{"id":3294,"date":"2020-03-11T21:13:41","date_gmt":"2020-03-11T21:13:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/?p=3294"},"modified":"2022-07-01T18:18:57","modified_gmt":"2022-07-01T17:18:57","slug":"alexandra-palace-playground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/alexandra-palace-playground\/","title":{"rendered":"Pros and Cons visiting Alexandra Park Playground"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>We headed over to Alexandra Park Playground to check out what <a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/north-london\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">North London<\/a>&#8216;s Ally Pally could offer for kids (in addition to the ice rink). After getting some fresh produce from the farmer&#8217;s market and enjoying the view from Ally Pally, we went off to explore the local playground right next to the main building.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cool things to do around Ally Pally<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Ice skating &#8211; available all year round <\/li><li>Alexandra Palace Playground<\/li><li>Go Ape Treetop Challenge  <\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/london-farmers-markets\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Farmers Market <\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/kentish-town-farm\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Kentish Town City Farm  <\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:62px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to get to the playground behind the palace building, you have to cross a very busy car-park which felt chaotic despite wardens doing their best to direct traffic. Strange that they haven&#8217;t been able to integrate the green area with the main building without having to cross a parking lot&#8230; Then on the other side, for people arriving by car (unlike us) it might be convenient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119122253-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Walking across the green grass towards Alexandra Palace\" class=\"wp-image-3297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119122253-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119122253-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119122253-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119122253-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119122253-1-1170x878.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119122253-1-585x439.jpg 585w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119122253-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Walking up the steep hill towards Alexandra Palace to enjoy the view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The playground felt quite tired with dated equipment and concrete structures. My guess would be that nothing much has been updated or changed for at least 30 years. Nothing wrong with a well-used local play area that lacks a bit of paint here and there, but for an area that attracts thousands of visitors every month we had expected more. Then again, we&#8217;re not really attracted to brutalist architecture in general \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young kids don&#8217;t really care whether the play area is made of contemporary design or brutalist style and in the end, we had a good day, thanks to a long and steep slide.  With all the kids flocking to the big slide you had the usual issues with some kids jumping the queue, older kids running over smaller kids etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119134142-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"The big slide at Alexandra Park Playground \" class=\"wp-image-3300\" width=\"576\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119134142-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119134142-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119134142-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119134142-1170x1560.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119134142-585x780.jpg 585w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119134142.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><figcaption>Made out of a mix of concrete, cobblestones, steel and greenish rubber tiles the long slide was very popular. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s also a separate gated playground for toddlers. We thought it felt grey, uninspiring and basic with four crowded swings and a small slide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119135035-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Toddler area at the playground \" class=\"wp-image-3302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119135035-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119135035-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119135035-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119135035-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119135035-1170x878.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119135035-585x439.jpg 585w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119135035.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The toddler area in Alexandra Park Playground has all the basic play equipment like swings, slide, climbing frame and sandpit. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119141216-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"THe swan lake just next to the playground \" class=\"wp-image-3303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119141216-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119141216-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119141216-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119141216-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119141216-1170x878.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119141216-585x439.jpg 585w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119141216.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Enjoying the view of both real and fake swans next to Alexandra Park Playground <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We didn&#8217;t sit down to enjoy the Lakeside Cafe just next to the Playground but took the time to feed the ducks. Even if we were a bit disappointed with the playground we had a great day out at Alexandra Park and Palace, thanks to the many types of activities in the area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119113718-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Alexandra Palace Farmers Market\" class=\"wp-image-3304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119113718-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119113718-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119113718-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119113718-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119113718-1170x878.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119113718-585x439.jpg 585w, https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119113718.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Lots of tempting goodies at the <a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/london-farmers-markets\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">farmers market<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\r\n        <aside class=\"wrapper-penci-review\">\r\n            <div class=\"penci-review\">\r\n                <div class=\"penci-review-container penci-review-count\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t                        <div class=\"penci-review-thumb\">\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/20200119135158-150x150.jpg\"\r\n                                 alt=\"Review of Alexandra Palace Playground\"\/>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <h4 class=\"penci-review-title\">\r\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/alexandra-palace-playground\/\">\r\n                                <span>Review of Alexandra Palace Playground<\/span>\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                        <\/h4>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <div class=\"penci-review-metas\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                    <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <div class=\"penci-review-desc\"><p>Overall we had a good day out at Alexandra Palace but were underwhelmed with the playground itself. Luckily the long slide saved the day, and the kids had a good time. Considering the location and the huge amount of visitors, it would be great to see an upgrade of both facilities as well as the playground equipment.  <\/p><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t                    <span class=\"penci-review-hauthor\"\r\n                          style=\"display: none !important;\"><span>LondonDucklings<\/span><\/span>\r\n                    <ul class=\"penci-review-number normal-rating\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                            <li>\r\n                                <div class=\"penci-review-text\">\r\n                                    <div class=\"penci-review-point\">Play Elements<\/div>\r\n                                    <div class=\"penci-review-score\">6<\/div>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"penci-review-process\">\r\n                                <span class=\"penci-process-run\"\r\n                                      data-width=\"6.0\"><\/span>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                            <li>\r\n                                <div class=\"penci-review-text\">\r\n                                    <div class=\"penci-review-point\">Fun Factor<\/div>\r\n                                    <div class=\"penci-review-score\">6<\/div>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"penci-review-process\">\r\n                                <span class=\"penci-process-run\"\r\n                                      data-width=\"6.0\"><\/span>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                            <li>\r\n                                <div class=\"penci-review-text\">\r\n                                    <div class=\"penci-review-point\">Facilities<\/div>\r\n                                    <div class=\"penci-review-score\">4<\/div>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"penci-review-process\">\r\n                                <span class=\"penci-process-run\"\r\n                                      data-width=\"4.0\"><\/span>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                            <li>\r\n                                <div class=\"penci-review-text\">\r\n                                    <div class=\"penci-review-point\">Parent friendliness<\/div>\r\n                                    <div class=\"penci-review-score\">4<\/div>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"penci-review-process\">\r\n                                <span class=\"penci-process-run\"\r\n                                      data-width=\"4.0\"><\/span>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                    <\/ul>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"penci-review-container penci-review-point\">\r\n                    <div class=\"penci-review-row\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                            <div class=\"penci-review-stuff\">\r\n                                <div class=\"penci-review-row\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                        <div class=\"penci-review-good\">\r\n                                            <h5 class=\"penci-review-title\">Positives<\/h5>\r\n                                            <ul>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                                        <li>A longer than average solid slide on top of a mound<\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                                        <li>Basic hard to fail playground equipment like swings, slide and sandpit  <\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                            <\/ul>\r\n                                        <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                        <div class=\"penci-review-good penci-review-bad\">\r\n                                            <h5 class=\"penci-review-title\">Negatives<\/h5>\r\n                                            <ul>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                                        <li>Uninspiring <\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                                        <li>Tired equipment <\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                                        <li>Concrete feel<\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                                        <li>Smelly toilets <\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                            <\/ul>\r\n                                        <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t                        <div class=\"penci-review-average\">\r\n                            <div class=\"penci-review-score-total\">\r\n                                <div class=\"penci-review-score-num\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5.0                                <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                                    <span>Average Score<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/aside>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attractions close to Alexandra Palace Playground <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At Alexandra Palace, you can enjoy the all-year ice rink, the Go Ape treetop course as well as a dinosaur soft play area. We very much enjoyed the very popular local <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"farmers market (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/weareccfm.com\/city-country-farmers-markets\/market-profiles\/alexandra-palace-market\/\" target=\"_blank\">farmers market<\/a> where we picked up our dinner and also had lunch. Further, towards central London, you can enjoy Hampstead Heath not too far away, with the fantastic <a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/parliament-hill-playground\/\">Parliament Hill Playground <\/a>and visit London&#8217;s first city farm, <a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/kentish-town-farm\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Kentish Town Farm.<\/a> Don&#8217;t forget to check the rest of the <a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/playgrounds\/\">London playgrounds<\/a> we have rated as well as our favourite <a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/farms-zoos-london\/\">city farms!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color: #efefef;\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<h2>Key Information Alexandra Park Playground<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/free-things-london-with-kids\/\">Free <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/outdoor-activities-kids\/\">Outdoor<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Type: <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/playgrounds\/\">Playground<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Borough: <span class=\"aCOpRe\">Haringey <\/span><\/li>\n<li>Area: <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/north-london\/\">North London<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Tube: Alexandra Palace<\/li>\n<li>Nearby: <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/kentish-town-farm\/\">Kentish Town City Farm<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alexandrapalace.com\/things-to-do\/childrens-playground\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Playground website<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<div class=\"map-responsive\">\n<figure><iframe style=\"border: 0;\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2478.5352356558087!2d-0.13222152386482247!3d51.59508086256601!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x48761bd7124acd45%3A0xfe1b384d99e98452!2sAlexandra%20Park%20Playground!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1606821243277!5m2!1sen!2suk\" width=\"350\" height=\"250\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" aria-hidden=\"false\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We headed over to Alexandra Park Playground to check out what North London&#8216;s Ally Pally could offer for kids (in addition to&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3296,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[193,197,195,192],"tags":[156,47,157],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3294"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3294\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}