Jane's Midlife Journey

Note: The Stay & Play Cafe is currently closed and is planning to reopen in the summer in a new location.

The Stay & Play Cafe is a play cafe inside the Avenue in central Bournemouth. On the top floor, you will find this cafe and play area, which consists of a range of traditional style wooden toys.

How to get to Stay & Play Cafe

The Avenue is in the centre in Commercial Road, a 4 minute walk from Bournemouth Square.

By Bus

Most buses to Bournemouth stop at Bournemouth Square.

Parking

The nearest car park is Avenue Road. Parking costs £3.10 for 2 hours. Further details can be found here.

Access

There is access to the Avenue both at the front (Commercial Road) and rear. Only the front is step free. Ironically, you must then go right to the back, next to the exit with stairs to find the lift to the second floor. The escalators don’t work – they’re just art these days.

Opening Times

There are two sessions per day as follows:

• Monday to Friday: 10 am until 11. 30 am and 12 pm until 1.30 pm
• Saturday/Sunday: 11 am until 12.30 pm and 1 pm until 2.30 pm

Price

The cost is £5 for one child (£3.50 for a sibling).

Suitable for age

The play area is suitable for children under 5 years old.

Details

The large play area has a range of traditional toys, such as a train track, kitchen, tool bench and fire station.

There are also several wigwams, a slide with scramble net, a ball pit and some ride on and bouncy toys.

The one thing I didn’t like about the place were the wooden floors with just some foam round the ball pit and slide. Orla fell off the bouncy toys a couple of times and hurt herself on the hard floor.

Food & Drink

The cafe sells drinks, cakes and snacks. Adults and children are well catered for. Orla loved the Babyccino.

Toilets/Changing Facilities

There are toilets next to the play area with two changing tables.

• Updated: April 2025

For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth with young children, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth with Babies and Toddlers here.