The maths game that does not feel like maths
or 4 payments of £4.24 with Klarna
🛡️ 30-day full refund, no questions. Fewer than 30 returns from 23,000+ orders.
- Teaches mental maths
- Solid wood frame
- Ages 5 to adult
- Plays solo or group
- Hand-finished baize
- Made in Britain
- 30-day returns
- Klarna available
Delivery in 2-3 working days · 30-day returns · Est. 1795
as seen in
Real talk
The gift they'll think of you during, not after
You see them a few times a year. That matters more than you think. Shut The Box is the kind of game grandchildren actually ask to play, the one they bring out when friends visit, the one that sits on the shelf where they can see it. Every roll is a reason to remember you.
And it teaches mental arithmetic without feeling like a lesson. You both win.
Joe Jaques, Jaques of London
What's in the box
What arrives
A complete game, ready to play. No batteries, no screens, no assembly required.
The Frame
Polished solid wood with a baize-lined base. The numbers 1 through 12 sit under hinged tiles you flip down as you play. 30cm wide, weighty enough to feel like something worth keeping.
- ✓ Solid wood construction
- ✓ Baize-lined playing surface
- ✓ Hand-finished by Jaques
Two Dice
Roll them, add the result, flip down the matching tile or tiles that add to your total. If you can't make the number, your turn ends. Simple rules. Endless decisions.
- ✓ Dice included
- ✓ Clear rule book inside
- ✓ One or more players
Gift-Ready Packaging
Arrives in Jaques' own branded box, wrapped and ready to give. Parents tell us this packaging is often what they remember most. It signals this isn't the usual supermarket purchase.
- ✓ Jaques branded box
- ✓ Ready to wrap or gift as-is
- ✓ Full rule book included
Gift-wrap available at checkout
Was £25.99
Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game: £16.99
While they play
What they learn while having fun
Looks like play. Works like a lesson.
Number recognition
Spot patterns fast. Which tiles add to 7? Which to 11? Speed comes from familiarity, not flashcards.
Mental maths
Add two numbers in your head under mild pressure. Calculating options beats memorising tables.
Strategy
Decide which tiles to shut early and which to risk. The same roll means different moves for different players.
Turn-taking
Wait, watch, play, lose sometimes. Social games teach patience faster than any talk.
What families say about Jaques of London
What grandparents and parents 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."
"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.
Right age to start
A 5-year-old grasps the basic roll and flip. A teenager still enjoys the strategy. The same game grows with them.
Setup time
Unbox, open the rules, roll. No assembly, no batteries to hunt for, no apps to download.
Game length
Fast enough to play before bedtime or after tea. Long enough to feel like a proper game, not a time-filler.
Why this matters right now
We really are different
Why solid wood beats plastic
| Jaques Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game | Cheap Alternatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | ✅ | ❌ Plastic breaks, cracks, warps |
| Weight in hand | ✅ | ❌ Lightweight boards feel cheap |
| Baize surface | ✅ | ❌ Bare plastic or laminate |
| Lifespan (years) | ✅ | ⚠️ Plastic sets 3-5 years max |
| Passes to siblings | ✅ | ❌ Usually landfill by then |
| Feels like a keepsake | ✅ | ❌ Feels like a toy aisle item |
| No batteries or app needed | ✅ | ⚠️ Some plastic versions do |
- ✅ Real wood
- ✅ Hand-finished
- ✅ Baize-lined
- ✅ Lasts years
- ✅ Passes down
- ✅ Feels special
- ✅ Screen-free
- ❌ Plastic warps
- ❌ Mass-produced
- ❌ Bare laminate
- ❌ 3-5 years
- ❌ Bins fast
- ❌ Generic toy
- ⚠️ Some need batteries
Gift-wrap available at checkout
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
Buying for a grandchild you see a few times a year?
Which age is this for?
Ages 5 and up learn fastest. A 5-year-old grasps rolling and flipping tiles. By age 7 or 8, they spot the strategy. Teenagers and adults still enjoy it. One game, many years of play.
Does it really teach maths without it feeling like school?
Yes. The game forces them to add two numbers quickly, over and over, with real stakes (they might lose their turn). Mental arithmetic under play pressure sticks faster than worksheets. One grandparent told us, 'Perfect gift for any babies' 1st birthday', Catherine McCulloch.
How long before it arrives?
Order by 2pm and it arrives Tuesday (standard delivery). If it's a birthday panic, contact us and we can check gift-wrap and faster options. Customers tell us it arrives in time: 'Arrived next day, saved Christmas', Leigh Hemmings.
Is it worth the price compared to plastic versions?
Yes. Solid wood, hand-finished, baize-lined, no batteries. It plays for years, passes to siblings, stays on the shelf as a keepsake. One customer said, 'Worth every penny full price', Manda Monium. Plastic sets rarely last 3 years. This one does.
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.
Gift-wrap available at checkout
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.
Shut The Box arrived in England mid-century. Jaques recognised something the mass-market missed: a simple game, well made, teaches strategy without lectures, plays solo or in a group, and sits on the shelf long enough to become part of childhood. That's why we make it in solid wood with a hand-finished baize base. It's not the fastest or cheapest version. It's the one you order once and your grandchild plays for years.
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
Give them something they'll reach for,
not something they'll forget
Was £25.99
£16.99 Save 34%
🛡️ 30-day money-back guarantee · 🚚 Delivery in 2-3 working days · 🏛️ Est. 1795
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