15 best kids’ playhouses for outdoor and indoor fun

{{#items}} {{#image}} {{#imgUrl}} {{/imgUrl}}{{^imgUrl}} {{/imgUrl}} {{/image}} {{title}} {{#starRating}} {{/starRating}} {{prettyPrice}} Buy now{{#isExternal}} {{/isExternal}} {{/items}} Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for insider tips and product reviews from our shopping experts Sign up for our free IndyBest email When it comes to sparking imaginations, a playhouse is a brilliant foundation for a whole host of games . Choose wisely and you’ll get years of play out of it, so rather than wincing at the cost of some of the hefty price tags, see a playhouse as an investment piece for your family. It’s not strictly an outdoor affair anymore either. While the traditional wendy house style is for the garden , playhouses come in all shapes and sizes nowadays and in a variety of materials too, from scandi-inspired wooden designs to luxurious linens and cotton teepees . The decision of which playhouse will naturally be impacted by the space you have available to you, and how many kids will be playing with it at one time. If you’re opting for an outdoor playhouse for your garden, the first thing you should check is that it has been EN71 certified, meaning it’s safe for play. It’s also worth remembering that wooden ones will require some DIY skills, but the outcome pays off. They can also require maintenance, as some need to be treated to keep the wood looking good over time. To get an overview of the options available, we’ve tested everything from purse-friendly playhouses to deluxe showstoppers. How we tested We had two enthusiastic helpers, aged three and five-years-old, putting these playhouses to the test during the summer holidays. The most important aspect of our testing process was finding playhouses that were durable and high-quality – but we paid particular attention to any fun features that could extend playtime. Bearing in mind a parent’s sanity, we also took ease of assembly into consideration. The most important things we were looking out for were quality and durability (Rebecca Moore) The best playhouses for 2023 are: Best overall – TP Toys skye wooden playhouse-FSC: £959.99, Tptoys.com Best indoor playhouse – Tent of Dreams painted spots: £450, Dockatot.co.uk Best value for money – Sportspower wooden playhouse: £119.99, Very.co.uk Best for toddlers – Plum garden hut wooden playhouse in teal: £279.99, Plumplay.co.uk Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Already subscribed? This is the creme de la creme of playhouses. Solid wood? Check. Double-storey? Check. Fun 8ft green slide? Yes, and it’s wavy. OK, we can’t deny it’s expensive – £899.99 to be precise, but for the years of play you’ll get out of the skye wooden playhouse, it’s a sound investment. DIY- wise it’s also not for the faint-hearted, taking us the best part of a day to assemble despite the clear instructions, labelling and pre-drilled holes. The squeals of delight when we revealed this showstopper to our mini testers were heartwarming, and they didn’t hold back when it came to trying it out. Standing at 3.27 metres high, this certainly isn’t one for a bijoux garden, but if you have the space it’s a playtime phenomenon. Made from certified timber, this beautiful two-storey playhouse has two verandas: an internal ladder to gain access to the top floor; a panelled door and three perspex windows, and a fun wavy 8ft slide for a speedy exit from the top floor, which was the highlight for our testers. It’s big enough for our little ones to play in it together – in fact, it can take a combined weight of up to 150kg. And while it’s not waterproof, TP Toys’s wood is pressure treated using an environmentally friendly preservative that lasts so you don’t have to apply stain each year. Top job TP Toys. Continue reading… £959.99 Tptoys.com Buy now {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} For visual appeal, the discovery nature play hideaway from Plum Play is certainly easy on the eye with curves in all the right places. While we love the final result, it came at a price, with assembly being rather taxing. It took around four hours to put together, and we found some of the predetermined screw placements weren’t quite right. The instructions were easy to follow, albeit a little challenging due to the attention to detail. Speaking of the details, there’s a built-in mud kitchen with sink, tinker pots, stove and accessories, a fabric door, painting screen, bamboo gutter to collect water, a bamboo wind chime, and a planter for budding gardeners. Phew! Not to forget our testers’ best bit… the swinging letterbox which was the focal point of many make-believe games! The roof is also turf ready, allowing you to either add artificial grass or try your hand at growing some. We love the painting screen (paint pens included) and the bamboo wind chimes and gutter provoked conversations about climate and weather. For a unique shape, and a garden centrepiece there’s nothing unsightly about this playhouse. Made from FSC-certified wood, it’s sturdy, stylish and something that pre-school age children certainly engage with. Continue reading… £599.99 Plumplay.co.uk Buy now Who said a playhouse needs to be house shaped? TP Toys is well known in the outdoor toy world, recognised