Heirloom Toys
A toy becomes an heirloom the moment a second child picks it up. That might be a younger sibling, or a grandchild handed something worn smooth by a parent's hands decades earlier. The object carries a story, and the story is half the point.
The physical part matters too. An heirloom toy is made from materials that survive handling: responsibly sourced FSC timber rather than moulded plastic, joints that hold, finishes that wear gracefully rather than crack. It also has to be safe to give, which means proper testing against EN 71 and compliance with the UK Toy Safety Regulations 2011, plus the UKCA and CE marks that show the work was actually done.
We have been making games that outlast their first owners since 1795, so this is less a shopping guide than a set of things worth checking. Much of what follows lives across our wooden toys, but the principles apply whatever you buy.
What Makes a Toy Truly Heirloom Quality
Heirloom quality starts with the material. Solid hardwood behaves differently from softwood or plastic: it takes knocks, it can be sanded and re-oiled, and it develops a patina rather than a scratch. Look for FSC-certified timber, which tells you the wood was grown and cut responsibly, and for a finish that is either bare, oiled, or painted with child-safe pigments.
Construction is the second test. A toy meant to last generations is held together by joinery and glue that can bear weight, not by a single screw or a friction fit that loosens after a year. Weight in the hand is a fair rough guide; heirloom pieces tend to feel more substantial than their mass-market equivalents.
Design is the quieter factor. The toys that get passed down are usually the ones that never date, because they were never tied to a fad. A set of building blocks, a chess set, a skittles game — none of these needs updating. That timelessness is why so much of our board games range looks much as it did a century ago.
Then there is provenance. The Staunton chess set we first sold in 1849, and registered as a UK design that September, is still the standard used in competitive play today. A design that has survived nearly two centuries is a safe bet to survive a childhood. We have written more on the subject in our guide to heirloom toys you can pass down for generations, which is a useful companion to this piece.
The Best Types of Heirloom Toys by Age and Stage
The right heirloom toy depends on who is receiving it. For babies, the answer is simple, tactile, and mouth-safe: smooth wooden rattles, stacking rings, and grasping toys with no small parts. Our roundup of the best baby toys uk 0 12 months covers the stage in detail, and much of it sits within our children toys.
From around one to three, the priority shifts to open-ended play. Building blocks, shape sorters, threading beads, and simple puzzles reward repetition and grow with the child. These are the classic first toys, and many overlap with the Montessori approach; our educational toys for toddlers and our list of the best montessori toys uk 2026 are both good starting points.
For pre-schoolers and early school age, physical games come into their own. Skittles, quoits, and garden games build coordination while getting children off screens. That last point is worth taking seriously; we looked at the link between screen time and hands-on play in our piece on adhd screen time wooden toys children.
From roughly seven upward, strategy games earn their keep. Chess, draughts, backgammon, and dominoes teach patience and thinking ahead, and they are genuinely playable across three generations at once. This is the age at which a proper Staunton set stops being decoration and starts being used. The oldest heirloom toys tend to be the ones a family keeps returning to, which is why games designed for adults and children together age so well.
What to Look for Before You Buy an Heirloom Toy
Start with the certification. Any toy sold legally in the UK must meet the Toy Safety Regulations 2011, which implement the EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC, and it should carry the UKCA or CE mark showing it has been tested against EN 71. That standard covers mechanical, physical, flammability, and chemical safety, so it is the single most useful thing to check before you buy.
Ask about the timber. FSC certification is the clearest sign that the wood was sourced responsibly, and solid hardwood will always outlast engineered board or thin ply. If a description avoids naming the material, treat that as an answer in itself.
Examine the finish. Non-toxic, child-safe paints and natural oils are what you want, particularly for anything a baby will chew. A good finish should also be repairable — you can re-oil bare wood at home, but you cannot restore flaking plastic.
Consider whether the design is one that lasts. A toy tied to a particular film or character rarely survives to a second child. A skittle set, a wooden train, or a chess board does. Our own croquet equipment follows the standardised rules we codified in 1865, which is a reasonable illustration of how long a well-made design can stay in service.
