You don’t have to spend a fortune on Christmas gifts, but if you are planning on buying a child a big ticket item, it’s important to find the ones that are worth that £50+ investment. When choosing the toys for this list, I first looked for the ones that provide the most bang for your buck in terms of long-term play opportunities: we’re talking Lego sets that can be rebuilt in new ways, 2-in-1 toys that have lots of features, and open-ended play opportunities for younger kids that’ll also help them learn. That said, kids are kids, so there are also some items in here that got the nod purely because they’ve got that Christmas day “wow” factor (although I promise they’ll be used for more than a day). Here are my 12 top picks for Christmas 2024, suitable for kids aged 3 to 10 (ish).
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1. Lego Creator 3-in-1 Medieval Castle
Recommended age: 9+
If you’re investing nearly £100 in a Lego set, look out for the Creator 3-in-1 sets that give your kids multiple build options. I love this castle because it also has so many creative play options once built, whether you choose to make a castle, a tower or a medieval marketplace. The set’s being retired soon, so grab it while you can. The recommended age is 9+ but a younger child could definitely handle this too with a bit of adult assistance.
2. Play-Doh Pizza Delivery Scooter
Recommended age: 3 – 5
A ride-on that doubles up as a Play-Doh playset? Oh how I wish this had existed a couple of years ago! Designed for 3 to 5 year olds, this comes with so many fun accessories and pretend play opportunities (including a built-in pizza oven) along with 10 pots of Play-Doh so your kid can get creating straight away. All this, and it’s also just a really fun ride-on scooter (for indoor use) too. You’ll need space, but if you have it, this is a real showstopper.
3. Melissa & Doug Vending Machine
Recommended age: 3+
I’ve been dying to talk about this since I first saw it way back in January when it was still top secret! Melissa and Doug always produces great wooden toys, and the brand has knocked it out the park with this vending machine, which you can stock with the supplied toy foods or fill with your own supplies. I love that as well as being a really fun toy it could be repurposed into a rewards tool – if you hold the coins, you can control when and how kids get hold of the goodies. This could be used for years in different ways.
4. Connetix Pastel Creative Pack
Recommended age: 3+
Connetix tiles are a big financial investment, but when it comes to open-ended play over multiple years, they really show their value. In my house, they’re up there with Lego in terms of popularity. They’re suitable from age 3 but will be used for years on end as kids develop their fine motor skills and come up with new ways to play. They’re virtually indestructable, too. This pack contains 120 pieces in varying sizes which is plenty to get you started. Add on other packs like the ball run and the new road kit to further extend the possibilities.
5. Bluey Ultimate Beach Cabin Bundle
Recommended age: 3+
Hands up who else enjoys Bluey as much as the kids? This cute set has a beach theme, with a swimming pool you can actually fill with water, and lots of little details you’ll recognise from the show. You can buy the beach house on its own, but this Argos exclusive set comes with extras, including a jet ski and a full set of figures showing Bandit, Chilli, Bluey and Bingo in beach gear. One of my pet hates is a play set that doesn’t come with the toys you actually need to enjoy it, so I think buying the bigger bundle is worth it unless your child already has Bluey figurines in their collection.
6. Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage
Recommended age: 4+
There’s a whopping £50 off the RRP of this set at a number of retailers at time of writing, meaning you can pick it up for just under £80. It’s a no-brainer for Hot Wheels fans, and it’s definitely sparked the imagination of my own son, who’s got it on his list for Father Christmas. At 90cm tall it’s a huge piece of kit, so you’ll need space for it, but it does also act as a storage unit for up to 50 Hot Wheels vehicles (note there are only 2 included in the set). The main thrill is the launcher that acts as a lift, giving access to the loops and tracks on each floor, and the dragon, who drops to the bottom once defeated.
7. Lillie’s Wooden Dollhouse
Recommended age: 3+
There are so many beautiful dolls houses out there, but I think this one is good value and I love that it comes with a good amount of furniture to get you started – 26 items to be precise. It’s designed to hold dolls of 30cm, so it’s suitable for most popular fashion dolls like Barbie, Monster High, Rainbow High, Bratz and so on (although Monster High fans will probably have their eye on the epic £200 Haunted House playset). Did I also pick this because it reminded me of my beloved hand-me-down Sindy house from the ’80s? Um…maybe just a tiny bit!
8. AquaPlay Mountain Lake Water Playset
Recommended age: 3+
I wish AquaPlay sets were a bit more affordable, but these buildable sets seem to be far more conducive to long-term play than a standard water table so I do think they’re worth the investment. I’ve been impressed with how well they last – I’m ashamed to say we left ours (the £40 starter set) out all winter and although it faded a bit, it still worked perfectly by the time spring came along. This play set is one of the biggest in the range and the mountain adds a bit of extra fun creating a log flume for the boats. If you want to take outdoor water play to the next level, this is the one for you.
9. Tenderleaf Toys General Stores
Recommended age: 3+
I’ve yet to meet a child who doesn’t like to play shop (although I’m sure there is one…) and this gorgeous wooden market stall from Tenderleaf Toys has so much space to display and sell goods. You can club together with family members to stock it with toy food, or use items from around the house to create a bric-a-brac stall. The multiple levels and different boxes also act as handy toy storage when the shop is closed.
10. Yoto Player 3rd Generation
Recommended age: 3+
This is one of my most-recommended present ideas for kids under 5 (it’s great for older kids too but you’ll get the most bang for your buck if you buy it early). At its heart it’s an audiobook player: slot in a card (sold separately) and it’ll read stories to your kids. But it does so much more: it’s a clock, a nightlight and sleep/wake light. There’s a daily podcast and kid-friendly radio stations. You can record your own voice or make a card of your kids favourite songs. It’ll even teach your kids languages, quiz them on flags of the world, or support their phonics learning. We use ours every single day.
11. Magic Mixies Magic Couldron
Recommended age: 5+
This toy combines a number of toy trends in one: there’s potions and wizardry, a “surprise” element, and an interactive pet. Your child makes a potion in the magic cauldron, then casts a spell to reveal their Mixi toy. When they do this, there’s an impressive amount of mist and magic, and you can refill it to do this over and over again. The Mixi toy, once revealed, interacts with the magic wand, with over 50 different sounds and reactions. The £80 RRP on this is a bit excessive, but I’ve found it for £57. There’s also a more basic version for £25 if you’re on a budget.
12. John Lewis Wooden Train Set
Recommended age: 3+
Sometimes the classics are the best, and a wooden train set is a timeless toy that’s always a hit with toddlers and preschoolers. John Lewis’s set is compatible with other popular brands, but much better value at £65 for a set that includes 120 pieces, among them track, bridges, stations, trains, buildings, animals and trees. There’s loads to get started with here, but you can also expand the set with lots of extras from about £15. Keep an eye out in charity shops too – a friend of mine once found a huge box of tracks for a tenner.
Why are the prices in the links different to the ones on the image at the top?
As a general rule I list the full RRP on the image as this is how I categorise products into price ranges. However, brands and retailers often hugely discount toys, especially in the run-up to Christmas. I try to find the best deals to actually link to, so l will share the cheapest price I’ve found for you to shop.
