One toy. One quiet hour. No screen in sight.
or 4 payments of £8.49 with Klarna
🛡️ 30-day full refund, no questions. Fewer than 30 returns from 23,000+ orders.
- No batteries
- 60-day guarantee
- Solid wood
- Non-toxic paint
- Ships in 2,3 days
- For ages 3+
- 30-day returns
- Klarna available
Delivery in 2-3 working days · 30-day returns · Est. 1795
as seen in
Real talk
The 20 minutes your child doesn't ask for the iPad
Every parent of a 3,5yo knows the panic: the screen is the default babysitter, and you're not sure how to break the loop without a meltdown. The Wooden Noah's Ark works because it doesn't feel like you're taking something away. Your child is too busy sorting animals into the boat, saying their names, making up stories.
And here's what happens to you: you get uninterrupted time to make a cup of tea that stays hot, send one email, or just sit down. That's the real win.
Joe Jaques, Jaques of London
What's in the box
What you get
The Ark arrives ready to play. No assembly, no missing pieces, no batteries to hunt for.
The Ark
Hand-finished solid wood boat with a curved hull. Heavy enough that it feels real in small hands, light enough for a 3yo to carry. No sharp edges, non-toxic paint.
- ✓ Solid wood, not pressed cardboard
- ✓ Painted with non-toxic finish
- ✓ Stands stable during play
Animal pairs
Twelve pairs of hand-painted animals: lions, zebras, elephants, giraffes, and more. Each one is a shape your child learns to hold, name, and sort.
- ✓ 24 individual animals
- ✓ Hand-painted details
- ✓ Safe grip size for 3yo hands
How it plays
Your child loads animals two by two into the Ark, names them, tells stories about the voyage. No rules, no winning, just imagination. Works solo or side-by-side with a sibling.
- ✓ Shape sorting builds fine motor control
- ✓ Naming animals expands vocabulary
- ✓ Open-ended play lasts years
Order by 2pm on weekdays, arrive by Friday. Gift wrap available.
Was £40.99
Wooden Noahs Ark - Wooden Animal Toy: £33.99
While they play
What it quietly teaches
Looks like play. Works like a lesson.
Animal names
Each pair is a new word. Your child learns zebra, giraffe, elephant without flashcards or apps. Just play.
Shape recognition
Every animal is a different shape to hold and fit. Sorting them into the boat's hold develops the grip and spatial sense that matters at school.
Storytelling
Why did the lion board first? Where are they sailing? Your child invents the narrative. That's where the real learning lives.
Screen independence
No prompts, no rewards, no next level. Play isn't passive. After 20 minutes with the Ark, many kids forget the iPad is even there.
What families say about Jaques of London
Why parents come back
"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.
Orders from families who know
Over 23,000 Jaques toys have shipped to homes where quality and imagination matter more than plastic and batteries.
Play risk-free
If your child doesn't reach for it, send it back within 60 days for a full refund. No questions, no logistics hassle.
228 years of the same philosophy
Jaques has been making toys since 1795 because we learned then what still holds true: a child's imagination is the greatest toy ever made.
Why this matters right now
We really are different
Why the Wooden Ark wins over the plastic version
| Jaques Wooden Noahs Ark - Wooden Animal Toy | Cheap Alternatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | ✅ | ❌ Plastic cracks and fades |
| Weight and feel | ✅ | ❌ Light and hollow |
| Lasts through siblings | ✅ | ❌ Bin after 2 years |
| No batteries | ✅ | ❌ Adds noise and screen appeal |
| Storytelling over rewards | ✅ | ❌ Beeps and lights demand attention |
| Warranty and support | ✅ | ⚠️ Generic customer service |
| Safe, non-toxic finish | ✅ | ❌ Unknown paint sources |
- ✅ Solid wood
- ✅ Real weight
- ✅ Lasts forever
- ✅ No batteries
- ✅ Open-ended play
- ✅ 60-day promise
- ✅ Safe paint
- ❌ Plastic cracks
- ❌ Cheap feel
- ❌ Bins after 2 years
- ❌ Needs charging
- ❌ Just beeps
- ⚠️ No real support
- ❌ Unknown safety
Order by 2pm on weekdays, arrive by Friday. Gift wrap available.
Was £40.99
Wooden Noahs Ark - Wooden Animal Toy: £33.99
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Not right? Return it within 30 days. Full refund, no questions.
Questions & answers
Questions parents ask
Is this the right toy for my child's age?
The Wooden Noah's Ark is designed for ages 3 and up. If your child is 3,5, this is the one. The animals are big enough to grip safely, the sorting is just tricky enough to hold focus, and the storytelling scales as they grow. Buying for a 6th birthday? Still works, but they'll play it differently (more narrative, less sorting). If your child is under 3, wait until their grip is steadier.
How long does it actually hold their attention?
Most parents report 20,40 minutes of uninterrupted play on a first sitting. After a few days, the novelty deepens: they make up longer stories, notice details on the animals, sort by size or colour. One parent wrote, 'arrived next day, saved Christmas', Leigh Hemmings, because a single toy occupied her 4yo while she cooked dinner. It depends on your child, but screen-free focus is the point, not endless entertainment.
Will it arrive in time for the birthday?
If you order by 2pm on a weekday, the Ark ships within 2,3 business days. We also offer gift wrap at checkout. If the birthday is this weekend, email us before you order, we'll check stock and give you a straight answer. If it won't arrive in time, we'll tell you upfront.
Why does it cost more than the plastic version in the supermarket?
Solid wood costs more to source and hand-finish than injection-moulded plastic. But a wooden toy played with for 5 years, passed to a sibling, and still working costs pennies per year. The plastic version might last 18 months. This one often outlasts the childhood. One parent said, 'worth every penny full price', Manda Monium, because she knew it would survive. You're paying for durability and imagination, not a branded sticker.
How much does it cost?
The Wooden Noahs Ark - Wooden Animal Toy is £33.99 today (down from £40.99). 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 on weekdays, arrive by Friday. Gift wrap available.
Was £40.99
Wooden Noahs Ark - Wooden Animal Toy: £33.99
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 has been making toys since 1795 because we learned then what still holds true: a child's imagination is the greatest toy ever made. The Wooden Noah's Ark isn't engineered to solve a screen problem. It's engineered to make screen time irrelevant. Hand-finished solid wood, non-toxic paint, 24 animals with real weight and character. A toy that feels like it matters, because it does. Your child plays. You breathe. That's the design.
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
Let them load the animals.
You'll get your quiet hour back.
Was £40.99
£33.99 Save 17%
🛡️ 30-day money-back guarantee · 🚚 Delivery in 2-3 working days · 🏛️ Est. 1795
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