After opening in June 2026, new Cotswolds family attraction near Cirencester, The Wild Space, has welcomed 1,000 children in its first three months – and the founders have announced that it's here to stay.
SoGlos explores what makes The Wild Space so unique, and what's on the cards for autumn 2026.
What is The Wild Space?
The Wild Space is a relaxed, screen-free space where families can explore and play freely, without set activities or rigid timetables.
Created by The Wild Things Events, in partnership with Roots + Seeds at Far Peak in Northleach, it recognises a need for spaces which sit somewhere between structured activities and a place to simply pass some time.
Founders Liz Macartney and Katie Collier describe it as 'part creative studio, part play space, and part invitation to simply slow down and spend time together' – and they say that Gloucestershire families were 'ready for it' when it launched this summer.
What is the thinking behind The Wild Space?
Liz and Katie are both experienced educators and play practitioners with more than 40 years of experience between them.
The Wild Space operates with a core belief that play, imagination and creativity aren't 'optional extras' but are fundamental for modern childhood.
Liz said: 'We wanted to create somewhere that genuinely feels good for the whole family to spend time. Children can arrive and immediately find things that invite them to get stuck in — making, tinkering, building, dressing up, creating worlds or disappearing into their own game.
'But we’ve thought just as carefully about the experience for the adults. Nobody needs to rush, perform or constantly entertain their children.
'It’s the child who arrives saying they don't know what to do and, 20 minutes later, has invented an entire world. It's the eight or nine-year-old who stays absorbed in something for an hour. It's parents telling us they drank a coffee while it was still hot or read half a book.
'Those are the moments that make us think: yes. This is why this place needs to exist.'
What can families expect from a visit to The Wild Space?
It's intentionally hard to pin down exactly what to expect from a visit to The Wild Space.
For children, there are a multitude of things to get involved with, from clay and cardboard to dressing-up costumes – or whatever eccentric idea Liz and Katie have concocted that week – encouraging everything from creative pursuits and engineering, to den-building and imaginative play, with indoor and outdoor options available.
While for parents and carers, The Wild Space's setting within Roots + Seeds means they can enjoy barista coffee and a menu of freshly prepared seasonal dishes in beautiful surroundings, so each visit feels more like a relaxed family day out, and doesn't revolve solely around keeping the kids entertained.
Liz continued: 'We care enormously about how it looks and feels. Children notice beautiful things too. We don't think a family space has to be plastic, noisy or entirely child centred to be welcoming to children.
'We want it to feel thoughtful and special, while still being somewhere children can make a mess, parents can relax and everybody can completely be themselves.'
Is The Wild Space suitable for children of all ages?
While children of all ages are welcome, older primary school-aged children are a key focus, with The Wild Space facilitating open-ended and imaginative play in a world where organised activities, screens, and achievement can often dominate these childrens' time.
With no levels to complete, no prescribed outcomes, and no expectations, children are free to engage with activities in whatever way they'd like.
When is The Wild Space open this autumn 2026?
After the phenomenal response to its summer launch, The Wild Space is sticking around this autumn, opening on Tuesday 15, Thursday 17, Friday 18, Monday 21, Wednesday 23, Monday 28 September, and Thursday 1 October 2026, with more October dates being announced on the Roots + Seeds website and The Wild Things social media soon.
Autumn dates offer a characteristically playful take on the season involving plenty of opportunities to embrace a sense of wildness – think leaves, sticks, and mud!
The Wild Space is open from 10am to 2pm on weekdays, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
How much does it cost to visit The Wild Space?
Admissions costs £6 per day for children aged two and up. Under twos can visit for free, and there's a discount for siblings, too.
There's no need to book in advance either, just turn up and stay as long as you like.
What are The Wild Space's long-term plans?
After a milestone year for The Wild Things Events, which saw it named Children's Business of the Year 2025 in the Gloucestershire Lifestyle & Community Awards, the launch of The Wild Space is the first step towards establishing a permanent home for its distinctive approach to play.
For more information about The Wild Space, including to see the latest opening dates, visit rootsandseedskitchengarden.co.uk.
