My top Christmas toys for £25 – £50
There are some really amazing toys in the £25 to £50 price range, and this is a particularly good place to look for slightly older children, as I’ve found some really innovative board games, educational toys, and building sets that’ll keep 8-10 year olds entertained. There are also all the usual mid-sized playsets and interactive toys. Just remember to stock up on batteries before the big day!
A Mum Recommends uses affiliate links. This means I might receive commission if you click on my links and go on to make purchases. However, please be assured this does not impact my product choices or recommendations.
1. Bluey Gnome Village
Recommended age: 3+
“Calypso” is one of my favourite episodes of Bluey so I couldn’t help but be charmed by this recreation of the gnome village that Honey builds in that episode. The fun wooden playset begins with a puzzle playmat, then there are plenty of pieces to build on top in multiple configurations so no two play sessions are the same. You also get wooden Bluey and Honey figures, plus no shortage of gnomes!
2. Dixit Disney Version
Recommended age: 8+
Dixit is a beautiful, whimsical image-based board game that really sparks the imagination by challenging you to identify visual cards using just one word: the fun comes in trying to guess who chose what. Although it’s designed for age 8+, we found ways to adjust it for younger children while playing the original, and this beautifully-illustrated Disney version is even easier to adapt as so many kids have such encyclopaedic knowledge of Disney films and shows.
3. Sylvanian Families Sunny Castle Nursery Set
Recommended age: 3+
There are loads of sweet details in this nursery-themed set, which is perfect if you have a child who’s been collecting baby figures from Sylvanian Families blind bags. I love the changeable backdrop that changes the weather or time of day. The nursery equipment like the table and blackboard also convert to playground equipment for more play options, and the set can be further expanded by combining it with other nursery sets like the bus and sandbox.There’s only one figure supplied – you get the Flora rabbit baby but may wish to add the family.
4. Monkey Palace
Recommended age: 10+
What makes a fun board game even better? How about adding a Lego build to it? Monkey Palace tests spatial awareness and Lego skills, slowly helping Monkey to rebuild his palace while scoring points and pulling cards. If you’ve got a Lego fiend in the house but want to coax them towards a game with the rest of the family, this is a great way to do so – and it’s fun for adults too. The price is good for the Lego pieces alone…which no doubt will migrate their way out of the box as time goes by!
5. Science Mad 50mm Astronomical Telescope
Recommended age: 6+
This is a great STEM toy with no shortage of ‘wow’ factor – offering up to 90x magnification to give your child their first view of stars, planets and celestial objects. As an entry to stargazing it’s simple to operate and well-priced, and is a great present for any budding astronomers in the family. You will need to provide adult supervision, follow the instructions closely and use it on a clear night for the best results.
6. Bitzee Disney Digital Pet
Recommended age: 5+
Having seen one too many Tamagotchis perish during childhood, I’ll admit I wasn’t convinced with the Bitzee interactive digital pet at first. But it was one of the big toy hits of last year so I gave it a second chance, and I have to say that it’s grown on me. Kids must care for their Bitzee to unlock new characters, teaching them about effort and reward…but it’s not as needy as the old ’90s pets-in-your-pocket. This year, Bitzee’s been given a Disney makeover, so your child can have a Stitch, Mickey or Nemo to play with. Each Bitzee gives you access to all 30 characters, but it’ll take some loving care to collect them all.
7. Smart Ball Indoor Soccer Bot
Recommended age: 6+
If you have a football fan in the family, this is the ultimate rainy day toy for them, allowing them to practice tricks and hone their skills indoors. The bot tracks and tackles the ball as your child plays, so it can be used solo. There are three speed settings, and it’s designed with settings for different floor types including carpet. You will need a reasonable space to play in, but the set comes with markers to create that space and keep play inside it.
8. VTech Marble Rush Dino Adventure
Recommended age: 3+
I’ve had hours of fun with my son building elaborate marble runs using Marble Rush sets, and the great thing is that they all connect together for endless possibilities. That said, there’s enough in here that you probably won’t ever need to buy more. The set has a whopping 100 pieces, including a chomping dinosaur with lights and sounds and magnetic zip lines. Each set comes with instructions to build a number of runs, but your children can also let their imagination run wild and build their own, testing their knowledge of cause and effect, maths and physics.
9. Melissa & Doug Wooden Ice Cream Shop
Recommended age: 3+
The magic of getting a freshly-scooped ice cream from a pastel-hued freezer has almost universal appeal, so it should be no surprise that this wooden toy has been a huge hit with toddlers and preschoolers. It allows them to scoop and serve their own treats to family or friends, with sweet (no pun intended) details like sprinkles, cherries and swirly strawberry sauce. There is a larger version available too but I think this one has plenty to keep little ones entertained.
10. Knex Amazing 8 Rollercoaster Building Set
Recommended age: 7+
This build-it-yourself motorised rollercoaster offers at-home thrills for the same price as a theme park day pass. It’s a 448-piece set, so should keep even the most experienced builders busy for quite some time. Once complete, the motor sends the coaster up the lift and spinning around the track, which has multiple loops and turns. Although it’s a big piece when constructed, Knex pieces pack down small, so if you convince your child to take it apart at some point, you can store it away easily for more fun at a later date.
11. Barbie Totally Hair Colour-Changing Styling Head
Recommended age: 3+
The colour-changing element of this styling head might be a slight disappointment (only the clip-in extension changes colour, not the rest of the hair) but there’s definitely some fun to be had with the colour-reveal accessories, which come to life after being dipped into water. You can also change Barbie’s lipstick colour with a swipe of a sponge. Barbie herself has colourful streaks at the front of her hair, which can be twisted and parted in different ways for lots of styling fun. The base operates as storage, so all the supplied accessories can be stored safely.
12. Lego Friends Sea Rescue Centre
Recommended age: 7+
It’s always hard to pick which Lego sets to recommend, but I love this one from Lego Friends, which feels like a natural progression for any kids who grew up loving Octonauts. Although Friends was originally designed to make Lego more accessible for girls, the brand has repositioned itself recently, adding male characters and broadening the scope of the sets. The bright colours and fun accessories will really appeal to younger Lego fans, and although this is labelled 7+ I think it would be great for kids from as young as 5.
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.
