport, shops and costumed experiences. It’s particularly useful for families who want an educational day out that still feels interactive.

Visit Adventure Valley

Adventure Valley is another family attraction in the wider Durham area. It can be useful if you’re planning a longer family break and want to visit several different attractions rather than returning to the same park every day.

Spend a Day in Newcastle and Gateshead

For a bigger city day out, Newcastle and Gateshead offer shopping, restaurants, museums, galleries and family attractions. This works particularly well for older children and teenagers who may want something different from outdoor play.

Is Holmside Park Worth Visiting?

For families with energetic children, Holmside Park can be an excellent full-day attraction. Its biggest strength is variety. Instead of having one main attraction, the park gives children multiple ways to play, including inflatables, soft play, skating, sports, mini golf and outdoor adventure activities. The indoor space is another major advantage because families aren’t completely dependent on good weather.

\

The park also appeals to a broader age range than a traditional soft-play centre. Younger children can enjoy toddler-friendly areas while older children have more adventurous activities to choose from. That said, it’s worth checking the current condition and availability of individual attractions before travelling, particularly if one specific activity is the main reason for your visit.

Tips for Visiting Holmside Park

A little planning can make your visit much easier.

Book Online

Online booking can provide access to current offers and may be preferable to turning up without a plan. Check the ticket category carefully so you know exactly what level of access each person receives.

Check Age Restrictions

Not every attraction is suitable for every age group. If you’re visiting with toddlers and older children together, look at the requirements for your must-do activities beforehand.

Arrive Early

If you’re visiting during school holidays or weekends, arriving earlier gives you more time to enjoy the park and can make it easier to fit several activities into your day.

Wear Comfortable Clothing

Children will be climbing, running, skating and bouncing, so comfortable clothing is much more practical than anything restrictive. Trainers or suitable footwear are also a sensible choice.

Bring Outdoor Clothing

Even if the forecast looks good, County Durham weather can change quickly. A waterproof jacket can be useful if you plan to use the outdoor attractions.

Bring a Picnic

The café is convenient, but a picnic can help reduce food costs during a full-day visit.

Check Special Events

If you’re interested in dinosaurs, Christmas experiences or themed activities, check the event dates before booking your general admission.

If you’re planning a visit, check the current ticket prices, activity schedules and special events beforehand. With a little preparation, Holmside Park can easily become a full-day family adventure rather than just a quick play-centre visit. Looking for more family-friendly holiday destinations and outdoor adventures? You may also enjoy our guides to Hendra Holiday Park, Wild Rose Holiday Park, and New Forest Wildlife Park. From relaxing holiday stays to wildlife experiences and family activities, these destinations offer plenty of ideas for your next countryside getaway.

FAQs

Conclusion

Holmside Park is a strong choice for families looking for an active day out in County Durham. Its combination of more than 20 indoor and outdoor activities means children aren’t limited to one type of entertainment. They can move from soft play to inflatables, roller skating, mini golf, sports and outdoor adventure areas depending on their age and interests. The large indoor space also gives Holmside Park an advantage when the weather isn’t cooperating, while the outdoor areas make a visit more enjoyable on brighter days.

For toddlers, dedicated activities and soft play provide suitable options. For older children, the wider range of adventurous activities helps keep the experience interesting. The all-day format is another major benefit. Rather than rushing through a short session, families can take breaks, have lunch and return to their favourite activities.