Family Dice Games · Est. 1795★★★★★ 150 reviews

The maths game that does not feel like maths

£16.99£25.99 Save 34%

or 4 payments of £4.24 with Klarna

🛡️ 30-day full refund, no questions. Fewer than 30 returns from 23,000+ orders.

Express · order today for next-day delivery

Standard · 2-3 working days

Solid wood frame
Teaches arithmetic
Solo or multiplayer
Age 5+
No batteries
Hand-finished
30-day returns
Klarna available

Delivery in 2-3 working days · 30-day returns · Est. 1795

as seen in

Real talk

One set. Three decades of play.

Bought in 1998, still in the cupboard. That's the maths on a Jaques set. Shut the Box is a wooden dice game where children cover numbered flaps by rolling dice and choosing combinations that add up. It looks like play. It teaches logic, number sense, and quick mental arithmetic without a single worksheet.

You're not buying a toy that breaks. You're buying a thing your grandchild might inherit.

Joe Jaques, Jaques of London

What's in the box

What arrives at your door

Everything you need to play, packed in Jaques' signature box. No assembly, no batteries, no app.

Shut the Box wooden frame, baize-lined, polished wood, numbered flaps 1-12

In the box

Wooden game frame

Polished solid wood frame lined with baize. 12 numbered flaps that flip down as you play. Approximately 30cm x 17.5cm x 3cm. Built to last a childhood and beyond.

✓ Hand-finished solid wood
✓ Baize-lined interior
✓ All flaps numbered 1 to 12

Child rolling two dice over the wooden game frame

Play style

Two wooden dice

Roll the dice, add up the numbers, press down the matching flaps. The goal is to cover all 12 numbers. Play continues until no more moves are possible. Dice are 1.5cm cubes.

✓ Standard 6-sided dice
✓ Wooden construction
✓ Included with the game

Child pressing down a numbered flap on the wooden frame

Play style

Strategic thinking in every turn

Each roll forces a choice: which combination of covered flaps adds up to your dice total? There's only one right answer. Children work through the maths in their heads, turn after turn, without knowing they're learning.

✓ Mental arithmetic happens naturally
✓ Solo play or with others
✓ Rules included, simple to learn

Born in France in the 1800s. Made by Jaques since the mid-20th century.

Was £25.99

Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game: £16.99

While they play

What it quietly teaches

Looks like play. Works like a lesson.

🔢

Number combinations

Children see that 7 can be 3+4, or 2+5, or 1+6. Not in a textbook. In their hands, every turn.

⚡

Quick mental maths

Roll the dice, see two numbers, find the flaps. Speed and accuracy improve without drilling.

🧠

Problem solving

Not all dice rolls lead to victory. Children learn to think two moves ahead and choose wisely.

🎯

Logic and strategy

Which flaps to close now? Which to save for later? Every decision matters.

What families say about Jaques of London

What parents and grandparents say

★★★★★

"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."

Lynda Evans✓ Google review

★★★★★

"Fast delivery, excellent products, extremely good quality and long lasting. My granddaughter loves the toys from here. Good age ranges covered."

Danella Jones✓ Google review

★★★★★

"These toys tick all the boxes, educational, colourful, fun, well made and great service. I just keep buying more and more."

Irene Johnstone✓ Google review

★★★★★

"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!"

Tegan✓ Google review

★★★★★

"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."

John A✓ Google review

★★★★★

"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!"

Sarah Lardner✓ Google review

★★★★★ 4.8/5 rated by families across Google and Trustpilot: real reviews, quoted word for word

Get ready for life

Why real play matters

Real brain growth comes from real play.

Perfect first introduction to maths

Ages 5 and up learn number bonds and arithmetic through play, not lessons. Younger siblings watch and pick it up.

→

1,4 players

Solo or with the whole table

Play alone to beat your own score, or race to close the box first. Works either way.

→

15 mins

Fast enough for today, deep enough for years

A round takes 15 minutes. Rules are one page. But strategy grows as children do.

Why this matters right now

Est. 1795 Britain's oldest games company We've been making games since before Victoria. Shut the Box arrived in our catalogue in the mid-20th century and has never left.

Over 100 million toys and games sold in 231 years That's not just nostalgia. That's proof that Jaques makes things people actually keep.

23,000+ orders from parents and grandparents Most are repeat buyers. They know: buy Jaques once, never buy it again.

230 yrs of making things worth keeping Jaques of London has been crafting games and toys since 1795. This one is built to be handed down, not thrown out.

We really are different

Why this version lasts

	Jaques Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game	Cheap Alternatives
Frame material	✅	❌ Plastic versions crack within 18 months
Hand-finished	✅	⚠️ Mass-made versions feel hollow
Flap mechanism	✅	❌ Cheap hinges jam or snap off
Weight in hand	✅	⚠️ Lightweight sets tip over during play
30-year track record	✅	❌ Discount brands have no history
Passes down to next child	✅	❌ Throwaway games end up in landfill
30-day returns	✅	⚠️ Budget versions: no returns policy

Jaques

✅ Solid wood
✅ Hand-finished
✅ Durable flaps
✅ Substantial weight
✅ Proven lasting
✅ Heirloom ready
✅ Full returns

Cheap alternatives

❌ Plastic cracks
⚠️ Mass-made hollow
❌ Hinges snap
⚠️ Tips easily
❌ No track record
❌ Single-use only
❌ No returns

Born in France in the 1800s. Made by Jaques since the mid-20th century.

Was £25.99

Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game: £16.99

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Not right? Return it within 30 days. Full refund, no questions.

Questions & answers

Questions people actually ask

Is this actually good for learning maths?

Yes. Shut the Box teaches number bonds and mental arithmetic through play, not drilling. Every turn, a child sees that 8 = 5+3, or 2+6, or 4+4. Repetition is built in. Manda Monium said it best: 'Worth every penny full price' because the learning sticks. Teachers use it in EYFS and Key Stage 1 classrooms for exactly this reason.

What age do they actually play it?

Age 5 onwards is the sweet spot. A 5-year-old learns the numbers and mechanics. By age 7 or 8, strategy opens up. Adults play it with genuine interest. It's not a toy they outgrow; it's a game that deepens with age. Catherine McCulloch wrote, 'Perfect gift for any babies' 1st birthday,' but she meant it as a future treasure: buy it now, introduce it at 5, play it together at 10, pass it on.

How long does it actually last?

Bought in 1998, still in the cupboard. That's the Jaques standard. Solid wood frame, baize-lined, hand-finished hinges. No plastic parts to crack, no batteries to drain. One customer remarked, 'Not the usual tat from China' (John A), and that's the difference: this is built to survive a childhood and be passed down. We offer 30-day returns so you can feel the quality yourself.

When will it arrive?

Orders ship via standard delivery. Once your order is placed, you'll receive a tracking link with a specific date. Gift wrap is available at checkout and arrived perfectly for Leigh Hemmings: 'Arrived next day, saved Christmas.' If you need it by a certain date, check the delivery window at checkout before you buy.

How much does it cost?

The Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game is £16.99 today (down from £25.99). 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.

Born in France in the 1800s. Made by Jaques since the mid-20th century.

Was £25.99

Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game: £16.99

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.

In 1795, Jacques Jaques started making games because children learn through play, not screens. 231 years later, that belief runs through everything we make. Shut the Box came to our workshop in the mid-20th century because it embodies that principle: a child thinks through maths, problem-solves in real time, and builds confidence without feeling taught. We hand-finish every wooden frame because a toy built to last teaches more than a toy built to break. You're not buying a game to fill a birthday. You're buying a thing that stays.

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