If you’re visiting Stratford International train station or Westfield Shopping Centre with children in tow, then you don’t want to miss out on the Biodiversity Playground in Stratford!
The Biodiversity Playground is a children’s playground with wooden equipment, all themed around a pond and pond life. Aimed at toddlers and young children, there’s plenty to explore and is perfectly placed for little one’s to stretch their legs and run free after a day of travelling or shopping.
At the Biodiversity Playground, expect to find:
The Biodiversity Playground is part of Westfield Shopping Centre and is located just outside of Tap East, on the Lower Ground Floor, and it is open from 10am – 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm on Saturdays and 12pm – 6pm on Sundays.
The playground is right outside Stratford International train station and Westfield Shopping Centre so it’s extremely easy to find. You really can’t miss it!
If you’re travelling by car, your best bet will be parking at Westfield Shopping Centre.
Read next: Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford!
We visited the Biodiversity Playground on Friday 11th February 2022. We accidentally discovered it on our walk from Stratford International train station to Westfield Shopping Centre, whilst on our way to Discover Children’s Story Centre.
After grabbing a coffee and a beer at Tap East, we set up in the playground to let my toddler have a run around. It was around 2pm and fairly busy, with a variety of ages playing, but the playground was plenty big enough to accommodate all of the children safely.
My son’s favourite piece of equipment at the playground was by far the large fish – you can climb in and out of the mouth, as well as climbing in a hole in the back of the fish, and climb up a ramp inside to then slide out. There are also some poles at the back of the fish and some rock climbing handles. Whilst this is a great piece of equipment and by far the standout feature to this playground, it is important to note that when the children are inside the fish you cannot see them from outside, so if your child is younger you will probably want to follow them inside the fish to help them up the ramp to the slide, or (as I did), crouch outside the back entrance to the fish and offer words of support!
He also loved climbing inside the frog and sliding back down, as well as climbing all over the dragonfly or pretending to be a pirate on one of the white boats!
The playground feels really safe as it is fully enclosed with swing shut gates (although important to note these can be left open and some caregivers were not ensuring the gate was shut behind them, so please be aware of this!) and I really loved the sensory boards on the fences – this was a lovely added detail that you don’t often see in playgrounds. The equipment was well maintained and all seemed very safe and appealing. There are also a good amount of benches around the perimeter of the playground for adults to sit and watch whilst the children play, and I was able to comfortably sit and feed my youngest whilst my toddler played.
There is no shelter from rain or sun from what I could see, although there are lots of buildings around which will of course offer some shading protection from sunlight in the summer.
If you’re visiting Westfield Shopping Centre or passing through Stratford International Train Station then I highly recommend stopping off for a quick play at The Biodiversity Playground!
PS – If you visit off the back of my recommendation, please tag me in your photos on Instagram and use the hashtag #JodetopiaInKent
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Are you looking for recommendations of other days out? Why not try visiting the Bluewater Nature Trail which is another great outdoor area at a shopping centre – don’t forget to visit Dinotropolis whilst you’re there, too!
