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6 of the best heirloom toys
Our pick of the classic, high-quality toys you’ll want to invest in and pass down for generations
- Hannah Newton
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MadeForMums reviews are independent and based on expertise and testing. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, but this never influences our product choices.
Some toys last a few months and cost a few pounds; others cost rather more but offer years and years of play potential – and are often made so well and built with such timeless appeal, your child could end up passing them on to their children.
Here are the best, high-quality toys that are SO worth paying a bit extra for, according to our child and parent testers…
1. Le Toy Van Cherry Tree Hall Doll's House, £199.95
GOLD winner, Best Heirloom Toy, 2018 MadeForMums Toy Awards
Age: 3+
What is it: A grand (35cm x 92cm x 66cm) wooden doll’s house with 4 floors, an opening front door, staircases with banisters, and windows with working shutters and window boxes. The front of the house opens in two panels for easy access and the roof lifts on a hinge to reveal the attic room. Requires some assembly.
Why we love it: It looks beautiful, with subtle paint finishes (different in every room) and pretty decoration. The craftsmanship is excellent and it comes beautifully packed in tissue paper.
What our child testers made of it:
- ‘It's a lovely timeless design, and there’s plenty of room for more than 1 child to play at the same time. Claudia and her sister love playing with it, and I can see us getting a lot of use out of this.’ Christy, mum to Claudia, 5
- ‘There are so many details on this house: the windows and shutters both open and there's a teeny tiny knob on the front door. It’s very sturdy and a good size. Definitely an investment purchase but a present they'll always remember.’ Olivia, mum to twins Imogen & Jemima, 4
Available from: Amazon, Mulberry Bush and Cuckooland
2. KidKraft Adventure Town Railway Set & Table, £209.95
SILVER winner, Best Heirloom Toy, 2018 MadeForMums Toy Awards
Age: 3+
What is it: A large (110cm x 79cm x 53cm) wooden play table with moulded edges, a landscape design on top and 2 collapsible storage bins underneath. Comes with a whopping 120-piece accessory set, including train track, vehicles, people, trees, a crane and a helicopter.
Why we love it: Astonishingly, this big sturdy table can be assembled or packed away in under 1 minute –without a screwdriver or allen key! We also love its kid-friendly height – and the detail in the accessories.
What our child testers made of it:
- ‘It’s well made and you get a lot for your money. Both my kids love it. Elijah played with it solidly for about an hour when it was first put up and then continued to go back to it.’ Claire, mum to Teddy, 3 and Elijah, 5
- ‘This set is such a hit with our boys! The height of the table is very good for both standing and kneeling at. It also has plenty of versatility and the boys will use it for Lego, crafts and others toys in the future.’ Matthew, dad to Alfie, 6, and Elliott, 3
Available from: KidKraft
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3. Silver Cross Special Edition Blossom Doll's Pram, £400
BRONZE winner, Best Heirloom Toy, 2018 MadeForMums Toy Awards
Age: 3+
What is it: A handmade pink-and-white mini replica (94cm x 45cm x 94cm) of the iconic Silvercross Balmoral pram that has been the go-to baby wheels for Royalty for nearly 100 years. Includes a pretty changing bag that matches the pram’s special-edition floral lining, a fully adjustable hood and chrome details.
Why we love it: Anyone who loves vintage style will be completely smitten with its hand-crafted charm – children who love to treat their dollies to the high life will adore taking this for a walk in the park. Royal wave obligatory…
What our child testers made of it:
- Everyone who saw this pram gasped at its beauty, including Audrey, who was absolutely wowed by it.’ Christy McGhee, mum to Audrey, 3
- Love, love, love this doll’s pram! It’s the doll’s pram of dreams and my daughter has been obsessed with it! As have I...’ Claire, mum to Bella, 3
Available from: Silver Cross Baby and Samuel Johnston
4. Kid's Concept Neo Rocking Mammoth, £130
Age: 18 months+
What is it: A sit-on rocking woolly mammoth with wooden base and handles, and a soft, shaggy body.
Why we love it: We were so bowled over by this clever, elegant take on the classic rocker that it won Gold in our 2016 Toy Awards. We love the way it combines sleek and sturdy modern design with furry cuddliness – and a rather natty fringe for a creature of such prehistoric origin. We could see it gracing any nursery, and being handed down to many generations to come.
Available from: Cuckooland and Scandiborn
5. Flexa Wooden Shop Set, £255
Age: 3+
What is it: A wooden grocery store (34.5cm x 114cm x 60cm) with counter, blackboard and coordinating accessories, including a cash register, hand-crafted wooden fruit, veg and groceries, an apron, a cap and display crates.
Why we love it: With its subtle, soft-green paint and beautifully finished birchwood details, this free-standing stall is a visual treat for children and adults alike. The hand-painted accessories in heritage colours are particularly gorgeous.
Available from: Scandiborn
6. Merrythought Edward: Christopher Robin's Teddy Bear, £239
Age: 3+
What is it: A replica of the teddy bear that inspired AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh stories. Hand-crafted in England using time-old traditional techniques, Edward is 45cm high, has a golden mohair coat, sandy-beige pure woollen felt paws, a hand-embroidered nose and a charming smile.
Why we loved it: Each bear is individually numbered and presented in a smart cloth bag. He’s a good size and properly cuddly – and, best of all, he ‘growls’ when tipped!
Available from: Merrythought and Harrods
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Authors
Hannah Newton
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