Best garden slides for toddlers and kids of all ages in 2025

We've tested kids slides – from toddler designs to larger options – to find the very best, starting at as little as £20. Ready, set, wheeee!

Best garden slides for kids at a glance

• Best budget garden slide: Chad Valley Bug Toddler Slide, £20
• Best toddler garden slide with wide slope: Chad Valley 4ft Kids Garden Slide, £25
• Best garden slide and den: PalPlay Plastic Tower Gym, £119
• Best garden slide with extra features: Smoby Adventure Car Slide and Sandpit, £239.99
• Best garden slide for climbing: 4ft Toddler Adventure Slide with Platform and Climbing Wall, £110.99
• Best extendable garden slide: Smoby Super Megagliss 2-in-1 Slide, £269.99
• Best garden water slide: Happy Hop Sharks Club inflatable water slide, £349
• Best large garden slide: Chad Valley 9ft Kids Wavy Garden Slide, £180
• Best garden slide for older kids: Smyths Toys 10ft Double Wave Slide, £139.99
• Best garden slide and climbing frame combo: Backyard Discovery Cedar Grove, £1,499

Jump to:

• Best garden slides for kids of all ages
• What to consider when buying a garden slide for your child
• What age can my child play on a slide

What are the best garden slides for children?

1. Chad Valley 3ft Bug Toddler Slide, £20

Best budget garden slide

Available at: Argos

Age: 18 months+ | Maximum child weight: 30kg | Size: L112cm x W65cm x H67cm | Weight: 3.6kg | Assembly time: None

Pros:

• Great value
• Suitable for younger toddlers
• Easy assembly
• Lightweight
• Built-in handrail

Cons:

• Quite small
• Doesn't fold up for storage
• No grips on steps
• Fairly steep slope
• Not UV-treated
• Only comes in green

This all-in-one, lightweight plastic slide can be used straight out of the box. The 4 steps are spaced reasonably for a toddler stride and the inbuilt handrail follows them all the way up to the top, so it's well-suited to those still perfecting their balance. It's great value for money but there are no anti-slip treads, no colour choices and the slope is quite steep, so you land at the bottom with a bit more of a bump that on a bigger slide with a gentler gradient.

Because it's pretty small, your child will probably grow out of it relatively quickly, but our little testers loved the bug detailing and clambered and slid about on it very happily.

It's pretty sturdy and has a nice cubby underneath – perfect for hide and seek!

2. Chad Valley 4ft Kids Garden Slide, £25

Best toddler garden slide with wide slope

Available at: Argos

Age: 2+ | Maximum child weight: 30kg | Size: W60cm x D141cm x H78cm | Weight: 4.3kg | Assembly time: 20 mins

Pros:

• Good price
• Extra strap for stability
• Wide slope

Cons:

• Not suitable for younger toddlers,
• Not UV-treated
• No built-in handrail

This compact, lightweight slide is a great-value choice for a toddler who wants something a bit bigger than a 'baby' slide but isn't quite ready for something too high or too narrow. It's lovely and bright with groovy curved grab handles at the top of the well-spaced steps, and there's a good lip at the bottom of the beautifully wide 5ft slope to ensure your child doesn't have too much of a bumpy landing. We also like the support strap between the steps and base of the slide that helps provide extra stability.

For us, it's the perfect size as I wanted a slide we could have outdoors but wasn't too large to bring inside when the weather is a bit rubbish.

3. PalPlay Plastic Tower Gym, £119

Best garden slide and den

Available at: Very

Age: 2+ | Maximum child weight: 30kg | Size: L180 x W85 x H100cm

Pros:

• Great quality
• Strong and sturdy
• Extra climbing frame
• Safety railing
• Fun den compartment

Cons:

• No colour choice
• Doesn't fold up for storage

Not only is this pick a great first slide for your little ones, it also does double duty as a first den and first climbing frame. As well as steps, the slide base comes with different sized foot holes and hand grips for a climbing challenge. There's also a cosy inside area which you can turn in to a ball pit or secret fort, plus the top of the slide is wide enough to sit comfortably on.

