Best Garden Games for Kids in the UK This Summer
The garden fills with noise by mid-morning. A ball skitters across the grass, someone calls for a rematch, and the afternoon stretches ahead with nothing to do but play. Summer rewards a household with a few good games to hand.
Choosing well matters more than choosing much. A set that survives the season, holds a child's attention, and suits the space you have will see more use than a cupboard full of novelties. Look for games tested to UKCA and CE safety standards, which cover the materials, small parts, and construction that keep younger players safe.
What follows is a practical guide to the garden games for kids that keep a mixed-age group busy, from toddlers underfoot to older children who want a proper contest.
What to Look for in Garden Games for Kids
Start with the space. A long, flat lawn invites running games and lawn sports; a smaller patch or a patio suits target games and anything played kneeling or standing in one spot. Measure roughly before you buy, since some classics want more room than a town garden offers.
Consider the ages playing together. A game that only a ten-year-old can manage leaves a four-year-old out, and a game pitched too young bores the older ones. The best choices scale: simple rules a small child grasps, with enough skill at the top end to keep everyone honest.
Safety sits underneath all of it. Check that a set carries UKCA or CE testing, that any small parts suit the youngest player, and that mallets, bats, or pieces are a sensible weight for small hands. Our full range of outdoor games is built and tested with this in mind.
Think about how the game fills time. Public Health England links outdoor physical play to children's motor skills, social skills, and emotional regulation, and government guidance recommends children aged 5 to 18 accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate activity daily. A game that keeps bodies moving does quiet work towards that.
Finally, weigh durability against how often it will come out. A set left on the grass through a wet summer needs to cope with it. Materials, storage, and finish all decide whether a game lasts one season or a childhood. We return to that question later, because it often separates a good buy from a short-lived one.
The Best Types of Garden Games for Different Ages and Group Sizes
For toddlers and infants, keep it big, soft, and forgiving. Rolling a ball, knocking over light skittles, or the simple back-and-forth of catch builds coordination without frustration. Our guide to the best garden games for children under 8 covers this age in detail.
Children of five and up can handle games with a target and a turn. Throwing games, lawn bowls, and anything that rewards a little aim suit this stage, where the pleasure comes from getting slightly better each go. Setting up a few drills with cones adds structure, as our piece on garden games drills explains.
Older children, from around eight, enjoy a proper contest with rules worth arguing over. Croquet rewards patience and tactics, and badminton or table tennis bring a competitive edge. Croquet also carries a fine piece of history: it was the first sport in Britain played on equal terms by men and women, documented in accounts from the 1860s.
Group size shapes the choice as much as age. Two or three players want a game that works in a small round, while a party of ten needs something with teams and quick turns. For larger gatherings, our notes on the best garden games for families help you match the game to the crowd.
Mixed ages are the real test of a summer afternoon. The games that work hardest are the ones a small child can join and an older one can still try to win, so nobody drifts off to the house.
Our Picks: The Best Garden Games for Kids from Jaques of London
For a mixed-age crowd, our Kubb outdoor game at £33.99 is hard to beat. Teams take turns throwing wooden batons to knock over blocks, which means a small child and a grandparent can play the same round without one dominating. The rules are simple to learn and genuinely tactical once you do.
Croquet suits older children who want a longer game with room for strategy. A full-size court runs to 35 yards by 28 yards under Croquet Association laws, but you need nowhere near that to enjoy a casual lawn game. Browse our croquet sets to match a mallet weight to your players.
Table tennis carries particular meaning here. Jaques of London invented the equipment and coined the name 'Gossima' for the game in 1891, before the world came to know it as ping-pong. An outdoor table keeps a summer rally going for hours.
For rainy spells, keep a few indoor-outdoor crossovers to hand. Snakes and Ladders began in ancient India as 'Moksha Patam', a moral teaching tool, before the Victorians brought it to Britain in the late nineteenth century. You will find it among our board games.