Finally, think about repairability and spares. Heirloom toys are the ones you can mend rather than replace, so loose parts, replaceable pieces, and simple construction all count in a toy's favour. If you are timing a purchase, our guide to the best black friday toys flags the pieces most worth waiting for.
Our Picks: The Best Heirloom Toys for 2026
For 2026, the toys we would hand down first are the ones that have already lasted longest. A Staunton chess set sits at the top of that list. The design Nathaniel Cook created and Howard Staunton endorsed, which we first sold in 1849, remains the tournament standard, and a solid set will comfortably reach a grandchild. You will find it among our board games, alongside draughts, backgammon, and dominoes.
Wooden building blocks are the second pick, because they suit almost every age from toddlerhood upward and never wear out their welcome. They are the backbone of our wooden toys range and pair naturally with the open-ended play favoured across our educational toys for toddlers.
Garden games are our third recommendation for families with outdoor space. Croquet, which we standardised in 1865, and skittles both bring several generations onto the same lawn, which is exactly what an heirloom should do.
Table tennis deserves a place too. We introduced it commercially as Gossima in 1891, renaming it Ping-Pong in 1901, and it remains one of the few games a whole family will play together for years.
For the youngest, a simple set of wooden first toys — rattles, stackers, a pull-along — is the piece most likely to be kept and reused. Browse our children toys for the pieces best suited to being passed on.
How to Care for Wooden and Traditional Toys So They Last Generations
Wooden toys last generations, but only if they are treated as objects that can be maintained. The good news is that the care is straightforward and takes minutes.
Clean with a barely damp cloth and dry immediately. Wood and standing water do not mix; soaking or dishwashing will raise the grain, loosen joints, and lift the finish. For anything a baby uses, a wipe with a mild, child-safe solution is enough.
Keep pieces out of direct heat and strong sunlight. Radiators and sunny windowsills dry timber out and can fade painted colour over time. A shelf or a wooden box away from the heat is ideal, and storing sets in their boxes stops pieces going astray — often the real reason an old game becomes unusable.
Refresh the finish now and then. Bare or oiled wood can be lightly sanded to remove a rough spot and re-oiled with a food-safe oil, which brings back both the feel and the colour. This is the single reason wooden toys outlive plastic ones: they can be restored rather than discarded.
Check joints and moving parts occasionally, and re-glue anything that works loose before it fails completely. A skittle or a chess piece is easy to mend early and awkward to replace once lost.
Above all, keep the toys in use. The pieces described in our guide to heirloom toys you can pass down for generations are not display objects; they are meant to be played with, worn smooth, and handed on. A well-cared-for wooden toy improves with age in a way few things now do.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heirloom Toys
What are the best heirloom toys for children in 2026?
The best heirloom toys in 2026 combine proven longevity with genuine play value. Standout choices include the Staunton chess set — a design first sold by Jaques of London in 1849 and still the international standard — along with croquet sets, whose rules Jaques codified in 1865. Table tennis equipment, commercially introduced by Jaques as 'Gossima' in 1891, also endures across generations. Look for solid hardwood construction, non-toxic finishes compliant with EN 71 safety standards, and pieces made by established British manufacturers with verifiable heritage.
Are wooden toys worth the money?
Wooden heirloom toys typically cost more upfront but offer significantly better longevity than mass-produced plastic alternatives. A well-made hardwood chess set or croquet mallet can remain in daily use across several generations without structural failure. Quality wooden toys from reputable manufacturers comply with EN 71 safety standards, covering chemical and physical safety, meaning finishes and materials meet rigorous requirements. When the cost is spread across multiple children and decades of play, the per-use value of a quality wooden toy is often considerably lower than cheaper alternatives.
What age are heirloom toys suitable for?
