Newport Playgroup

Our Lowdown

A wonderfully welcoming baby and toddler group in Newport, near Saffron Walden, with mountains of toys, an incredible snack spread and plenty of space for little ones to explore.

We finally made it to Newport Playgroup on a Friday morning, and what a lovely surprise it was! My two year old had an absolute blast, and I came away feeling like we'd discovered another brilliant little local gem.

It's held in a huge village hall with friendly volunteers, toys everywhere, a dedicated baby area, a quieter room for crafts and books, and a rather brilliant finale involving lots of little ride-on vehicles.

And it's just £2 per session, including snacks and drinks. The value is incredible.

Quick Info

📍 Location: Newport Village Hall, Frambury Lane, Newport, CB11 3PF

🕒 Hours: Friday 9:30–11:15am · term time only

👶 Best for: Under 5s, including newborns (dedicated baby area)

💷 Price: £2 per session · 50p per extra sibling · cash only

🟣 Booking: No booking, just turn up

🅿️ Parking: Large car park beside the hall (white metal gates off Station Road)

☕ Facilities: Toilets, changing mats, indoor buggy parking, tea/coffee/hot chocolate for adults

🥜 Food: Generous snack spread and drinks included; check allergens with volunteers
📱 Updates: Newport Playgroup on Facebook

Arriving and getting settled

Finding the hall was really straightforward. Head through Newport and turn onto Station Road towards the railway station. On your right, you'll see a large car park through white metal gates, beside the village hall.

There were loads of parking spaces available when we visited, despite the playgroup being really busy. Plenty of families also seemed to walk over from the village.

Once you've parked, there are paths behind the gates leading around to the front entrance, which makes getting little ones safely from the car to the hall much easier.

You'll walk through two sets of large double doors before reaching the main play space. I found this particularly reassuring because it means children can't easily dash straight outside.

On the right is a little sign-in table with paper sheets, pens and a cash collection pot.

Bring £2 in cash. There was plenty of change available, but no card payment option when we visited. The lovely volunteers kindly let me pay next time because I hadn't brought any cash, although I wouldn't rely on that being an option!

Behind the sign-in table is where everyone leaves their buggies, neatly tucked away just inside the hall.

There were at least four or five volunteers helping throughout our visit, and everyone was genuinely welcoming. It made the whole experience feel really easy, even though we hadn't been before.

What's the playgroup actually like?

The first thing that struck me was the size of the hall. It's enormous!

Rather than one big pile of toys, there are little play stations dotted all around the room, giving children plenty of opportunities to explore different activities.

There were toy kitchens, shops, tool benches, dinosaurs, Happyland-style toys, cars, play vehicles and all sorts of imaginative play equipment.

There were also little trampettes, which my daughter absolutely loved. She spent ages bouncing away before moving on to the next activity.

The whole space feels busy and lively without being cramped, and there's plenty of room for children to move between the different areas.

Bringing a newborn or young baby?

One thing I really want to highlight is that this isn't just a group for energetic toddlers.

As you enter the main hall, there's a dedicated baby area on the left, surrounded by chairs, with baby bouncers, rockers and toys suitable for much younger children.

It's a lovely setup for new parents who just want to get out of the house, have a cup of tea and meet some other grown ups.

There were at least four or five volunteers helping throughout our visit, and everyone was genuinely welcoming.

If you're a first-time mum feeling a little nervous about walking into a playgroup on your own, I think this would be a really lovely one to try.

The snack is genuinely amazing!

I'd heard from so many local mums that Newport Playgroup puts on an incredible snack, and having finally experienced it, I completely agree.

Calling it a snack almost feels unfair. It's practically lunch!

There was an enormous selection of food, including fruit, watermelon, banana, cucumber, hummus, cheese, sandwiches, breadsticks, puffs and other little savoury bits.

The food was laid out in a large kitchen area beside the stage, with a little table where children could sit down and eat together.

There were even adorable child-friendly cups and beakers, including some little doggy ones with spouts shaped like their mouths. My daughter absolutely loved hers and carried it around for most of the morning!

