Custard Town to open in Exeter offering inclusive play for under 6s

Custard Town is a safe, inclusive, and interactive play space for children aged six and under, opening this June at Guildhall Shopping Exeter. Designed to spark imagination and sensory exploration, Custard Town offers a welcoming environment where children and grown-ups alike are encouraged to jump in and play.

Located in the heart of the city centre on Level One of Guildhall Shopping Exeter, the space brings a new, family-focused experience to Exeter’s retail and community offering, creating a place where play, connection and accessibility come together.

The space is made up of a series of themed rooms, each carefully created to support different ages and stages of development. Children can enjoy a teddy bears’ picnic in the park, get creative in a mess free art studio, or boogie down in Custard Town’s very own disco. Across the space, play is supported by sensory experiences using touch, sound, and light, blending guided activities with imaginative free play.

Custard Town will be open seven days a week, with morning and afternoon sessions for children aged 0–6, alongside additional SEN sessions. A café on site offers hot drinks and cakes, and visitors are welcome to bring their own food and drinks.

Accessibility, affordability, and safety are at the heart of the project. Entry prices and café treats are kept as low as possible, with a monthly pass available and free entry for babies under nine months.

Custard Town builds on the legacy of Little Exeter, which operated from 2023 until its closure in March 2026. The venue played a vital role in the city, providing an affordable, welcoming space where children could play and adults could connect.

Following the announcement of its closure, Exeter Community Initiatives (ECI) sought a way to sustain a service so valued by families and children’s services across the city. As a charity with a strong track record of delivering family-focused projects — including Family Resource, the Jelly Children’s Charity Shop and Exeter Children’s Centres — ECI recognises the essential role that community play spaces have in supporting early development, wellbeing, and social connection. Social isolation can have far-reaching effects for both parents and young children, and offering preventative, community-based support aligns closely with ECI’s ethos and existing work.

ECI is grateful for the support of Exeter City Council and Guildhall Shopping Exeter, whose partnership and provision of space has made it possible to bring Custard Town into the heart of the city centre.

Custard Town opens in June 2026.
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