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Screen-free play · Est. 1795
Your Kid Puts Down the iPad. And Actually Loves It.
Over 5,000,000 families have played with Jaques toys. Wooden toys that genuinely hold their attention, no screen required.
- Holds attention for 30+ minutes — independently
- FSC beechwood — built to last years, not weeks
- EYFS-aligned play — they learn without knowing it
Magnetic Fishing Game - Educational Game
✓ EN71 safe · ✓ Non-toxic · ✓ Hardwood · ✓ Est. 1795
Free UK shipping over £40 · 30-day money-back guarantee
📦 In stock — usually ships within 1 business day
as seen in
Sound familiar?
You didn't picture it like this.
Screens crept in before you noticed. Now every morning is a battle, every meal ends in "five more minutes", and the toys you carefully chose sit in the corner.
You hand over the phone just to get dinner made
Tantrums the moment the tablet gets taken away
Toys abandoned after one day — another £30 wasted
Constant guilt that you're somehow doing it wrong
Activities that need you to run them — more prep, more stress
Nothing they'll actually play with independently
There's a reason none of it has worked — and it's not you. It's the toys.
Getting started
Three steps. That's genuinely it.
Open the box
Everything's inside. No assembly required, no batteries to hunt down, no app to download. It's ready the moment they see it.
Put it on the floor
Hand them a rod and step back. The magnetic fishing mechanic is intuitive enough for a 2-year-old to figure out in under a minute.
Watch them play
Make a cup of tea. They're absorbed. You'll be surprised how long they go — and how often they come back to it on their own.
What you get
Everything they need. Nothing they don't.
20 wooden fish
In 6 colours for sorting, counting and matching — each one solid FSC beechwood with a non-toxic painted finish
4 magnetic fishing rods
One per player — sized perfectly for small hands. Magnetic tip catches fish cleanly on the first try
Wooden fishing pond
Solid base that keeps fish contained — no pieces scattered under the sofa. Doubles as storage
FSC certified beechwood throughout
No plastic. No toxins. EN71 certified — the same standard used by every reputable European toy maker
What it actually does
Play that works. No parenting degree required.
30+ minutes of independent play
The magnetic catch is satisfying every time — not just the first. Children return to it again and again across days, weeks, months. It holds attention where other toys fail.
Zero screen time. Zero guilt.
No app. No charging. No content to vet or monitor. Pick it up, hand it over. The whole setup takes four seconds. The play takes care of itself.
EYFS skills — through play, not prep
Colour recognition, counting, sorting, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills — all built in. Your child learns what school will teach before they get there. They think they're just fishing.
Built to outlast the toy box
Solid FSC beechwood, EN71 certified, non-toxic finish. It doesn't crack at the hinge on day four. It doesn't lose parts in a week. Parents tell us their children are still playing with it at age 6 or 7.
Grows with up to 4 players
Four rods included. Perfect for siblings, playdates, or joining in yourself. At 2, it's solo catching. At 4, it's competitive. At 6, they invent their own rules. It scales.
230 years of knowing what works
Jaques of London invented croquet, table tennis and the Staunton chess set. We've been making toys since 1795 — not because it's a nice story, but because we keep making things children actually play with.
What parents say
466+ families. Real words.
"We already had a cheap fishing set from Amazon — it lasted about three weeks before the plastic snapped. This is genuinely not in the same category. The wood feels solid, the fish are chunky and bright, and my 3-year-old has played with it every single day for a month. Best £20 I've spent."
Sarah M., Bristol ✓ Verified purchase
"The screen battle was exhausting. We left this on the kitchen table one morning and he forgot to ask for the iPad. That was three weeks ago. It's not a miracle — it's just a toy that's actually better than the phone. That shouldn't be rare but it is."
James T., London ✓ Verified purchase
"I bought this for my daughter's 2nd birthday. She's now 4 and it's still one of her favourites. I've never had a toy last two years. It still looks brand new — not a scratch on the wood. Would absolutely buy again for her little brother."
