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Best garden slides for toddlers and beyond
Looking to invest in a garden slide for your kids? From first slides and water sides to slides that fold for easy storage, we’ve rounded up the best garden slides you can buy your kids this summer.
By Lucy Cotterill | Last updated Apr 30, 2024
If you’re trying to cut down on screen time and encourage your children to spend more time in the great outdoors, a slide makes a great addition to your garden. The best garden slides and play equipment are not only great fun, but also encourage kids to get active, whilst helping their physical development, motor skills, balance and coordination.
Picture the scene: you're chilling in the hot tub or hammock, and your little ones are having the time of their lives tearing about on their best trike, bouncing on a trampoline or getting messy in a mud kitchen. Investing in the right outdoor play equipment will help you make the most of your garden all year round - which means you have more time to relax.
Slides needn’t be limited to the playground or local park. We’ve rounded up the best garden slides for kids, with options to suit every age, budget and garden size. Because each slide has its ups and downs (see what we did there?) we’ve also included at-a-glance pros and cons for each.
When your little one is fed up with straightforward sliding, you can keep the joyful squeals coming by rolling toys down it, covering it with a blanket to make a den, or teaming it with a paddling pool in summer. Whether compact or curved, wavy or watery, there’s a garden slide that can provide hours of fun for years to come, whatever the weather.
Here are the best kids’ slides you can buy for summer 2024.
Ergonomic handrails
Hose attachment
Sturdy frame
Not recommended for children under two
Doesn’t fold up for storage
Price on writing: £70 | Dimensions: 100 x 150 x 159 cm | Material: Plastic | Age suitability: 2 years and over
The brightly coloured, UV-treated Smoby KS Slide is a great all-rounder slide for children aged two and above. With a sturdy frame and ergonomic design, the steps are gripped to avoid slips and trips, whilst the large handlebars offer stability and security as they reach the top.
It offers an exciting and speedy curve but flattens off for a gentle landing. We love the addition of a hose attachment, which can completely transform it into a water slide on those hot summer days.
Related: The best toys for 2-year-olds, according to Mumsnetters
Dolu My First Medium Garden Slide
Affordable
Easy to assemble
Folds flat for easy storage
We feel most children will outgrow (at least mentally!) faster than the suggested six years
You may miss handlebars for younger children
Price on writing: £38 | Dimensions: 71 x 88 x 110cm | Material: Plastic | Age suitability: Recommended for ages 2 - 6 years
Described as a medium-sized slide (but perhaps better suited for beginners), this bright red slide with blue steps is a great option for those working with a smaller budget.
With a stable A-frame, it even folds flat for easy storage if you want to pack it away in winter. It’s not UV treated however, so you may find the colour fades over time if left outside all year round.
Related: The best scooters for kids, as recommended by Mumsnetters
Relatively small footprint compared to other swing and slide sets
Made from pressure treated FSC® certified European timber
Requires significant assembly
Price on writing: £320 | Dimensions: 281 x 276 x 208(h)cm | Material: FSC certified wood | Age suitability: 3 years and over
If you’re looking for a slide and swing combo playset for your garden, TP Toys comes well recommended within the Mumsnet community. Made from high-quality FSC Certified wood, their playsets come with a five-year guarantee and are fully treated to protect against the elements.
The Forest Multiplay Swing and Slide Set is a multi-activity playset including a climbing frame, two adjustable swing seats and a 6ft wavy slide, providing children with hours of fun in the garden with their friends or siblings. It has a smaller footprint than some larger playsets, although it's worth bearing in mind you'll need space in front too, especially as the wavy slide can pick up some pace!
Read next: Best outdoor toys: get your kids active with great toys and games for your garden
TP Toys Hill Top Tower Playhouse & Slide
Double lavel playhouse
Long slide suitable for varied age groups
Ideal for imaginative play
Requires significant assembly
Not watertight (although you could add felt to roof)
Needs concrete anchors (concrete not included)
Price on writing: £600 | Dimensions: H230 x W137 x L306cm | Material: FSC Certified wood | Age suitability: 3 years and over
Want something that will really bring your child’s imagination to life? This two-story playhouse may take around 2 hours to assemble, but it's certainly worth the wait.
The adorable stilted playhouse with a door and two perspex windows creates a shaded area underneath, ideal for a sandpit, ball pit or simply a space to play with toys away from the sun’s glare. When it’s time to leave the playhouse, kids can make an impressive exit by zooming down the 1.8 metre wavy slide. It’s worth noting however that the playhouse isn’t watertight, so you may want to invest a little extra to felt the roof if you want to leave items inside all year round.
Read next: Best balance bikes: teach your preschooler to ride with confidence
Tool-free assembly
Robust
Variety of play options
Kids will outgrow relatively quickly
Pricey for short-term use
Price on writing: £120 | Dimensions: D130 H76 W77cm | Material: Plastic | Age suitability: 18 months and over
Tiny climbers and mini explorers will be kept amused by this popular cubed activity gym from Little Tikes. As well as a small slide, it features a little hideaway and portholes for playing peek-a-boo and crawling through and can even be enjoyed indoors as well as outside.
Although it will provide hours of entertainment for toddlers, preschoolers may find that their feet are almost touching the ground before they even set off down the slide. There’s little chance of it toppling over, however, thanks to its solid base, which is a lifesaver for anxious parents.
Read next: Best toddler toys to keep your little one entertained for hours
Folds flat for convenient storage
Affordable price point
Smaller than some other starter slides
Price on writing: £30 | Dimensions: 108Lx 58W x66H cm | Material: Plastic | Age suitability: 24 months and over
If you’ve got a small garden or prefer to pack your garden toys away at the end of the day, the Qwikfold garden slide is a great option, with a compact fold that makes it easy to move around and store.