Many of these are also drawn from our traditional games, the sort passed between generations. If you are planning a larger event, our guide to garden games for a wedding and our round-up of the best garden games for adults extend these picks to grown-up company.
Wooden Garden Games vs Plastic: Which Are Worth Buying?
The wood-versus-plastic question comes up with almost every garden game, and the honest answer depends on how the game will live. Plastic is light, cheap, and easy to replace, which suits a game you expect to lose or outgrow within a season.
Wood earns its place over time. A well-made wooden skittle, mallet, or baton has a weight and balance that plastic rarely matches, and that heft helps a child read the game, judging a throw by feel rather than guesswork. It also tends to age well, picking up the marks of use rather than cracking in the sun.
There is an environmental point too. A wooden set built to last is one you buy once and hand down, rather than several plastic sets that reach the bin. For a game you hope will see more than one childhood, that calculation favours wood.
Plastic does have real uses. For the very youngest players, light hollow balls and soft shapes are safer and kinder to the lawn, and for a game that travels to the beach or a campsite, lightness wins. There is no shame in a plastic set that earns its keep.
Where a game involves skill and repeated play, wood usually rewards the choice. A badminton rally, played on a court measuring 13.4 metres by 6.1 metres for doubles under BWF laws, or a long croquet match, benefits from equipment that feels considered in the hand.
Most households end up with a mix, and that is sensible. Keep the hard-wearing wooden games for the contests everyone returns to, and the light plastic ones for the splashy, chaotic afternoons when durability matters less than ease.
How to Store and Care for Garden Games So They Last
Damp is the enemy of a wooden garden game. Grass holds moisture long after it looks dry, and a set left out overnight will absorb it. The simplest habit worth teaching children is to collect every piece before they come in, and a quick count against the box saves many a lost baton.
Dry the pieces before they go away. A wipe with a cloth after a wet game, then a spell indoors to air, stops moisture settling into the grain. Store the set somewhere ventilated rather than sealed damp into a shed corner where mould takes hold.
The storage bag or box matters more than it seems. A fabric or canvas carrier that breathes is kinder to wood than an airtight plastic tub, which can trap humidity. Many of our sets come with a bag made for the purpose, so use it.
Once a season, give wooden pieces a check. A light sand smooths any raised grain, and a wipe of food-safe oil on bare wood keeps it from drying and splitting. It takes minutes and adds years.
Metal parts, such as croquet hoops or clips, benefit from a dry wipe to keep rust off. Store them separately from the wood if you can, so no moisture transfers in the box between games.
Cared for this way, a good set becomes part of the summers to come rather than a yearly purchase. The games across our traditional games and our outdoor games are built to be handed on, and a little care each season is what lets them be.
£33.99 · all-rounder · tested to UKCA/CE
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Our most relevant picks, made by a British family company since 1795.
Frequently Asked Questions About Garden Games For Kids
What are the best garden games for kids in the UK?
The best garden games for kids in the UK include croquet, badminton, skittles, quoits, and ring toss. Croquet is particularly well-suited to British gardens and has a rich heritage — it was the first sport in Britain played on equal terms by men and women, documented in accounts from the 1860s. Badminton works well even in modest outdoor spaces. Jaques of London offers a wide range of traditional wooden garden games that combine quality craftsmanship with genuine outdoor fun, keeping children active and entertained throughout the summer months.
What age are garden games suitable for?
Garden games suit a wide range of ages, with many designed specifically for children from around three years upwards. Simpler games such as skittles and ring toss are ideal for younger children developing coordination, whilst croquet, badminton, and more strategic games engage older children and teenagers. Public Health England recommends children aged 5–18 accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity daily, and garden games are an enjoyable way to contribute to that goal. Always check the manufacturer's age guidance on individual products before purchasing.
Are wooden garden games worth the money?
