You might have seen my old review of the Helicopter park in Wendover and you’ll notice that the equipment has changed. There was a massive issue with vandalism and at one point they ripped out all of the equipment! Well now it’s been replaced with a new design so we went along to see how it compared. One thing to bear in mind, it’s quite exposed up there. I was bloody freezing and ended up wrapped in a blanket from the car as well as my coat.
PS – There’s another, excellent playground nearby known as the Pirate park. You can read that review here. This one is also very cool, but I think the helicopter park is a bit better.
What equipment is there?
The reason it’s called the Helicopter playground is that Halton RAF Camp used to own this bit of land and so all the equipment was helicopter themed. It was quite unique and one of the best playgrounds in Wendover. This is what it used to look like;
So they’ve now put in a different frame which, personally I don’t think is quite as good as the old one. The general feedback that I’ve seen so far tends to agree; close but not quite.
They also have a couple of other bits of climbing equipment aimed at older children including a fitness trail that leads to a zip-line. Smallest Child LOVES zip lines so she wanted to have a go, but she’s not big enough to reach the handle (she’s a tall 5 year old) so I had to keep lifting her up.
One piece of equipment that was popular with both the kids was the rope pyramid. There’s sections that apparently are a bit like trampolines (their description, not mine) which they both thought was great.
What other equipment is there?
- Climbing frames
- Accessible roundabout
- Swings / toddler swing
- See-saw
- Sliding pole
- Spinning pole
- Rockers
- Fitness trail for younger and older kids
- Spinning cup
- Nest swing
- Slide
How to find the helicopter playground
I found this park by a random google maps spot – it’s fairly obvious on the map and I had to check it out. We accessed it via Whittingham Avenue, and drove past a lovely little playground but I knew there was more to come….
It looks like you’re going to wrong way because you come to a dead end and it is a bit hidden but, trust me, it’s there. There is a little car park just off of Cruickshank Drive. The playground is set within a larger green space and it looks like it’s quite popular with dog walkers.
Is the Helicopter playground in Halton camp or Wendover??
Officially this is Haddington Playpark but I think everyone in Wendover and Halton calls it the Helicopter playground! It’s on the border between Halton and Wendover, just off the new estate. I’m not 100% sure of the boundaries. I’ve described the helicopter park as being on Halton Camp not Wendover because that’s what Google Maps says. If this is wrong please let me know and I’ll amend it.
Admission Cost
Free
Parking / How to get there
Parking – Free and on-site.
Address – off Cruickshank Drive, Halton Camp, HP22 5FD. Check out the directions above
Toilets
None. Nearest public toilets are probably in Wendover Library car park.
Our Review of the helicopter playground at Halton, Wendover
This used to be our favourite playground. I do think it’s not as good as it was, but playgrounds are expensive to replace and if vandals didn’t keep trashing them they wouldn’t need to be replaced! It’s still a decent playground and the fact it’s mud free, with parking means it’s still a top choice for us.
If you’ve found this post useful please consider supporting the future of blog by buying me a coffee. You can either click the blue coffee icon in the corner, or the blue button below. It’s quick, secure and very much appreciated!
Hi, I’m Vicky. My husband and I live in Aylesbury with our three children; a 14 year old son, an 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I (mostly) love spending time together as a family. We visit all kinds of places and we’re quite happy to drive a fair distance for a decent day out. A few years ago I decided to set up Free Time with the Kids as a way to share our experiences of these family days out.
You’ll find the essential information you need to know before your visit that can be surprisingly hard to find out. Where do I park? How much will it cost me to get in? Are there any discounts available? Are there loos? Can I take a picnic or get food? My aim is to be your go-to guide for all your free and cheap family days out across Bucks, Beds, Oxon, Herts & slightly beyond. I really hope you find the reviews helpful. If there’s anywhere that you’d recommend please get in touch contact@freetimewiththekids.com or get in touch via Facebook
Thank you for your wonderful blog! We visited both the “helicopter†and “pirate ship†playgrounds today and also visited the fairy garden. My boys had a great time! Xxx
I think it’s back open!!