Glamis Adventure Playground, Shadwell, London

One playscape with 'real stuff' is Glamis Adventure Playground, where a boat lies beached on sandy shaols near the entrance. The kids get to do real stuff as well; roasting courgettes over a fire, learning to repair bicycle tires, and adding to the playground themselves. A delightful cacophony of self-build and self-color, noise, dirt, and madness beckons from way down a street of plain brick facades in a challenging area of East London. Glamis is a registered charity, always in need of support and facing funding cuts for next year.  They've already disappeared once, and been recreated, so add your support!  I'm told they'll soon have the ability to make a donation through their website...

Thanks to reader Daniel Bigler for the introduction to this never-never land where the kids are well-supervised by a commited staff and allowed to do and build about anything that doesn't destroy the existing structures, though grown-ups are called upon to help with advanced construction.  Daniel is also helping me with blog construction...adding searches, maps, announcements, etc, per your requests,  so watch this space!  And be happy - happy - happy.