Yes. Wooden garden games from quality makers such as Jaques of London are built to last multiple seasons, making them far better value than cheap plastic alternatives that crack or fade quickly. Solid hardwood sets withstand regular outdoor use and, when properly stored and maintained, can be passed between siblings and generations. The tactile feel of wood also enhances the playing experience. Given that a well-made wooden croquet or skittles set can provide years of entertainment for the whole family, the investment per hour of play is genuinely excellent.
What garden games can kids play without an adult?
Many garden games are perfectly suited to independent play among children. Skittles, quoits, ring toss, and French boules all have straightforward rules that older children can explain to younger ones, encouraging peer-led play. Badminton is simple enough for children to organise their own rallies or informal matches without adult supervision. Playing independently supports the social skills and emotional regulation that Public Health England links to regular outdoor physical activity. Choosing games with clear, minimal rules makes it easier for children to self-manage, reducing the need for adult intervention.
What are the best garden games for large groups of children?
For large groups, games that accommodate multiple players simultaneously work best. Croquet is an excellent choice — a full-size court measures 35 yards by 28 yards as set out by the Croquet Association, but shorter garden versions can involve four to six players at once. Skittles tournaments, relay-style quoits, and team badminton also scale well for groups. These games naturally encourage turn-taking, teamwork, and friendly competition. Jaques of London's traditional sets are robust enough to handle enthusiastic group play, making them a reliable choice for parties, school holidays, and family gatherings.
How do I choose a garden game for different aged children?
Match the game's complexity and physical demands to the ages involved. For mixed-age groups, choose games with adaptable rules — croquet, for instance, can be simplified for younger children whilst remaining challenging for older players. For toddlers and pre-schoolers, prioritise large, easy-to-handle pieces and simple objectives such as knocking down skittles. School-age children enjoy target games and light competition. Teenagers benefit from games with tactical depth. Jaques of London's range spans all ages, and clear age guidance on packaging helps narrow down the right choice quickly.
What should I look for in a garden game for young children?
For young children, prioritise safety, simplicity, and durability. Look for smooth, splinter-free wooden components with no small parts that present a choking risk. Lightweight equipment is easier for small hands to manage. Games with straightforward objectives — knocking down skittles, tossing a ring onto a peg — build confidence and motor skills without frustrating complexity. Bright colours help younger children engage with the game. Public Health England links outdoor physical play to motor skill development in children, so even simple garden games offer genuine developmental benefit alongside the fun.
What garden games are best for small gardens?
Compact games are ideal for smaller outdoor spaces. Quoits, skittles, and ring toss all fit comfortably into a modest garden or even a patio area. Badminton can be adapted — the official doubles court is 13.4 metres long and 6.1 metres wide per Badminton World Federation rules, but informal garden play requires far less space. Croquet sets also come in shorter garden versions suited to limited lawns. The key is choosing equipment that can be scaled to your available space without losing the enjoyment of play.
How do I keep garden games in good condition over winter?
Clean wooden components thoroughly before storage, removing any dirt or moisture that could cause warping or mould. Apply a light coat of teak oil or similar wood treatment to protect against damp. Store sets in a dry, covered space such as a garage or shed — avoid leaving them outdoors through frost or prolonged rain. Keep metal hoops and clips free from rust by drying them completely before packing away. Storing pieces in their original bags or boxes protects against scratches. Proper winter storage ensures a quality wooden set is ready to use again the following spring.
What are the most popular outdoor games for kids in the UK?
Traditional garden games remain consistently popular with British families. Croquet, badminton, skittles, and quoits are perennial favourites, combining outdoor activity with friendly competition. Table tennis is also widely enjoyed — Jaques of London invented table tennis equipment and coined the name 'Gossima' for the game in 1891, giving it deep British roots. Badminton suits the British garden well, requiring only modest space. These classics endure because they are inclusive, easy to learn, and enjoyable across age groups, making them reliable choices for keeping children entertained throughout the summer holidays.