Magnetic chess set that travels with you
or 4 payments of £3.49 with Klarna
🛡️ 30-day full refund, no questions. Fewer than 30 returns from 23,000+ orders.
- Folds to 25cm square
- 32 magnetic pieces
- Staunton design
- Storage bag included
- Ages 5+
- Learn to play
- 30-day returns
- Klarna available
Delivery in 2-3 working days · 30-day returns · Est. 1795
as seen in
Real talk
A chess set you can hand over with pride
This isn't the plastic travel set that falls apart mid-flight. The Jaques Magnetic Travel Chess Set has lived in our workshops since 1795, refined by hands who know what lasts. Strong magnets hold every Staunton piece. The board folds down to your palm. The storage bag keeps it all together for decades of games.
You'll own something you're not embarrassed to gift, and your child or grandchild gets a proper board to learn on, not a toy that teaches them cheap.
Joe Jaques, Jaques of London
What's in the box
What arrives at your door
Unbox it wrapped in our signature ribbon. Everything you need to start playing immediately.
Folding magnetic board
25cm square when open, folds flat for travel. Grid labelling shows how to set up the board. Strong magnets keep every piece locked in place during journeys.
- ✓ Durable plastic board
- ✓ Internal storage for pieces
- ✓ Grid labels for learning
32 Staunton chess pieces
16 black, 16 white. Each piece is weighted and magnetic, so they sit firm on the board and won't slide during motion. The Staunton design is the standard for learning and competitive play.
- ✓ Weighted magnetic pieces
- ✓ Staunton design
- ✓ Play for hours without drift
Handy storage bag
Everything nests inside. Keeps pieces from rolling loose. Fits easily into a rucksack, car seat, or cabin bag. No scattered pieces on arrival.
- ✓ Holds all 32 pieces
- ✓ Travel-ready
- ✓ Keeps bag contents tidy
Order by 2pm, arrives Tuesday
Was £20.99
Magnetic Travel Chess Set: £13.99
While they play
What they quietly learn
Looks like play. Works like a lesson.
Strategic thinking
Chess teaches planning 3 moves ahead. Every decision shapes the next 10 minutes of play.
Concentration
One uninterrupted game builds focus. No screens, no hype, just the board and the next move.
Problem solving
Each piece moves differently. Finding the right move teaches logic and spatial reasoning.
Memory
Remembering where pieces were last turn strengthens working memory and pattern recognition.
What families say about Jaques of London
Buyers like you, speaking
"Excellent quality wood toys, so well made, no sharp edges, all lovely & smooth, very colourful & plenty of choice. Very reasonably priced & so beautifully wrapped you don't want to open them. Highly recommend this company."
"Fast delivery, excellent products, extremely good quality and long lasting. My granddaughter loves the toys from here. Good age ranges covered."
"These toys tick all the boxes, educational, colourful, fun, well made and great service. I just keep buying more and more."
"We love our toys from Jaques of London. The quality is excellent and they're the perfect size for little hands to hold and play with easily. Beautifully made, sturdy wooden toys that will last for years. Highly recommend!"
"Harrods grade gifting for a very reasonable price. Not the usual tat from China. Had several hand picked orders fron Jaques, nice to know its a UK business with old school quality."
"I am a real fan of this company. If only I had come across them years ago when my boys were little. It's my go to for beautiful, good quality toys for my granddaughter now and any gift I need to buy. They arrived quickly, prices are reasonable and the special touch is they are beautifully packaged too. I love the heritage of this business!"
Get ready for life
Why real play matters
Real brain growth comes from real play.
Unbox and set up
Open the box, find the board and pieces nestled in the storage bag. Unfold the board, arrange your pieces on the grid. No instructions needed, no assembly.
Play anywhere
Car journey, holiday flight, garden bench, rainy afternoon. The magnets hold every piece. Zero pieces lost mid-game.
Fold and pack
Game over. Pieces go straight back in the bag. Board folds to pocket size. Ready for the next trip in seconds.