for its sturdy and creative designs, and this design doesn’t disappoint. As you might expect it takes a few hours to put together (around two hours with two people), but the final result is fun-filled. You’ll also need to treat the wood once you’ve put it together, a small price to pay to preserve the high-quality FSC-certified timber. But did it float our testers’ boat? Absolutely! Innovative, it features two play modes; compact and extended, essentially having the sandpit in action or covered away. Suitable for those aged two years plus, it is fully geared toward imaginative, sand and water play with a built-in sandpit, and splash bowl at the front of the boat. Great for dual play, we found that one of our testers could be at the helm steering, while the other could be building sandcastles in front. The blackboard is also a thoughtful touch, allowing kids to name their boat or captains. The front of the boat also doubles up as storage – perfect for buckets and spades etc, and the canvas sail keeps kids cool while they play away. Continue reading… £119.99 Tptoys.com Buy now {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} A shiny upgrade from the Little Tikes country cottage that we’ve owned for more than 20 years – a testament to its durability – we love that the tan and red colouring is perfect for both boys and girls. Taking about 30 minutes to assemble, it was one of the easiest to put together. It’s also suitable for those aged two years plus, meaning both testers could fit in it nicely. The two working doors and window shutters were certainly highlights, and they’re easy and lightweight enough for little hands to open and close. The built-in slot for letters is also a sweet touch, and inspired many games. We also adores the attention to detail in the design, from the arched door, mimic bricks and tile effect roof. Made from durable, weatherproof plastic, this playhouse is designed to live outdoors, but a word of warning, if you live in a particularly windy spot, this playhouse won’t be suitable as a gust of wind will lift this house and could cause some Dorothy in Oz type problems. Continue reading… £160.57 Amazon.co.uk Buy now {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} Designed on stilts, the Smoby house really takes child’s play to new heights. This playhouse got the best reception by far from our two testers thanks to the child-friendly colours and elevated design. We can’t deny that style-conscious parents are likely to prefer wooden playhouses, but if it was down to the kids the plastic choices would win every time. But when welcoming the into our garden, we have to say the whole family liked the aesthetics. The colours are bright but not garish, and there are some lovely design features combining blow moulded side walls with a wooden grain effect and sweet animal detailing and injected facades. Suitable for two years plus, we agree with this recommendation, and we’d expect use up until five or six-years-old. There’s plenty of space for two or three children to play with this at one time, and our testers loved whizzing down the slide, opening and closing the easy-to-use door and sliding the shutters across and generally just hanging out in this den. Taking around two hours to build, we can’t deny the quality and sturdiness of this playhouse. Plus, for longevity the plastic has been treated with an anti-UV treatment which guarantees a good resistance and better durability of colours over time. This playhouse means business, and is fully geared for years of play! Continue reading… £366.99 Robertdyas.co.uk Buy now A bijoux playhouse, the Sportspower wooden playhouse offers plenty of play for the money. Assembly was a walk in the park in comparison to the other wooden examples, taking less than an hour for two of us to put it together. Suitable for those aged three plus, it’s compact but there’s plenty of head height for their ages. While it’s basic in comparison, it’s all our testers needed to spark their imaginations – it’s surprising how far a swinging door, and some windows can go. There are some sweet touches such as the pretty apex details, and an included flower box, and it’s a cute addition to any outdoor space. It’s lightweight, but not flimsy, which meant it was easy to move it around the garden. It’s worth bearing in mind that there’s no real weather protection with open windows, so to preserve it you may want to cover it up once playtime is over. Continue reading… £119.99 Very.co.uk Buy now If DIY is not your forte, then opting for this straightforward tepee play tent could be the way forward, as it was the fastest to erect of the playhouses we tested. The design of this tepee is understated coming in grey or cream colourways, with a stylish scalloped entrance. This means it’s unlikely to be out of date in six months’ time when your child no longer likes spaceships or unicorns, for example. The five wooden poles provide a sturdy structure, and allow for plenty of playing room inside for a few small children. Our little tester loves nothing more than gathering all of her soft toys for a tepee party, but equally it makes for a serene space for bedtime reading. We also love how easy it is to assemble and put down, and it comes with a handy cotton travel