If you’re searching for Riverside Hub, you’ve almost certainly heard about the UK’s largest indoor play centre, based in Northampton. It’s a four-storey soft play and activity venue where a single admission price covers go-karts, laser tag, climbing, role-play villages and more, with no coin-operated extras once you’re inside. Booking online in advance is required, since walk-ins aren’t guaranteed entry and weekends sell out fast. Here’s everything you need to know before you go, based on the venue’s own current information.
What is Riverside Hub?
Riverside Hub is a large indoor play centre in Northampton, open since 2013 and widely described as the UK’s largest of its kind, according to the venue’s own LinkedIn page. It’s built for a wide age range, from babies through to teenagers and the adults with them, rather than being aimed purely at toddlers like many smaller soft play venues.
The site includes the UK’s largest indoor playframe, two 10-metre climbing trees, electric go-karts, laser tag, space golf, role-play villages, free-play arcade games, dedicated baby sensory rooms, and a gated toddler area. One ticket price covers every activity inside, according to Riverside Hub’s own FAQ, so there’s nothing extra to pay for once you’re through the door, aside from food and drink at the café.
Where is Riverside Hub and how do you get there?
Riverside Hub is at 7 Carousel Way, Riverside Business Park, Northampton NN3 9HG, tucked behind the Mercedes-Benz dealership on the retail park, according to the venue’s directions.
By car, exit the M1 at junction 15 and follow the A45 towards Northampton, then take the A43 exit signposted for Kettering and Market Harborough, turning into Riverside Park and then Carousel Way, per Picniq’s directions guide. By bus, the number 3 or 5 service stops at Riverside Park on Fairground Way roughly every 30 minutes on most days, according to the venue’s own site. Parking costs £2.50 per car and must be pre-booked alongside your entry tickets, so it’s worth sorting this before you set off rather than assuming you can pay on arrival.
What’s included in a Riverside Hub ticket?
The admission price is designed to be all-inclusive, covering go-karts, laser tag, the indoor playframe, both climbing trees, space golf, role-play villages, free-play arcade games, the sensory rooms and the toddler area, according to Riverside Hub’s FAQ page. There’s one small exception: crazy golf requires a golf ball, which you can bring from home or buy a UV golf ball to keep for £1.
Beyond that, there are no coin-operated machines or surprise upsells once you’re inside, which several recent visitor reviews specifically call out as a positive compared with other play centres.
How much does Riverside Hub cost?
Pricing at Riverside Hub varies by date and time, with discounted off-peak rates automatically applied at checkout on eligible days, according to the venue’s pricing page. As a real-world example, one 2026 visitor review on Tripadvisor mentioned paying £53 for a family of four for a 2.5-hour visit, which the reviewer described as fair value given everything included.
The venue’s pricing page also references a “Summer VAT Saver” promotion, which it says reflects a temporary reduction in VAT on admission prices running until 1 September, passed on to visitors through lower checkout prices. Prices and promotions like this change fairly often, so it’s worth checking the live price when you book rather than relying on any single figure, including the one above.
Saver Days
Riverside Hub also runs Saver Days, offering up to 40% off standard admission plus a free third visit, according to the venue’s own site. These are announced periodically on the Saver Days section of their website, so it’s worth checking before booking if flexibility on dates works for your family.
How to book tickets for Riverside Hub
All visits to Riverside Hub must be pre-booked online, according to the venue’s FAQ. This guarantees your entry slot and secures your parking space at the same time, since the two are booked together rather than separately.
Weekends and school holidays sell out fast, so the venue recommends booking as early as possible once you know your date. The booking process itself takes a couple of minutes through the official website, and confirms both your admission and your parking in one step.
Riverside Hub for children with SEND
Riverside Hub has been designed so that almost every activity is accessible to children with special educational needs and disabilities, according to both the venue’s own FAQ and West Northamptonshire Council’s local offer directory. This includes dedicated sensory rooms, calming quiet spaces, and the option for parents or carers to co-pilot the go-karts for children who need extra support.
The venue also runs dedicated SEND sessions, typically held on a Friday evening from 6:30pm to 9pm with reduced visitor numbers, plus a special Christmas event each year, according to West Northamptonshire Council. Dates and booking details are published on the Riverside Hub website’s SEND days page.
Birthday parties at Riverside Hub
Party packages at Riverside Hub include full access to all attractions, a hot food buffet, squash, and a private party room, according to the venue’s FAQ. Families can choose from themed rooms, including a Candyland Room and a Pirate Room, and weekday evening parties running from 4:30pm to 6:30pm are also available for after-school celebrations.
Tips for visiting Riverside Hub
- Book well ahead for weekends and school holidays. These slots are the first to sell out, sometimes weeks in advance.
- Bring or buy a golf ball for the crazy golf. It’s the one activity not automatically covered by your admission, aside from a £1 UV ball available on site.
- Check for Saver Days if your dates are flexible. The discount, up to 40%, plus a free third visit, can make a real difference to the cost of a family visit.
- Arrive with parking already booked. Parking is pre-booked alongside your ticket, at £2.50, so there’s no separate payment to arrange on the day.
- Consider an off-peak slot if you want a quieter visit. Reviewers consistently note that weekday and off-peak visits feel noticeably calmer than weekend sessions.
FAQS
What is Riverside Hub?
Riverside Hub is a large indoor play centre in Northampton, widely described as the UK’s largest of its kind. It includes the UK’s largest indoor playframe, go-karts, laser tag, climbing trees, role-play villages and dedicated areas for babies and toddlers, all under one all-inclusive admission price.
Where is Riverside Hub located?
Riverside Hub is at 7 Carousel Way, Riverside Business Park, Northampton NN3 9HG, just off the A43 near junction 15 of the M1. It’s reachable by car or by the number 3 or 5 bus service, which stops at Riverside Park roughly every 30 minutes.
How much does it cost to visit Riverside Hub?
Pricing varies by date and time, with off-peak and Saver Days discounts applied automatically at checkout. As a guide, one recent visitor reported paying £53 for a family of four for a 2.5-hour visit, though it’s worth checking the current price when you book.
Do I need to book Riverside Hub in advance?
Yes, all visits must be pre-booked online, which also secures your £2.50 parking space at the same time. Weekends and school holidays sell out quickly, so early booking is recommended.
Is Riverside Hub suitable for children with SEND?
Yes, the venue has been designed so that almost every activity is accessible to children with special educational needs and disabilities, including dedicated sensory rooms and quiet spaces. Riverside Hub also runs specific SEND sessions, typically on Friday evenings, with reduced visitor numbers.
Does Riverside Hub offer birthday parties?
Yes, party packages include full access to all attractions, a hot food buffet, squash and a private themed party room, with options including Candyland and Pirate-themed rooms. Weekday evening parties from 4:30pm to 6:30pm are also available.
Is everything included in the Riverside Hub ticket price?
Almost everything. Go-karts, laser tag, the playframe, climbing trees, space golf, role-play villages, arcade games and the sensory and toddler areas are all covered, with the only extra being a golf ball for crazy golf, available to buy for £1 if you don’t bring your own.
How do I get to Riverside Hub by car?
Exit the M1 at junction 15, follow the A45 towards Northampton, then take the A43 exit for Kettering and Market Harborough into Riverside Park, turning into Carousel Way. Riverside Hub is located behind the Mercedes-Benz dealership on the retail park.