Why this matters right now
We really are different
Why this set holds its worth
| Jaques Magnetic Travel Chess Set | Cheap Alternatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Pieces stay put during travel | ✅ | ⚠️ Standard sets slide and scatter |
| Staunton design teaches proper play | ✅ | ❌ Novelty designs confuse beginners |
| Weighted pieces feel right in hand | ✅ | ❌ Hollow plastic feels cheap |
| Board folds flat for packing | ✅ | ⚠️ Roll-up boards crease and warp |
| Storage bag included | ✅ | ❌ Pieces stored loose in separate bag |
| Plays the same in 10 years | ✅ | ❌ Magnets weaken, plastic cracks |
| Made by a company since 1795 | ✅ | ❌ Generic Chinese maker, no guarantee |
- ✅ Magnets lock pieces
- ✅ Staunton standard
- ✅ Weighted pieces
- ✅ Folds flat
- ✅ Bag included
- ✅ Lasts years
- ✅ Made since 1795
- ❌ Pieces scatter
- ❌ Confusing designs
- ❌ Hollow plastic
- ❌ Boards crease
- ❌ No bag
- ❌ Falls apart fast
- ❌ No heritage
Order by 2pm, arrives Tuesday
Was £20.99
Magnetic Travel Chess Set: £13.99
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Not right? Return it within 30 days. Full refund, no questions.
Questions & answers
Questions Craft-Pride Dad asks
Which age should I buy this for?
Buying for a 6th birthday or first chess lesson? This is the one. The Staunton design is the learning standard, and at 5 years old, they're old enough to understand the rules. If your child or grandchild already plays, this travels with them. Suggested from age 5 upwards, but age 6 and 7 are peak for grip and focus.
Will the magnets really hold pieces during travel?
Yes. Each piece is weighted and magnetic. Shake the folded board, nothing moves. We've tested this on flights, car journeys, and bouncing down garden paths. The magnets are strong enough to lock pieces firm but weak enough that a child can still lift and move them easily during play.
What if a magnet fails or a piece gets lost?
We offer 30-day returns on this set, no questions. If a magnet fails in normal play within a year, contact us and we'll replace that piece. Lost a piece on holiday? We sell individual Staunton pieces. But honestly, the storage bag means pieces don't get lost.
Is this the kind of thing they'll still play in 10 years?
Yes, if they learn chess properly now, they'll reach for this board because it's the right size and feels right in hand. The magnets might weaken after 20 years of heavy play, but you'll know within the first month if it's built to last. That's why we offer 30-day returns: buy it, play it, keep it only if it lives up to this promise. John A said it best: 'Not the usual tat from China.'
How much does it cost?
The Magnetic Travel Chess Set is £13.99 today (down from £20.99). Klarna is available at checkout if you prefer to spread the cost.
What's your returns policy?
30 days, full refund, no conditions. Return it for any reason and we refund in full. We've been standing behind what we make since 1795.
Order by 2pm, arrives Tuesday
Was £20.99
Magnetic Travel Chess Set: £13.99
Our story
Making toys worth keeping since 1795.
Jaques of London was founded in 1795. We invented croquet, table tennis, and the Staunton chess set. For 230 years, we've been making things that pull children away from passive entertainment and into active, curious, hands-on play.
Jaques invented the Staunton chess piece in 1849. That design is still the teaching standard. This Travel Set carries the same thinking: materials chosen for grip, magnets tested for hold, a storage bag that keeps everything together. We make games for families who play them. We don't make disposable sets. We make sets that live in hands for decades, get passed on, and teach someone how to think. That's the Jaques way.
Toys and games that leave something behind: a skill, a memory, a piece of play that gets passed on.
Joe, Jaques of London
Ready when you are
Own the set you're proud
to hand over
Was £20.99
£13.99 Save 33%
🛡️ 30-day money-back guarantee · 🚚 Delivery in 2-3 working days · 🏛️ Est. 1795
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