London Play

Working for a capital where all children can play

About us

London Play aims for every child in London to have quality, accessible and inclusive play opportunities. We campaign for more and improved play spaces and services, and support playwork in the capital.

Play is essential to children's health and development, but many children in London have difficulty finding a well looked-after playground, easily accessed from their home, which is safe and affordable to use.

Nearly half of children in London surveyed said they do not play out as much as they would like to. The obesity rate in London is one of the highest in the country and nearly 30% of London's children live in overcrowded accommodation - a figure which is more than twice the average for England and Wales. Therefore improving and increasing the opportunities for play outdoors - in supervised and wider public spaces - is crucial to ensure the future health and well being of the capital's children.

Achievements

Since we were established in 1998, London Play has been working tirelessly to promote play in London. Achievements include writing the Guide to Preparing Play Strategies for the London Mayor, helping to set up a number of local play associations around London, and establishing a widely-read play information service to support play professionals. In its review of funded organisations, the Association of London Government awarded us the coveted "excellent" mark.