Emma L., Edinburgh ✓ Verified purchase
"Slightly more than I'd normally spend on a toy. But you can feel the difference the second you pick it up — it's heavy, smooth, nothing rattles or flexes. My son loves it, we have zero screen guilt in the morning, and I'd buy it again without hesitating."
Mark W., Manchester ✓ Verified purchase
How we compare
Jaques vs. a £12 Amazon set
We'll be honest: ours costs more. Here's why that's the right choice.
| Jaques Magnetic Fishing | Generic (~£12) | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | ✓ FSC solid beechwood | ✗ Plastic |
| Safety cert | ✓ EN71 certified | ⚠ Often uncertified |
| Lifespan | ✓ Years — heirloom quality | ✗ Weeks to months |
| Play duration | ✓ 30+ min sessions | ✗ Minutes, then abandoned |
| Players | ✓ Up to 4 (rods included) | ✗ Usually 1-2 |
| EYFS skills | ✓ Colour, counting, motor | ✗ None specific |
| Brand heritage | ✓ Est. 1795, London | ✗ Unknown origin |
| Price | Higher — by design | ~£12 |
Jaques Magnetic Fishing
- ✓ FSC solid beechwood
- ✓ EN71 certified
- ✓ Lasts years
- ✓ 30+ min sessions
- ✓ Up to 4 players
- ✓ EYFS skill development
- ✓ Est. 1795, London
Generic (~£12)
- ✗ Plastic
- ⚠ Safety varies
- ✗ Weeks to months
- ✗ Often abandoned fast
- ✗ Usually 1-2 players
- ✗ No skill development
- ✗ Unknown brand
30-Day Play Guarantee
Try it for 30 days. If your child doesn't love it — if they don't reach for it over the screen, or you're not happy with the quality — return it for a full refund. No forms, no fuss, no questions. We've been confident in our toys for 230 years. We're not going to stop now.
Common questions
Honest answers.
Is it really worth the price compared to a cheaper set?
That depends what you're comparing. A £12 plastic set might look similar in the photos. But you'll feel the difference the second you pick ours up — solid wood, real weight, no flex. The cheap ones crack, lose pieces, and end up in the bin. This doesn't. You're not paying for the brand story — you're paying for something that'll still be on the shelf in three years.
My child gets bored of everything quickly. Will this be different?
We can't guarantee it — every child is different. But the magnetic catch has genuine replay. It's satisfying in the same way every time, which is why it keeps working longer than novelty toys. The colour-sorting and counting layers also mean the play evolves as they grow. We've had parents tell us their 6 and 7-year-olds still play with one they got at 2.
What age is it really suitable for?
Age 2 and up. At 2, just catching fish is satisfying and achievable — and develops fine motor control. At 3-4, colour sorting and counting become the game. At 5+, children start inventing their own rules and competitions. It's a rare toy that genuinely works across that full range.
Is Jaques of London an established brand? I haven't heard of it.
Founded in London in 1795. We invented croquet, table tennis (originally patented as "Gossima"), and the Staunton chess set — the design used in every World Chess Championship since 1849. Stocked by Harrods and Selfridges. We're the oldest games and toys maker in Britain — we just don't spend much on advertising.
What if it arrives damaged or a piece is missing?
Contact us and we'll sort it immediately — replacement pieces sent or full refund, your choice. We're a family business. We don't have a call centre to route you around. You'll speak to someone who can actually help.
From the managing director
"I became custodian of Jaques because I believe what we make matters. In a world built to capture children's attention — algorithmically, commercially, relentlessly — the toys we choose are one of the few things we can actually control as parents.
Screen-free play isn't a nostalgic idea. It's how children develop language, motor skills, creativity and concentration. Every toy we make has to earn its place: hold their attention, without a battery in sight, without making you feel guilty for handing it over.
That's the standard we've held since 1795. We're not going to drop it now."
Ready to make the switch?
Give them something they'll actually play with.
Trusted by 466+ families. 30-day guarantee. Ships next day.
£29.99£20.5631% OFF
🛡️ 30-day money-back guarantee · 🚚 Free UK shipping over £40 · ✓ EST. 1795
Real families. Real play.
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