A good garden slide for kids should be safe to play on and, most importantly, fun.
Garden slides are generally smaller than the big slides you’ll find at a park. So even if you have a small garden, you can find a small slide that doesn’t take up a lot of space. Some are small enough for indoor use.
Garden slides come in different designs ranging from small affordable slides to bigger designs that include other playthings such as a swing or playhouse.
In this buying guide, I recommend the best garden slides and give you helpful tips for choosing the best one in the UK.
Features to Consider When Choosing a Garden Slide
A. Slide Design
There are plenty of options when it comes to slide design. The first thing to decide is whether you want a simple slide or something with additional playthings integrated.
The best choice comes down to your budget. A simple slide will be cheaper. A slide with a swing, playhouse or jungle gym attached will be more fun for kids, but it’ll cost you more.
Also, check the design of the slide itself. Make sure it has no sharp edges or corners.
Many parents say slides with a gradient that flattens at the bottom, rather than being sloped all the way, are the best. The flat area allows kids to slide off the slide onto the grass or pool safely.
B. Safety
Get a garden slide that’s well built and sturdy. It should withstand kids’ rough play without breaking.
Other important safety features include slip-resistant steps and sturdy rails or handholds and tall railings along the slope to keep kids from sliding off to the side and falling.
Remember to follow the manufacturer’s age recommendations. Most garden slides are designed for kids aged 1 year or 18 months.
Some manufacturers will also specify an upper age or weight limit.
C. Hose Connection
Some garden slides can be turned into water slides by attaching a hose under the slide. This makes the slide more fun especially on hot days.
If you want this feature, check if the slide has a hose connection.
D. Size
If you have limited space in your garden, be sure to get a small slide that will fit, keeping in mind you’ll need some space around the slide for kids to run. You don’t want the slide to be too close to a wall or your precious flowers and veggies.
A smaller slide is also easier to move about, can be put inside a kiddie pool so kids can slide off into the water, and you can even put it indoors so kids can keep playing when it’s cold or raining outside.
But if you have plenty of garden space and you plan to keep the slide in one spot, you can get something bigger and heavier. You can get one of those integrated designs with a swing or jungle gym.
E. Ease of Assembly
Finally, check how easy it’ll be to assemble the swing. Get a garden swing that you can assemble yourself with basic tools.
A swing with additional built-in items like a playhouse will take longer to assemble, but you should still be able to put it together on your own.
An easy-to-assemble garden slide will also be easier to take apart. This is handy for storage and transporting the slide.
Best Garden Slides: Top 5 Reviews
1. Smoby KS Garden Slide
If you are looking for a simple and fun garden slide, I recommend the Smoby KS Garden Slide. It’s easy and quick to put together and weigh just 6.5kg, meaning you can move it about with ease.
The Smoby KS slide is small enough for space-limited gardens. It’s also perfect as an indoor slide.
For some water fun, you can dip the end of the slide in a paddling pool so kids splash into the water when they slide. If you don’t have a pool, you can attach a hose under the slide to turn it into a water slide.
The Smoby KS is constructed with heavy-duty plastic. It feels very sturdy and stable. Slip-resistant steps, easy-to-grip handrails and high walls on the slide ensure kids are safe when playing on the slides.
The slide slopes gently, so kids don’t go too fast. At the bottom, it flattens out to allow kids to slide out smoothly instead of hitting their feet on the ground.
The manufacturer recommends the Smoby KS slide for kids aged 2 years and above. It’s big enough that they can use it up to ages 4-5. And because of how well the slide is constructed, you can be sure it’ll last that long; maybe even long enough that future siblings will still play on it.
What I like about it:
- Sturdy and durable.
- Safe.
- Easy to assemble.
- Can be turned into a water slide.
2. Baby Vivo Kids Slide and Swing
If you want a slide and swing combo, I recommend the Baby Vivo Kids playset. It includes a 124cm long slide and a baby/toddler swing.
