15 best kids’ playhouses for outdoor and indoor fun

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Smoby house on stilts 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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 get creative. It took us about 45 minutes to put together, and assembly was pretty straightforward. Perfectly portioned for toddlers, it’s 140cm tall, and 90cm wide. Our five-year-old tester had a blast “cleaning” the Perspex windows, while our youngest tester enjoyed running in and out of the playhouse – which was undisturbed as there’s no door to contend with.

Our favourite design feature has to be the pretty apex roof, giving that traditional wendy house shape. There’s also no floor with this wooden playhouse, which does make it less cosy but much easier to move around the garden. And let’s face it, this looks so lovely in every corner of your outdoor quarters.

Latvian-based playful interiors brand Wigiwama has been lovingly making teepees since 2016 and we’re rather smitten with ours. Coming in gorgeous minty green with a delicate floral pattern (there are five colourways to choose from), the canvas is made from woven cotton known for its long-lasting nature. The material is also super-safe for children as it’s one of the best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances.

The wooden poles are soft to the touch and look stylish against the green canvas. We did find the poles a little stiff when assembling but it didn’t take us long to put this teepee together. It was an instant hit with our mini testers, who loved snuggling and playing under the canvas. This tepee set is so well-thought-out, with the padded floor cushion making chilling out extra comfy, and the storage bag is fab for taking it to different locations – after all, this is certainly a product you’ll want to show off. A matching smaller cushion cover is included too to make play extra plush, and we love the porthole window and tie-back opening.

If you want to take your playhouse game to a new height, quite literally, let us introduce you to Plum’s boat house wooden playhouse. Much like the garden hut wooden playhouse we reviewed, this gives your playhouse a raised platform, complete with a ladder and slide. To create such a masterpiece you’ll have to put aside some time – it took two of us around two hours to assemble but was worth it for the smile on our kids’ faces.

Everything is very coordinated, from the nautical blue and white theme to the contrasting three-step ladder and 1.2 metre teal slide. The slide is of course a standout feature that got a big thumbs up from our mini reviewers. Size-wise this is more suited to our three-year-old tester just because of the door height. We love the style of this pretty playhouse which offers hours of fun for all children.

If you’re into that cool stripped-back Scandi style, this is the playhouse for you. Fear not, the style has been met with substance from the Swedish kids’ interior brand Kids Concept. Much like erecting a gazebo, the wooden structure is easy to assemble, with a cotton cover that simply pulls over and ties firmly in place.

Made from 100 per cent cotton, with a pine tent frame, choose to roll the sides up using the ties to transform this space into a cafe or shop (or whatever their imagination allows), or keep things cosy with the sides down. Our only slight criticism would be that there’s no mechanism for tying the sides down, as they do tend to blow about a bit when outside in the breeze. Having said that, our mini testers enjoyed running through the sides and straight through the middle. If budget allows, pair up with the matching foldable playmat (£44, Kidly.co.uk), or kit it out with Kids Concept’s fantastic range of imaginative roleplay toys.