IF you've got little ones to entertain on weekends and during school holidays, you won't regret investing in one of the best playhouses for kids.
Like mud kitchens, trampolines and paddling pools, playhouses are a great way to give kids their own space to use their imaginations while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.
While you could spend thousands on a playhouse, you don't have to. There are some amazing, high-quality options between £75 and £700 that will offer your kids years of fun.
From playhouses with slide attachments to multi-storey playhouses, there's something to suit every child and every garden space. With one of our picks of the best kids' playhouses, the little ones will be itching to get outside at every opportunity.
Best playhouses for kids at a glance:
- Best all-rounder playhouse: TP Wooden Multiplay Playhouse
- Best value playhouse: Dolu 'My First House' playhouse
- Best playhouse for toddlers:
- Best wood playhouse: KidKraft Modern Outdoor Wooden Playhouse
- Best plastic playhouse: Little Tikes Picnic on the Patio Playhouse
- Best two storey playhouse: Waltons Double Storey Playhouse
- Best playhouse with sandpit: TP Wooden Multiplay Playhouse
- Best playhouse with slide: Plum Boat House Wooden Playhouse
1. Smoby Garden House Playhouse
- Smoby Garden House Playhouse, £279.99 at Amazon - buy here
Is your little one a budding gardener? This cute garden playhouse from Smoby features a real planter and trellis you can hang flower pots on.
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It also has a water butt, watering can and three tools (shovel, rake, dibble) to help kids take care of the garden themselves.
The playhouse has plenty of space inside and two half doors, windows, shutters and porthole windows for a unique, homely feel.
Suitable for children from two years, this plastic playhouse can be used inside or outside and has been anti-UV treated to help it stay in the best condition.
Dimensions: 120 x 50 x 92 centimetres; Material: Wood; Age range: 2 to 6 years old
2. KidKraft Modern Outdoor Wooden Playhouse
- Modern Outdoor Wooden Playhouse, £469.99 at KidKraft - buy here
If you're looking for something special and long-lasting, this KidKraft wooden playhouse has plenty of features that little ones will love.
This modern playhouse includes a built-in kitchen and an attached picnic table so kids can prepare and enjoy a garden picnic with their friends.
There's also a postbox, chalkboard and BBQ grill - tons of great extras to encourage imaginative play.
The house itself is sturdy and durable, made from reinforced wooden panels to prevent warping and weathering - and has fabric curtains, making it feel like a proper little house.
Plus, the pre-assembled parts mean you'll have this playhouse up and ready for visitors in no time.
Dimensions: 158.12 X 180.09 X 124.21 centimetres; Material: Sanmu Wood; Age range: 3 to 10 years old
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3. Chad Valley Magic Playhouse
- Chad Valley Magic Playhouse, £75 at Argos - buy here
Looking for a bargain? This simple, little playhouse can provide hours of entertainment without breaking the bank.
There's a swing front door, back gate and side shutters, which open and close.
Plus, there's a little post slot in the front door so children can pretend to get mail.
This polypropylene playhouse is suitable for toddlers from two years and can be set up inside or outside as needed.
Dimensions: 109 X 90 X 102 centimetres; Material: Polypropylene; Age range: 2 years and up
4. Little Tikes Picnic on the Patio Playhouse
- Little Tikes Picnic on the Patio Playhouse, £289.99 at Very - buy here
Another great choice for little picnic fans, this Little Tikes playhouse has an extended picnic table and play food included.
There's also two stools, a working doorbell (with six sounds) as well as a sink and stove.
There's plenty of space to play and the playhouse looks sweet with a stone-effect walls and shingle roof - plus, large windows and a half door.
Suitable for children from 18 months, this is a great little space for imaginative play.
Dimensions: 115.01 X 120.5 X 115.01 centimetres; Material: Plastic; Age range: 18 months to 5 years
5. Plum® Boat House Wooden Playhouse
- Plum® Boat House Wooden Playhouse - Teal, £379.99 at Amazon - buy here
If you're looking for something a bit more substantial and traditional, the Plum Boat House is 270cm high and has plenty of space inside for children to make their own.
It has steps going up to a deck with a 1.2m slide from the other side to give the feel of a boathouse on water.
The playhouse looks stylish in teal with a whitewash trim and an apex roof.
Suitable for kids from three years, but this wooden playhouse is made to last and is likely to become a garden play staple as the kids get older.
Dimensions: 194 X 160 X 270 centimetres; Material: Wood; Age range: 24 months and up
6. Dolu Indoor and Outdoor 'My First House' playhouse
- Dolu Indoor and Outdoor 'My First House' playhouse, £74.99 at Amazon - buy here
Little ones can have lots of fun diving in and out of this colourful playhouse from Dolu.
Whether they want to invite friends over or play by themselves, they can make this little playhouse their own private space for role-play fun.
This plastic playhouse can be used inside or outside and is waterproof if you decide to keep it outdoors.
Suitable for children from 2-5 years, this would make a great first garden playhouse for toddlers and preschoolers.
