Quick Info

📍 Location: Friends’ Meeting House, High Street, Saffron Walden, CB10 1AA

🕒 Day & Time: Monday, 10:00–11:30am

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

💷 Price: £4

🟣 Booking: Required – via Facebook message only

🟡 Term-time only: Yes

At a Glance

Best for: Toddlers who enjoy imaginative play & parents wanting a friendly local hub

Vibe: Warm, community-led, organised but relaxed

Space size: Large hall

Parking difficulty: Moderate

Buggy access: Easy via side entrance

Sells out? Yes – very fast

Planning difficulty: Moderate–Stressful

What It’s Like

This is a well-loved Monday stay-and-play right in the centre of town, popular with local parents and nannies. It’s ideal for under 5s, particularly toddlers who enjoy imaginative play. If you need to bring an older sibling around 5, it’s not a problem — there’s space to move and join in with story and songs.

Inside, the large hall is set up with different activity areas — pretend play, toy stations, small “builder” workbenches, train sets, craft tables and a cosy book nook. There are baby bouncers for younger babies, and mats and blankets are put down to create softer areas for crawlers.

The session follows a gentle structure. After free play, everyone gathers for snack while organisers tidy away. It finishes with a group story and songs, giving a calm and predictable end to the morning.

The hall felt warm during colder months, and the hardwood floor works well with the mats provided.

Session Flow

• Free play includes: imaginative play, toy stations, workbenches, trains, crafts, book nook, baby bouncers

• Snack: Yes (allergies accommodated if declared when booking)

• Story & songs: Yes

• Structure level: Medium

  
  

Parking & Access

There’s no on-site parking. On street parking is available out front but the High Street gets very busy and parallel parking can be quite stressful.

• Closest option: Swan Meadow (approx. 5–10 minute walk)

• Waitrose: Parent & child bays available but limited

• The Common car park: 10–15 minute walk

• High Street parking is possible but involves traffic and parallel parking.
  
  

For buggies, avoid the front steps. Use the side entrance on the left-hand side of the building (near the carport area). Buggies are parked in a large foyer before entering the secure playroom.

Toilets and baby changing facilities are available on site. There’s also access to a garden during warmer months.

Booking Reality

Booking slots become available Monday afternoon/evening, and they post on Facebook when they go live.

To secure a space, you must message them directly via Facebook — this is the only booking method.

Spaces often fill quickly. If you miss out, you may be offered a space if someone drops out, but it can make planning a little unpredictable.

Planning score: Moderate–Stressful

Walden Weekly Tip

Keep an eye on Facebook on Monday afternoon — and message quickly when booking opens.

Saffron Walden Playgroup

A popular, structured Monday stay-and-play in the heart of town, with snack, story and songs to finish.