bag. Continue reading… £99.95 Thelittlegreensheep.co.uk Buy now This indoor playhouse from Dockatot oozes luxury, so much so we’d quite like to live in it ourselves. With lavish details, including tassels and bobble trims, any time spent under canvas feels like a treat. Made from 100 per cent canvas cotton, solid rattan and genuine leather, parents can even appreciate the luxury of not having to assemble this playhouse, as you simply pop it open to pitch it. While we don’t think you’ll ever want to store it away, it does also come with a canvas storage pouch. The tent has been designed with a window, door and interior pocket, and the flaps that can be tied back to keep the door open or closed. There was enough space for our testers, and many dolls and teddies, and they genuinely loved hanging out in this space. For older children it also makes a lovely space to read. Not only will this tepee become a standout feature of a child’s bedroom or playroom, and we assure you it’s a real head turner, it enables young imaginations to run wild, and we’re here for that, if you can justify the price tag. Continue reading… £450 Dockatot.co.uk Buy now Take playtime to outer space with this large playhouse from Kiddiewinkles. Made using 100 per cent cotton, this hand-embroidered applique design features galaxy galore with something different to fascinate your kids on every outer wall. You’ll see peculiar aliens, colourful planets and a cool station at the front, not to forget the playful portholes dotted about – a highlight for our tiny testers. Plus, it comes with its own storage bag and the option to personalise. The size of this playhouse is pretty impressive. At the tallest point, it’s over 160cm and is more than a metre wide, making it ideal for siblings or group play. Something this sizeable was, to our gratitude, also a doddle to put up. It took around five minutes, and we simply pulled the fabric over the metal frame and stuck the fabric to the bottom with Velcro. The front door also features Velcro ties to allow easy access. While it’s rather cumbersome, it’s pretty lightweight, so if your house allows you could take it out into the garden. You may want to invest in a floor covering to make the most out of this psychedelic playhouse. Continue reading… £225 Notonthehighstreet.com Buy now Our testers recognised this design instantly, as we have a Little Tikes country cottage that is over 20 years old – if that can’t testify to this product’s durability, we’re not sure what can. It’s safe to say that the pink country cottage playhouse was a bit of an upgrade for them to test out though. They loved the hot pink colour and purple roof, but the star of the show was the pretend yellow mobile phone which has buttons and its own phone cradle to spark their imaginations. We have to say structurally not much has changed since our old one, but that’s a credit to the product for its classic design. If you’ve ever put one of these together you’ll be aware that brute force is required as you connect the parts – you’ll need to use your body weight to get this assembled, but the labour is worth it. Inside you’ll find a purple kitchen unit with a sink that even has a swivel tap. The hob is equipped with clicking knobs, and you’ll need to stick on the hob stickers. The four window shutters are great for group play, and they’re easy for little hands to open and close – likewise with the cottage door, which is at full height for easy access. There’s plenty of space inside for both our testers, but we’d say ages 18 months to four years is the perfect age range. Made from durable, weatherproof plastic, this playhouse is designed to live outdoors and it’ll certainly bring a pop of colour (and plenty of giggles) to your garden. Continue reading… £329.99 Very.co.uk Buy now {{#hasItems}} {{#items}} {{merchant}} {{price}} Buy now {{/items}} {{/hasItems}} When you conjure up images in your head of a traditional wooden playhouse it can’t be far off this hideaway wooden playhouse from TP Toys. Made from certified timber, it features an all-wood roof and floor, and four sides. Once built – it took us about 45 minutes – the dimensions are 118cm x 90cm x 146cm, which is the perfect size for our three-year-old tester. Her favourite bit was the full-height door which comes with its own doorknob, as she pottered in and out of the house. She loved peering out of the window too. The build was a smooth two-man operation as it comes with prefabricated panels and easy-to-follow instructions, but we think it’s worth bearing in mind that it must be treated with a child-friendly stain or wood treatment on all sides of the panels before outside play. The playhouse looks and feels sturdy, and is recommended for 18 months plus. Both our three- and five-year-old testers got quite into their mummy and daughter roleplay with this fun playhouse, but we’d say size-wise it’s most suited to toddlers. Continue reading… £199.99 Tptoys.com Buy now Founded in 1988 by a husband and wife, Plum is a family-run business known for its fantastic outdoor toys – so naturally, when it came to testing out playhouses they were bound to be in the mix. In a gorgeous teal colour with white accents, the Plum garden hut wooden playhouse is a fantastic space for little ones to play and