Shopping, Free Play & Fun Activities for Kids at the Exchange Ilford, Essex
Weekends are for fun and for spending some family time together, so last weekend after having a buffet lunch at the O2 Arena, we headed straight to the Exchange Ilford as we had heard about some fabulous new additions at the shopping center, especially about the new 10 metre soft Aztec kids play area. Luckily, as we reached there exactly at 5:30 pm, we were able to park the car free!
About Exchange Ilford
Having a very prime location in Ilford, just opposite the train station and with over 90 retailers, the Exchange Ilford is a red-hot destination for not just the locals but for others alike. The shopping center in Essex has popular stores including Debenhams, M&S, Next, Pandora and H&M along with the many others where we often shop. It's not just easily accessible to shoppers using public transport, but they've even got a paid car park with spaces for up to 1,060 cars and free parking is available daily 5:30 pm onward. The recent family friendly changes and refurbishment made to the mall by Capital and Regional are commendable and has made it a welcoming place for both adults and kids.
New Kids Free Play Area
A new 10 metre soft Aztec play area (Level 1) has recently been launched in the shopping center, which is totally FREE for the kids (under 6) to use and enjoy climbing, sliding and crawling. The Exchange Ilford's free play area is open for kids every day from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm and from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm on Sundays. The best part is that the play area also has a seating area for parents or guardians to sit and keep an eye on the children while they play. Moreover, a dedicated parents with prams parking has also been added on Level 1 which is absolutely fantastic!
I took BabyN' to the Exchange Ilford for him to enjoy some time at the play area, and he had an absolutely amazing time climbing and sliding. It was clean and colourful and besides the play area itself, there were also some tables and chairs for the little ones to enjoy colouring. We spent at least an hour in the play area before moving on to browse a few shops and to check out the impressive 3D Art Display.
3D Art & Interactive Workshops for Kids
This October half term, Exchange Ilford has set up interactive 3D art illusion displays spread across all the levels at Exchange Ilford and have also planned creative workshops for children. So all the shoppers visiting the shopping center from 16th October till Sunday 29th October can experience the Play With Art installation, which is fun for all ages to enter the 3D world. Also, you can walk through a maze experiment with 3D optical illusion art to create amazing photos. I've come across lots of people taking photos and sharing them on social media using the hashtag #exchangeplayart and it's really enjoyable seeing them pose in front of different 3D backgrounds. My family and I also took a few photos, but since we were short of time and the mall was closing, we couldn't explore all the displays but I'm hoping to visit Exchange Ilford soon again.
Besides this, from 23rd October - 29th October, kids can also enjoy interactive art workshops and learn how to draw 3D illustration, create designs including freestyle stencil and stencil lettering. A fantastic activity for kids and a great way to keep them busy! So make sure to visit and enjoy the day with some shopping and involving kids in these fun activities.
Important Information - Exchange Ilford
Timing: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri (9:30 am - 7:00 pm)
Wed (9:30 am - 8:00 pm), Sat (9:00 am - 7:00 pm) Sun (11:00 am - 5:00 pm)
Wed (9:30 am - 8:00 pm), Sat (9:00 am - 7:00 pm) Sun (11:00 am - 5:00 pm)
Parking: Accessed via Havelock Street & Ley Street
1 hour (£1.50) 2 hours (£2) 3 hours (£2.50) 4 hours (£3) 5 hours (£3.50) 6 hours (£4)
Over 6 hours (£8)
Free after 5:30 pm, Sun (£1.50 all day)
Location: The Exchange, Ilford - The High Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4FA
Website: www.exchangeilford.com
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Love those photos. Sounds fab and a great way to bribe the kids when you need to go shopping! They should do these in more shopping malls, would make it so much easier for parents!
ReplyDeleteThe Exchange Ilford shopping centre sounds great, the Aztec play are looks fun too.
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds really good! Soft play is normally super expensive and it would be a great way to get the kids motivated to come shopping with me.
ReplyDeletePlace looks so fun for all ages, especially the art & 3d interactive area is something I'd be excited to go to!
ReplyDeleteOoh! This shopping centre sounds really good, and a great place to visit with kids! The new children's play area looks awesome! xx
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a really great place! There's something for everyone!
ReplyDeleteOooh, those 3-D drawings made me do a double take - how clever! x
ReplyDeleteSo great! Then kids will never go boring!
ReplyDeleteThis place looks like so fun for kids! Nice pictures ;-) xx
ReplyDeleteThis is very near to my house, and I’m planning to take my kids there soon. Might also invite some friends.
ReplyDelete