4. Smoby Adventure Car Slide and Sandpit, £239.99

Best garden slide with extra features

Available at: Very and Robert Dyas

Age: 18 months+ | Maximum child weight: 49kg | Size: L223cm x W68cm x H91cm | Weight: 16.5kg | Assembly time: 45 mins (2 adults)

Pros:

• Fantastic extra features
• Great quality
• Suitable for younger toddlers
• Hose attachment
• UV-treated
• Safety grips on steps
• Reasonable longevity

Cons:

• Pricey
• Takes a while to assemble
• Doesn't fold up for storage
• No colour choice
• No built-in handrail

This all-singing, all-dancing 5ft toddler slide has a car attached to the steps and the car has a (removable) sandpit in its bonnet and a play tunnel through its back wheels, making it a proper little outdoor play centre.

The slide itself has anti-skid steps and a nice gentle gradient, with some good grab handles at the top and a hose attachment underneath to turn it into a waterslide. The car section has a nice wide seat and a turning steering wheel and key, as well as a horn, that makes sounds when you press it (3 x LR44 batteries should be included).

5. Rebo 4ft Toddler Adventure Slide with Wooden Platform and Climbing Wall, £110.99

Best garden slide for climbing

Available at: B&Q

Age: 3+ | Maximum child weight: 50kg | Size: L70cm x W50cm x H80cm | Weight: 45kg | Assembly time: 1 hour+

Pros:

• In-built climbing wall
• Great quality
• Weather-treated wood
• Choice of colours

Cons:

• Pricey
• Not suitable for younger toddlers
• Takes a while to assemble
• Doesn't fold up for storage
• No built-in handrail

Who needs a slide with steps when you can clamber up a mini-climbing wall instead? This wide, injection-moulded plastic slide slope is attached to super-sturdy, pressure-treated timber base with coloured, chunky plastic hand/foot holds that lead up to a wide top platform with good-sized grab handles at the side. It's very well designed and we love the storage space underneath for stowing away other garden toys.

It's not quick to assemble (allow a good hour) and you will need a drill for the job. And its impressive solidity means, once you've got it up, you're not going to want to be moving it around. Comes in Green (pictured) or Purple.

6. Smoby Super Megagliss 2-in-1 Slide, £269.99

Best extendable garden slide

Available at: Pramworld

Age: 2+ | Maximum child weight: 50kg | Size: L177cm (extending to 352cm) x W112cm x H186cm | Weight: 21kg | Assembly time: 20 minutes (2 adults), 1 hour for big version

Pros:

• Great longevity
• Great quality
• Safety grips on steps
• UV-treated

Cons:

• Pricey
• Not suitable for younger toddlers
• Takes a while to assemble
• Doesn't fold up for storage
• No colour choice
• No built-in handrail

This cleverly designed plastic slide starts off as a toddler slide but, with the addition of a 2nd module, you can extend its length, its height and its longevity. The plastic is anti-UV treated and it has anti-slip steps and hand holds at the top. It also comes with a ground-fixing kit for extra stability – especially useful when it's assembled in its bigger version.

Our child testers enjoyed the wavy chute but the older ones did point out that it can slow down your whizz to the bottom. It’s not hard to assemble, although it is a 2-person job, taking around 20 minutes for the small slide configuration and up to an hour for the full-length model. The screw heads are very large, and Smoby recommends using £2 coin to tighten the plastic screws instead, which works a treat.

7. Happy Hop Sharks Club inflatable water slide, £349

Best garden water slide

Available at: Selfridges

Age: 3+ | Size: : H450cm x W320cm x D240cm

Pros:

• Great quality
• Fun shark theme
• Lots of extra features
• Can be filled with water

Cons:

• Pricey
• Needs to be inflated and deflated
• Takes up a lot of space

In the summer months, what could be better than a massive inflatable slide? We'll tell you: an inflatable shark slide complete with climbing frame, secret tunnel and water canon.

A combo of shallow paddling pool and inflatable activity centre, you can add water to the base to turn this into a splash pool. This slide is just perfect for those hot days when the kids want to be outside all the time. It inflates in a few minutes using an electric pump (not provided) and folds down small for storage: make sure it's dry and fully deflated before you fold it up to prolong its life.

8. Chad Valley 9ft Kids Wavy Garden Slide, £180

Best large garden slide

Available at: Argos

Age: 3+ | Maximum child weight: 50kg | Size: H168 x W150 x D285cm | Weight: 19.8kg

Pros:

• Great quality
• Perfect for older kids
• Sturdy
• Long-lasting
• Includes water sprinkle feature

Cons:

• Requires anchoring to the ground
• Not suitable for younger kids

If you want a great big slide that will last your kids as they grow, this 9ft Chad Valley wavy slide is a solid find. It's incredibly sturdy with a powder coated steel frame, plus it includes a water sprinkle feature for the extra fun element.