Heirloom toys span every age group, but suitability depends on the specific item. Soft wooden stacking toys and push-alongs suit children from around 12 months, provided they carry EN 71 compliance and meet UK Toy Safety Regulations 2011 requirements for that age band. Strategy games such as chess are typically engaging from age six upward. Croquet, commercially standardised by Jaques of London in 1865, suits children from around eight. The key is matching the toy's complexity and any small-part warnings to the child's developmental stage.
What should I look for in a quality heirloom toy?
Prioritise solid hardwood construction over engineered wood or MDF, non-toxic finishes verified as EN 71-compliant, and joinery that does not rely solely on glue. Check for a clear manufacturer history and country of production. Replaceable components — spare chess pieces, additional croquet balls — extend a toy's usable life considerably. Verify that the toy carries appropriate age labelling under the UK Toy Safety Regulations 2011. Brands with documented heritage, such as Jaques of London, whose Staunton chess set design was registered in September 1849, offer traceable quality standards across generations.
How do I choose a toy that will last more than one child?
Choose toys constructed from solid hardwood with mortise-and-tenon or dowelled joints rather than stapled or solely glued assembly. Avoid painted surfaces on high-contact areas where chipping is likely; opt for oiled or waxed finishes instead. Games with standardised rules — such as chess sets following the Staunton design first sold by Jaques of London in 1849, or croquet with rules codified in 1865 — retain relevance because the game itself does not become obsolete. Confirm EN 71 compliance and keep the original packaging, which often includes care instructions and parts lists.
Are heirloom toys better than plastic toys?
For longevity and intergenerational use, hardwood heirloom toys generally outperform plastic equivalents. Solid wood does not suffer UV yellowing, brittleness from repeated thermal cycling, or microplastic degradation. EN 71 safety standards apply equally to wood and plastic toys sold in the UK, so compliance alone does not distinguish them. Heirloom toys also tend to have standardised, timeless formats — chess, croquet, table tennis — that remain culturally relevant regardless of trends. The trade-off is higher initial cost and the need for basic periodic maintenance such as re-oiling wooden surfaces.
What are the best heirloom toys for a 1 year old?
For children around 12 months, suitable heirloom toys include solid hardwood stacking rings, shape sorters, and push-along walkers. Safety is the primary consideration: any toy for this age must comply with EN 71 and the UK Toy Safety Regulations 2011, which set strict limits on small parts, sharp edges, and chemical content. Choose pieces with smooth, splinter-free surfaces finished with non-toxic oils or water-based paints. Avoid sets with small components not intended for under-threes. Opt for simple, open-ended designs that support sensory and motor development across the toddler years.
How do I care for wooden heirloom toys to make them last?
Keep wooden toys away from prolonged moisture and direct heat sources, both of which cause warping and joint failure. Clean surfaces with a lightly damp cloth rather than submerging in water. Re-oil unfinished or oiled hardwood pieces every one to two years using food-grade linseed or beeswax-based products to prevent drying and cracking. Store in a dry, ventilated space. For painted or lacquered pieces, touch up chips promptly using EN 71-compliant paint to maintain both safety standards and appearance. Periodically check joints and tighten any loose components before returning to use.
What are the most popular traditional toys in the UK?
Chess, croquet, and table tennis rank among Britain's most enduring traditional games. The Staunton chess set, first sold by Jaques of London in 1849 and registered as a UK design that same year, remains the globally recognised standard. Croquet equipment was first commercially standardised by Jaques of London in 1865, with the rules codified simultaneously. Table tennis was introduced commercially by Jaques in 1891 under the name 'Gossima', later rebranded 'Ping-Pong' in 1901. All three continue to be played competitively and recreationally across the UK today.
Can heirloom toys actually hold their value over time?
Well-made heirloom toys from established manufacturers can retain or appreciate in monetary value, particularly sets in original packaging with documented provenance. Staunton chess sets produced by Jaques of London — whose design dates to 1849 — are actively collected, with antique examples selling at auction above their original retail price. Condition, completeness, and verifiable maker history are the principal value drivers. Toys that follow standardised formats with enduring cultural relevance hold value better than novelty items. That said, the more reliable 'return' is practical: decades of use across multiple children at no additional cost.