Quick Info

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

🕒 Day & Time: Friday, 9:30–11:15am

👶 Age: Under 5s (toddlers especially well suited)

💷 Price: £2 per session (50p per additional sibling)

🟣 Booking: No booking required — just turn up

🟡 Term-time only: Yes

At a Glance

Best for: Toddlers who like free play & parents wanting an easy, low-planning morning
Vibe: Traditional village playgroup — welcoming and community-run
Space size: Large hall
Parking difficulty: Easy (one of the simplest locally)
Buggy access: Very easy
Sells out? No
Planning difficulty: Very low

What It’s Like

Newport Playgroup is one of those classic village hall sessions that a lot of local parents quietly recommend to each other. It’s simple in the best way — a big hall, plenty of toys, and a relaxed atmosphere where nobody minds if toddlers run laps for an hour.

The focus is free play. You’ll typically find ride-ons, play kitchens, baby toys, puzzles and role-play activities spread around the hall so children can move between things at their own pace rather than structured activities.

It’s particularly well suited to toddlers who like to roam and explore, and for parents who want a calmer alternative to the busier town groups.

Snack Time (The Famous Bit)

You will hear people talk about the snacks — and not jokingly.

Partway through the session the children sit down together and are given a proper snack (often more like a small lunch), which parents say makes the morning much easier — especially if you’ve rushed out of the house.

For adults, there’s tea, coffee and usually cake or biscuits, which turns it into as much a parent catch-up as a play session.

Parking & Practical Bits

Parking is one of the biggest reasons parents choose this group.
The village hall has very straightforward parking nearby, so you’re not juggling a toddler, buggy and bags across a busy street — a big deal in winter or with younger babies.

The hall is spacious and buggy friendly, and there’s plenty of room for toddlers who still fall over a lot (so… most of them).

Walden Weekly Tip

This is a great “reset morning” group — particularly if you’ve had a chaotic start to the day. You don’t need to book, you don’t need to rush, and your child will almost certainly leave fed and tired.

It’s also a good option if your little one finds larger, noisier sessions overwhelming.

How to Contact

Playgroups like this are usually run by volunteers rather than formal organisations, so the best way to find updates (term dates, cancellations or weather closures) is:
Via their Facebook page
or Email: info@newportvillagehall.org

Newport Playgroup

A friendly village playgroup known locally for easy parking, relaxed atmosphere, and legendary snack time for little ones (and cake for parents).