A gentle 3.5 ft slide, it has two wide steps and easy grip handles to support your kids as they climb, but you may find it a little less robust and stable than some of the more expensive models.
Read next: Best trikes for toddlers and preschoolers, as recommended by real parents
Great first slide for toddlers
Stable
Easy to climb
Will be outgrown fairly quickly
Price on writing: £35 | Dimensions: H72.3, W49.5, D120.8cm | Material: Plastic | Age suitability: 18 months and over
The Little Tikes First Slide has become a popular choice amongst Mumsnet users, particularly for providing toddlers with their very first garden slide experience. It also folds flat for easy storage; making it a practical option for those with smaller gardens.
Sturdy and stable, with moulded handrails for an easy grip, this slide is ideal for little ones to explore and gain some independence. Watch as they beam with pride after getting up and down by themselves!
Read next: Best paddling pools for splashy fun and keeping cool in 2024
Great for older children
Includes water sprinkler feature
Pricey
Wavy slides tend to be faster!
Price on writing: £180 | Dimensions: H168, W150, D285cm | Material: Plastic | Age suitability: Ages 3 years and over
Who said the little ones should have all the fun? If your child is a bit of an adrenaline junkie, or is rapidly outgrowing their beginner slides, this wavy 9ft garden slide will bring a bit of excitement back into their garden.
With a reassuring handrail all the way up to support them as they climb, they’ll build up some speed as they wave their way to the bottom. You can even add water with the hose attachment, ideal for slipping straight into the paddling pool. It’s worth noting that they recommend anchoring this slide using concrete for stability, so it may be less suitable for those looking for one they can move around or pack away.
Read next: 15 best toys for 5-year-olds as recommended by parents
Can be used wet or dry
Quick and easy to set up / inflate (air blower included)
Great for siblings/groups of children to play together
Expensive
Takes up significant space
Price on writing: £350 | Dimensions: 600 x255 x 215cm | Material: PVC | Age suitability: Ages 3-10 years
If your budget can stretch this far, or you’re after a slide option that can entertain bigger families or larger groups of children, this inflatable slide from Happy Hop will have them running to the garden in no time. Inflating in seconds using the included air blower, it even comes with a robust storage bag for when it’s time to (reluctantly) pack it away.
Made from strong pvc with extra thick double-sewn seams, it uses stabilising water bags on the sides for safety. It can be used with or without water, but on hot summer days, children will absolutely love scaling up the climbing wall, racing down the two track slide and being the first to splash into the pool at the bottom.
Read next: The best toys for 4-year-olds as recommended by parents
Modular design with two slides in one
Your child won't grow out of this slide as quickly as some others on our list
Needs substantial garden space
Expensive
Price on writing: £250 | Dimensions: 352 x 112 x 186 cm | Material: Plastic | Age suitability: 2 - 8 years
If it feels like your child is growing up fast, you may want to opt for a garden slide that is built to last the test of time. The Smoby Super Megagliss is a great choice - a garden slide that quite literally grows with your child. Measuring a whopping 3.6 metres, it starts as a smaller 1.5-metre slide, extending to become a triple wave chute once your little one is too big for it.
With safety features including a stable ladder, anti-skid steps and ergonomic handles, this modular slide also comes with a ground fixing kit for added peace of mind. Treated to reduce fading, it’s built to last and to look good for many years while it’s enjoyed by both younger and older kids. Smoby seem to have thought of everything, except that once they start whizzing down this slide, your kids may never want to come inside again.
Read next: Best toddler reins to keep your little ones close
At what age can a child use a slide?
Every child develops at a different rate and while one may be coordinated enough to be up and sliding by 18 months, another might not have enough body control until later.
To use a slide safely, kids need to be capable of climbing, sitting and staying upright, which may be between 18 months and two years. Parents should be confident that their child has the appropriate amount of balance and must use their judgment for each individual, ensuring they are supervised by an adult while they descend. Always note the manufacturer’s guidance on a slide’s age suitability, as some slides have weight limits too.
How to choose the best kids’ slide
There are several factors to take into account when buying a children’s slide:
Where will you put it? Consider whether you’ll be putting it indoors or outdoors and also how much room it will take up – the size of kids’ slides varies considerably, so get out the tape measure before you buy.
How old is your child? Choose a slide suited to your child’s development and take heed of the age guidance on the box.
Number of children: How many kids will be using the slide and will all of them be able to use it?
How much can you spend? With slides costing from tens of pounds to hundreds, choose one to match your budget.
Material: Many kids’ slides are made from plastic, which can be durable and last for years, but there are more eco-friendly alternatives out there too.
Safety features: A toddler slide should be stable and have non-slip steps, with easy-grip handles. High sides are advisable for the smallest of kids.
Extra features: Are you looking for a slide that offers something different from a conventional one, like the option to turn it into a water slide? Or a slide that comes with its own swing set?
What is the best kids’ slide?
The best kids’ slide is the Smoby KS Slide. A robust and sturdy slide with an attractive design, it’s simple to put together, can be used in or outdoors, transforms into a water slide and comes with lots of ergonomic safety features. But best of all, it won’t be outgrown as quickly as some, making it a savvy and long-term buy for most families.
How we chose our recommendations
Our children’s slide suggestions have come from recommendations on the Mumsnet forums and from consumer reviews on the web, taking into account what customers said about the products featured.
We also consulted independent review sites and having collated all that information, we picked the kids’ slides for toddlers and beyond that we thought were worthy of taking the titles in an array of interest categories.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases.
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