Dimensions: 184.8 X 204.2 X 232.7 centimetres; Material: Wood; Age range: 36 months and up
7. Smoby Sweet Corner Playhouse
- Smoby Sweet Corner Playhouse, £149.99 from Amazon - buy here
If your kids love to role-play, they'll love this sweet shop playhouse from Smoby. Coming complete with a sweet shop sign, customisable menu board and 18 toy accessories including cutlery, a credit card system, an ice cream machine, and more, it'll certainly spark your little one's creativity.
At 127cm tall, this one is ideal for children between 2 and 5. Reviewers describe it as sturdy, good value for money, and easy to assemble.
Dimensions: 105 X 110 X 127 centimetres; Material: Plastic; Age range: 2 years and up
8. Waltons Double Storey Playhouse
- Waltons Double Storey Playhouse, £689.99 from The Range - buy here
If your kid has their heart set on something double-storey, this one from Waltons is a good choice. At 204cm tall with a ladder leading to an extra space, this playhouse is an affordable and safer alternative to a treehouse for young children.
It's on the pricier side at just under £700, but you're paying for quality. The playhouse has a 10 year anti-rot guarantee and comes with shatterproof styrene windows, so it will last to see you through multiple children or can be passed on to other friends and family with kids.
This playhouse comes unpainted, so you can add a splash of colour to brighten up your garden and even let the kids help you decorate it.
Dimensions: 184.8 X 204.2 X 232.7 centimetres; Material: Wood; Age range: 36 months and up
9. Outsunny Wooden Kids Playhouse
- Outsunny Wooden Kids Playhouse, £254.99 from B&Q - buy here
This option from B&Q is very neutral and easy on the eyes, which is exactly what any house-proud parent wants. It even comes with two flowerpot holders at the front, which adds a pop of colour without garish bright paint or plastic.
Kids can enjoy sitting on the bench with toys or playing with friends inside the house. At 134cm high, this one is suitable for ages 3 to 7.
Dimensions: 134.5H x 113W x 94D centimetres (with roof); Material: Fir wood and PP; Age range: 3 to 7 years old
10. TP Wooden Multiplay Playhouse
- TP Wooden Multiplay Playhouse, £300 from Argos - buy here
If you've got particularly active kids, you may want to invest in a playhouse that offers a little more than just four walls, windows and a door. This one includes a shaded sandpit for making sandcastles in the summer while still being protected by the sun.
Most excitingly though, they'll have to enter the playhouse via a ladder and exit by sliding down a wavy slide.
At 224cm tall, this one is perfect if you've got a particularly spacious garden. But, if your garden is particularly secluded and you can build the playhouse in a spot where it won't be visible to your neighbours, it can work in a smaller space too.
Dimensions: 224 X 261 X 142 centimetres; Material: Grade 1 FSC wood; Age range: 3 years and up
Where to buy kids' playhouses
You can buy a children's playhouse for the garden from just about any toy store, home and garden retailer and a handful of supermarkets, including:
- Argos
- Robert Dyas
- Amazon
- The Range
- Wayfair
- B&Q
- Very
- KidKraft
- Selfridges
- Wilko
- Wickes
- Next
- Aldi
- The Entertainer
- ASDA
How much does a playhouse cost?
The cost of a playhouse varies from brand to brand, but generally speaking, they'll set you back around £400. The cheapest you'll get a playhouse for is around £75, like the Dolu Indoor and Outdoor 'My First House' playhouse and Chad Valley Magic Playhouse.
Some larger, luxury playhouses on the market are on sale for £1000 to £3000, but the most expensive one in this article is Waltons' Double Storey Playhouse at £689.99.
What is the best material for an outdoor playhouse?
The most common material for an outdoor playhouse is pressure-treated wood. This is because it can withstand the elements, from rain, wind, snow and ice in the winter to intense sun and heat in the summer. Cedar and redwood are the most weather-resistant types of wood. A plastic playhouse will crack and fade under prolonged exposure to the elements.
What's the best material for an indoor playhouse?
Wood might be more durable than plastic, but a plastic playhouse is more suitable for indoor use than a wood playhouse. Plus, it's typically the cheaper option.
Plastic playhouses are usually more lightweight and easier to move around than wooden ones, too.
How much should I spend on a playhouse for kids?
The average price of a playhouse is around £400, but how much you spend is totally subjective. The more expensive playhouses on the market usually have a higher price point because they're made of more durable materials and will therefore last longer. So, if you're intending to get use out of your playhouse for a long time, you may want to go with a more expensive wood option.
A playhouse might also be expensive because it has unique elements like two stories, a slide or a sandpit. So, you have to decide whether or not those features are worth paying a little extra.
What to put in a playhouse
It's up to parents and kids to decide what to put in a playhouse. Many kids want to make it like a home with storage and furniture, such as chairs and a table.
Often children like to make a play kitchen in their playhouse with pretend food - or a play shop with a till and shopping basket.
It's also nice to make your playhouse cosy and comfortable with blankets, cushions and soft toys - as well as decorations such as fairy lights and bunting.
Can my neighbour build a playhouse overlooking my garden?
Yes - in general, the majority of playhouses do not require planning permission.
However, larger playhouses - which are within 2 metres of a boundary and over 2.5m high (2 storeys) - may require planning permission so it's best to check if you're thinking of building something this substantial.
