10 Best Bouncy Castles for Kids UK 2022

For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:

1. BeBoP - Large Canyon Bouncy Castle for £649.95
2. HOMCOM - Kids Bouncy Castle With Slide for £165.99
3. Intex - Jump-O-Lene Bouncer for £54.95
4. COSTWAY - Inflatable Bouncy Castle for £349.55
5. Chad Valley - Bouncy Castle for £150.00

For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of bouncy castles for kids available and understand how our ranking was determined.

This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.

1. Think About The Dimensions of Your Bouncy Castle 
2. Consider Buying A Bouncy Castle With An Electric Pump 
3. If You Want A Bouncy Castle For A Special Occassion, Think About Special Features

Just like other outdoor games, different aged children will enjoy different sized bouncy castles. You may also have limited space, want to keep an eye on the little ones or have a wild kids' party planned. All these things will influence the size of the bouncy castle that's best for you, so double check dimensions before you buy.

A mini bouncy castle is the perfect way to encourage small children and even toddlers to get jumping and let off some steam. Smaller castles, measuring 255 cm or less in width and depth, can fit into smaller living spaces comfortably, meaning even if you don't have a big garden, children needn't miss out on the fun.

Protective parents may like the idea of being able to keep one eye on the kids while they jump, making a mini indoor version the best bet. Younger children can also be intimidated by really large castles, especially when sharing the space with boisterous bigger kids, so a small castle can help them build their courage and motor skills in a safe way. 

A large bouncy castle measuring between 300 and 400 cm in width and/or depth requires a lot of outdoor space. If you're lucky enough to have a big garden, a more sizable castle is a great purchase for a kid's birthday or special occasion. 

You may also want to buy one to store in the shed and inflate on quieter days of the school hols for an afternoon of energy-burning, fitness-boosting fun! Even extra-large castles can be stored in a relatively small bag or box, meaning you don't have to worry they'll take up excess space when deflated and you can really get your money's worth with multiple uses.

Looking for other party goods? Check out our guides on the best party games, and disco balls!

Some bouncy castles on the market need to be pumped up manually, so you'll need to buy or locate a separate bicycle pump and put aside up to an hour of serious effort! If this feels excessive, we recommend choosing a bouncy castle that can be blown up using an electric air pump, sometimes referred to as an air fan or air blower. 

All you'll need to do is plug in at the wall and attach the nozzle carefully to the pump opening of your bouncy castle. Then, switch on and wait as your castle inflates in under ten minutes! For even more minimal effort, choose a bouncy castle with an air blower included in the total price. 

Perhaps you are planning to surprise your kid with a birthday bouncy castle and have a themed party in mind. If this is the case, consider one that fits with the theme, such as football, pretty princesses or the ever-popular unicorn. This certainly makes shopping for party decorations much easier!

Maybe you have older children or young teens, in which case a standard bouncy castle can feel a tad juvenile. For this age range, why not consider a bouncy disco dome with space for speakers to really get the party started? This still allows youngsters to burn off energy and enjoy themselves, but in a setting that feels a little more grown-up.

To keep your kids busy for hours, if not days or weeks, choose a bouncy castle that doubles as a mini water park, with slides, canons or a paddling pool. These slippery, slidey castles provide not only lots of bouncing fun, but they can also double as the setting for a childhood-defining water fight (or ten!).

Another perk of water-safe bouncy castles is that they can be enjoyed wet or dry, so for milder days, skip using the hose and simply allow kids to bounce, clamber and slide to their hearts' content. Do make sure your kids are supervised while they play on bouncy castles that double as paddling pools, though, since the risk of slipping and falling is increased.

When shopping for smaller-sized bouncy castles, look out for those with fine netting walls between the inflatable 'castle' turrets. These allow kids to see out and enjoy some vitamin D while also breaking their fall and stopping them from rolling out if they miscalculate a big jump.

If you're considering turning your mini castle into a ball pit, netting walls are also helpful in keeping everything in one place rather than strewn across the garden. Netting will usually be made from nylon or polyester which is much more breathable than the plastic and PVC used for the main castle, keeping kids cool as they jump.

To take the bouncy castle thrills to the next level, why not look out for one which has a built-in slide or fun game to enjoy as a break from all that leaping about? Slides are sometimes placed at the entrance or to one side of the main castle and can be lined up with a paddling pool at the bottom on hotter days.

This saves a little money (water-safe bouncy castles do tend to cost a little more) and is just as much fun. Or, choose a bouncy castle with inflatable hoop-la to help increase growing kids' coordination and stimulate them mentally as well as physically.

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.

Although some manufacturers do state that 2-year-olds can use bouncy castles, it is best to ensure that if they are, they are playing in a small group with others of the same age and height. Parents should always supervise and watch young kids whilst they play in order to make sure potential accidents can be prevented. 

If a bouncy castle gets too hot, it has the potential to burn. Therefore, if you are using a one on a hot summer's day, take extra caution and make sure to regularly check the inflatable and that children wear socks to avoid burning the bottom of their feet.

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Written and researched by Annie Hopkins