Just be aware that installation may take some time as it's recommended you anchor the slide to the ground with weights or by digging two 35/35/35cm dimension holes and filling them with concrete.

9. Smyths Toys 10ft Double Wave Slide, £139.99

Best garden slide for older kids

Available from: Smyths Toys

Age: 3+ | Maximum child weight: 50kg | Size: H150 x W150 x D301cm

Pros:

• Longest in the list
• Great for older kids
• Sturdy metal frame
• Can be turned into a water slide

Cons:

• Must be pegged to the ground
• Max weight limit of 50kg

This is the highest slide on our list, and the longest single slide at 10 feet in length. Designed for kids up to the age of 10, this is the one to invest in if you want maximum bang for your buck, as it'll keep kids entertained long past their toddler or preschool years.

A simple construction with a metal frame and a wavy plastic chute, it also comes with ground pegs to keep it steady. An added bonus is that you can attach a hose to the chute in warm weather to turn it into a water slide. Position it next to a shallow play pool and make your very own at-home water park.

10. Backyard Discovery Cedar Cove, £1,499

Best garden slide and climbing frame combo

Available from: B&Q and Amazon

Age: 3+ | Maximum child weight: 54kg | Size: H303 x L560 x D465cm | Weight: 223kg

Pros:

• Amazing wow factor
• Multiple slides including 10ft wave slide
• Climbing frame and swings

Cons:

• Arrives in multiple packages
• Hard to assemble
• Wood is quite lightweight for such a large structure
• Very expensive

If you really want to wow your kids (and all their friends) this is the way to do it. More of an all-in-one adventure playground than just a slide set, this impressive piece of kit boasts 3 swings and a 2-level climbing frame alongside it's 2 slides: one 10ft wavy slide and a second spiral tube slide.

Other features include a climbing wall, a pretend snack stand with a sink and toy food, plus a telescope and a chalkboard.

As the name would suggest, the set is made from cedar wood, which is is a softwood. As such, it will feel a lot less solid than something made from a stronger timber, but it is a bit easier to assemble. Be aware of the maximum weight limit: it's definitely designed for younger kids despite the large footprint, but for safety the swings have all been tested up to 12 years of age.

What to look for when buying a slide for your child

• What age is it made for? At the risk of sounding very obvious, it's important to check that the slide you're buying is designed for your child's age: if you're buying for a toddler, you don't want it to have loads of steps and a high platform; if you're buying for a preschooler, you don't want a slide where the platform's barely off the ground. Some slides will adapt and extend as your child grows – they'll be more pricey but they may offer you more value for money in the long-term.
• How weatherproof is it? Outdoor slides are exposed to the elements and, though most are built to withstand rain and strong sun, some are definitely made to better withstand the worst that British weather can throw at them. Most children's slides are made of PVC, so you may want to look for one where the plastic has been UV-treated so the colours won't fade so rapidly after repeated exposure to the sun. If you opt for a slide with any wooden elements, check the wood has been pre-treated, too.
• What safety features are included? Look out for good hand holds at the top of the ladder, wide steps with anti-slip treads and steps spaced out well enough for a small child to climb up comfortably. It's also important that your child's slide is nice and stable: some slides will need to be anchored down in your garden or used with a safety strap. "Also, make sure the slide is always used on a level surface," says Kyle Maglione of Tp Toys, "and that all the fixings are tight and secure before allowing your child to play on it."
• How much space does it take up? Gardens, just like homes, can easily become cluttered with toys, and if you don't have much space, a slide can take up a huge amount of ground. We recommend checking your slide's dimensions and thinking about whether you need to choose a slide that can fold away, rather than be a permanent fixture in your garden.
• Does it have any extra features? Many slides come with have added features such as hose attachments that'll turn the slide into a water slide or climbing frames or even play vehicles that will up the fun factor. Usually, you'll pay more for a slide with extra features: think about whether it's worth it for you.

What age can my child play on a slide?

It depends on the height and angle of the slide – and on your child’s ability to climb a ladder. Generally speaking, most children can manage a small slide on their own from about the age of 2, progressing to larger slides with taller ladders and longer slopes as they get bigger.

You should always supervise a small child on a slide and be aware that both plastic and metal slides can get very hot in the height of summer. Never slide down a slide with a child on your lap – it’s been linked to an increased risk of injury.

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