Playground Dens & Shelters
Playground dens and shelters create covered places for imaginative play, reading, small-group activity and quieter moments in schools, nurseries and play spaces. They add shelter, enclosure and a change of pace within the playground without needing a full outdoor classroom.
For den-style play, explore huts and dens such as Hobbit Den, Jungle Huts, Stilt Hut, Chalet Hut and Games Table Shelter. Gazebos suit more open covered seating or group spaces, while the Playground Retreat creates a smaller quiet corner for reading, rest or calm social play.
When planning a den or shelter, useful starting points include how children will use the space during the day, whether it should feel open or enclosed, the available space, age range, seating needs, surfacing and how the structure should sit within the wider playground.
If the shelter is part of a larger playground design, our free playground design service can help bring dens, shelters, play equipment, surfacing and surrounding site details into one clear proposal.