Colindale - Clip 'n' Climb

When Simon Jobson began developing a new Clip 'n' Climb location in Colindale, London, he wanted more than a standard soft play structure alongside the climbing attraction.

The brief was to create a fun, energetic and jam-packed play experience that complemented the bold aesthetic of the Clip 'n' Climb without competing with it. Play Creations designed, manufactured and installed the bespoke soft play structure, creating a multi-level attraction for children aged 0-9.

The new Clip 'n' Climb location was designed to be bright, bold and full of energy, so the soft play needed to fit naturally into that environment. Simon wanted a play structure that felt just as exciting as the climbing attraction around it, while still complementing the wider space rather than taking over.

The result was a large, multi-level soft play structure with bold colours, branded elements and an overall neon-inspired aesthetic. Rather than creating a separate attraction that felt disconnected from the rest of the venue, the structure was designed to become part of the wider experience. One of the standout features of the Colindale's installation is the way the soft play rises through the space and connects with the mezzanine level. The indoor play area has two entrances, one at floor level and another at the upper level. This creates a more varied play journey while making use of the vertical space available within the building. The upper entrance also sits alongside an area where parents can sit and watch their children using the play structure.

The soft play needed to work for a wide age range, from toddlers through to older children. A dedicated multi-level toddler area was therefore incorporated into the wider soft play, with equipment selected specifically for younger children.

Features include a smaller toddler slide and interactive equipment such as the banana rocker, shape stack, and a ball pool spinner. These soft play features give the younger children their own age-appropriate challenges and ways to explore the play environment, while the larger structure provides more adventurous opportunities for older children.

The Colindale soft play wasn't an off-the-shelf system assembled from standard components, we manufactured the entire play structure, including a number of bespoke features designed specifically for the project. One of the most distinctive details is the use of DMX-controlled LED chevrons, helping to bring the neon-inspired aesthetic into the structure itself.

A brand-new LED crawl tube was also incorporated, adding another illuminated feature to the play experience. The slides were given a new pattern design too, adding another layer of customisation to the finished structure. Together, these details helped create a bright and visually energetic play environment that fits naturally alongside the Clip 'n' Climb attraction. The entire soft play was manufactured by Play Creations before being installed on site. The project combined a large multi-level structure with bespoke lighting effects, custom slide finishes and a dedicated toddler area, all within the wider visual identity of the new venue.

For a project of this scale, the process doesn't stop once manufacturing is complete. The installation team also has to respond to what they find when they arrive on site.

And Colindale was no exception.

The installation took approximately six weeks and involved a six-person team. The team was also working alongside other contractors completing different elements of the wider Clip 'n' Climb project, making the installation environmennt particularly busy.

During installation, a newly installed air-conditioning unit affected the available space around the upper section of the structure. The top level had to be brought down and shortened slightly, which required sections of the steelwork to be cut and parts of the structure needed to be reworked on site.

Rather than treating the original design as fied, the installation team adapted the structure to suit the updated site conditions and continued working around the other teams. It's a good example of why commercial play installation involves much more than simply assembling equipment in an empty room. Existing buildings, services and other contractors can all affect the installation process, and the ability to adapt on site is an important part of delivering a successful project. The completed soft play brings together a large multi-level structure, a dedicated toddler area, multiple slides, illuminated features and bespoke design details within the wider Clip 'n' Climb environment. The structure's combination of height, bold colours and neon lighting effects gives it a strong visual presence, while its two access points and different play zones create a varied experience for children across the 0-9 age range.

More importantly, it works as part of the wider family entertainment centre rather than competing with it. The finished result is a bespoke commercial soft play environment manufactured and installed by Play Creations specifically for the Colindale site.