Water and juice were available too.

Watching all the children sitting together, happily tucking into their food before heading back to play, was lovely.

What about allergies?

My daughter has a dairy allergy, and I was particularly impressed by how thoughtful the volunteers were.

They took the time to check which foods she could safely have, which I really appreciated.

Not everything was suitable for her, so it wasn't quite the enormous lunch it was for some of the other children, but I felt reassured by how seriously they took it.

If your child has allergies or dietary requirements, always check ingredients and possible cross-contact with the volunteers before offering them food. The selection may change from week to week.

Tea, coffee and treats for grown ups

There's a self-service drinks station on the stage, with hot water, tea, coffee and hot chocolate available.

There were also some treats for the grown ups, which is always a lovely little bonus.

It's a small thing, but I really appreciate playgroups that remember the parents need looking after too!

A quieter room for crafts, trains and books

We actually stumbled across this room partway through our visit, and I'm so glad we did.

Tucked away at the back of the hall is another large room, noticeably quieter than the main play space.

There were wooden train tracks, long craft tables covered in stickers, stamps, crayons, pens and colouring sheets, plus a lovely little reading corner with bean bags and a book stand.

My daughter absolutely loved the craft activities, and we spent some lovely time sitting together reading books afterwards.

It's a brilliant option if your little one needs a break from the noise and excitement of the main hall.

Then the ride-on toys come out!

This was such a fun surprise.

Around 11am during our visit, the volunteers started clearing away the main toys and brought out a huge collection of little ride-on vehicles.

Think Scuttlebugs, scooters, push-along cars, little motorbikes and all sorts of wheeled things.

And then the children were off!

It definitely gets louder and a little chaotic, with children whizzing around the enormous hall, but they were clearly having an absolutely brilliant time.

My two year old took to a Scuttlebug straight away and spent ages gliding around, doing her best not to bump into anyone else.

It's a really fun change of pace towards the end of the session and a big hit with energetic toddlers.

Toilets, changing and practical facilities

There are toilets near the front entrance, between the sets of double doors.

When we visited, the women's toilets were on the left and the men's on the right.

There were little steps to help children reach the sinks, and toilet cubicles with child-friendly facilities.

Changing mats were also provided on the stage, which several parents were using during the morning.

I ended up changing my daughter standing up there, which worked perfectly well for us.

There's also plenty of space to leave your buggy indoors, behind the sign-in table.

Make a little more of your morning

The village hall overlooks a lovely open field with a gravel walking track running around it.

If the weather's nice, it's a brilliant spot for a little walk afterwards or even a picnic before heading home.

Another great suggestion came from one of our lovely Walden Weekly followers, who recommended popping across to Dorrington's bakery, just a couple of minutes' walk away, to pick up some lunch before heading home.

Such a good idea, especially if you've got a hungry grown up in tow!

Walden Weekly tips

Bring cash. Entry was £2 cash only when we visited, so pop a couple of pounds in your bag before leaving.

Don't worry if you're coming with a tiny baby. There's a dedicated baby area, plenty of seating and lots of welcoming volunteers.

Look for the quieter room at the back. It's easy to miss, but it's lovely for crafts, trains and a little reading time.

Don't rush off afterwards. The field and walking track outside are lovely, and Dorrington's is only a short walk away.

Remember it's term time only. Check for any changes or cancellations before making a special journey during the school holidays.

Would we go back?

Absolutely!

My daughter had a fantastic morning, and I was genuinely impressed by how much thought and effort goes into making this group welcoming for families.

From the huge variety of toys and generous food to the friendly volunteers, baby area and quieter activities, it really does offer something for almost every stage.

And for just £2, it's incredible value.

Highly recommended by Walden Weekly. We'll definitely be back!

Looking for more local groups? Explore our baby and toddler playgroups around Saffron Walden.

Venue contact: info@newportvillagehall.org

Prices and hours checked late October 2026 — confirm on their site before you set off.