Little Astronauts was crowned Best Indoor Play Centre in the 5,000-10,000sq ft category at the Association of Indoor Play Awards 2026
Little Astronauts in Hull’s Prospect Centre(Image: Donna Clifford for Hull Live)
The directors of a Hull soft play centre are over the moon after it was named as the best of its size in the country. Little Astronauts, based at Prospect Centre, was handed the prestigious Best Indoor Play Centre in the UK award in the 5,000-10,000sq ft category at the Association of Indoor Play Awards 2026.
The venue, which opened in late 2024, beat competition from leading play centres around the country to secure the national title. The award recognises excellence across all aspects of indoor play, including operational standards, customer experience, innovation and lasting impact on families and communities.
The judging process assessed venues on safety, cleanliness, customer satisfaction, innovation and overall visitor experience. Entrants were also required to demonstrate rigorous health and safety standards, including independent play equipment inspections, comprehensive risk assessments, five-star food hygiene ratings and robust operational procedures.
“We are absolutely delighted and incredibly proud to have been named the UK’s Best Soft Play for 2026” said Ben Roman, director of Little Astronauts. “To receive this award is a tremendous honour. This recognition means so much to our entire team, who work tirelessly to create a safe, magical and memorable experience for every child who visits Little Astronauts.
“We are genuinely overwhelmed and humbled! Not only is this a fantastic achievement for Little Astronauts, but it is also something we believe reflects positively on our city. We are proud to be putting our community on the map and showcasing the incredible family attractions that we have here in Hull”.
Little Astronauts has a distinctive space theme and includes immersive play zones, sensory areas and innovative activities such as ‘The Multiverse’. The team behind the venue say the award will inspire them to continue investing in new attractions, experiences and facilities.
Since opening its doors, Little Astronauts has welcomed thousands of families, hosted hundreds of birthday celebrations and become a popular destination for local parents seeking engaging, educational and active experiences for their children.
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here.