The manufacturer recommends the set for kids aged 1 year and above. There are, however, different weight limits for the swing and slide. Kids weighing up to 30kg can play on the slide. This means older kids up to 5-6 years can slide.
The swing’s weight capacity is 15kg, which limits it to toddlers up to 2-3 years.
The entire set has a sturdy plastic frame with fun bear figures. Kids reach the slide by going up the anti-slip stairs and holding on to the handrails.
The slide doesn’t have a long flat area at the bottom, so you have to make sure the slide is on a soft surface like grass or sand to make sure kids don’t hurt their legs when sliding off.
The swing includes a safety harness to keep your child securely in place.
Assembling the slide and swing is easy. Just be sure to assemble it where you want it to sit. The assembled set weighs 15kg, so it’s harder to move it around.
What I like about it:
- Easy assembly.
- Includes swing.
- Fun bear-themed design.
3. Feber 800008359 Garden Slide
The Feber garden slide is another good choice if you are looking for a water slide. It comes with a hose connection underneath the slide, so you can easily turn it into a water slide when it is hot.
This is also the only curved slide among our picks. The curved design adds a fun twist, especially once you connect a water hose.
The Feber slide is also the best choice if you have older kids. It’s longer than most garden slides, so older kids won’t feel awkward playing on it. It’s also designed to hold more weight – up to 50kg.
The recommended age range for the Feber slide is 3 to 10 years.
Anti-slip steps and handrails make it easy and safe for kids to get onto the slide. The slide itself features high and smooth-curved walls on the sides that kids can hold on to as they go down.
Assembling the slide is easy. The assembled slide is fairly heavy (14kg), so it’s a good idea to assemble it at the spot where you plan to keep it.
What I like about it:
- Easy assembly.
- Suitable for older kids.
- Fun curved slide design.
- Can be turned into a water slide.
4. Little Tikes First Slide
Looking for a small slide you can use both indoors and outdoors? I recommend the Little Tikes First Slide.
Measuring about 70cm high, 122cm long and 50cm wide, it’s perfect for a small garden or for playing inside the house. The slide itself is 110cm long, which is perfect for toddlers. The recommended age range is 18 months to 5 years.
The anti-slip steps are easy enough for toddlers to climb up to the slide by themselves. The slide is perfectly sloped for fast but safe sliding. High side rails provide a place for kids to hold as they slide down. The railing also keeps them from sliding off and falling before they reach the bottom.
Assembling takes a few minutes and you don’t need any tools. You can also quickly remove the steps for easier storage or portability.
What I like about it:
- Lightweight and easy to disassemble – easy to store and carry around.
- Easy and fast assembly.
- Sturdy and durable.
- Suitable for outdoor and indoor use.
5. Smoby Kids Playhouse on Stilts with Slide
This playset from Smoby includes a slide and a raised playhouse. It looks like a miniature treehouse with an attached slide.
The playhouse is big enough to fit 2-3 kids. It features three windows (two sliding shutter windows and one porthole window) and a half door. Inside, the walls are decorated with animals.
Outside the front half door is a 70cm high platform with a railing to keep kids safe. Kids reach the platform by going up the steps. The slide is on the other side of the platform.
Similar to the Smoby KS slide, this one also includes a hose connection so you can turn it into a water slide when it is hot.
Other than the higher price tag, the only other downside of the Smoby Kids Playhouse is how long it takes to assemble it. Parents say it took them 2-3 hours to put it together. You’ll need a drill to make some holes on the platform to allow rainwater to drain.
Also, keep in mind the weight of the playhouse and swing. Fully assembled, the set weighs 34.9kg. Assemble it where it’ll be staying.
The recommended age is 2 year and older, and the total weight capacity is 50kg. This makes the set suitable for multiple kids playing on it at the same time, as well as older kids. Though older kids will likely only enjoy the playhouse, as the slide may be too short for them.
What I like about it:
- Includes fun playhouse.
- Suitable for older kids.
- Sturdy construction.
- Slide includes hose connection.
