Big Adventures in Small Worlds: Toys That Spark Imaginative Play
Have you ever watched a child create a whole universe from a handful of toys and a patch of carpet? That’s small world play in action—and it’s truly magical.
Small-world play invites children to build miniature versions of the big world around them, giving them the freedom to explore, imagine, and understand life’s little (and big) adventures. Whether it’s running a farm, sailing the seas, or taking care of patients in a toy hospital, children use small-world play to process their experiences and spark their creativity.
At its heart, this kind of play is all about storytelling. It encourages children to dream up characters, create problems, and find solutions—all at their own pace. Play is not just fun; it’s also an important part of development, helping children build empathy, language skills, and confidence.
🌿 Explore the Great Outdoors
There’s something irresistible about the wild unknown, especially when exploring it from the comfort of your living room floor. These toys take curious minds on big adventures through nature and beyond.
🦁 Safari Jeep & Animals
Get ready for a roaring adventure! The Safari Jeep & Animals set is perfect for young explorers who love animals and wild places. With a classic red jeep, two peg people game wardens, non-slip rubber wheels and four safari animals, this set invites children to create their own safari scenes—spotting wildlife, caring for animals, and navigating tricky jungle paths.
It’s a brilliant way to learn about different habitats and the creatures that call them home, all while encouraging gentle, nurturing play.
Available now in our Small World collection.
🌳 Tree House
The Tree House is a wooden dolls’ house with a twist—tucked high among the branches, it’s a two-storey hideaway filled with adventure! With 31 pieces, including a boy and girl doll, friendly woodland animals, and fun extras like a swing, rope ladder, seesaw, pulley and treasure chest, it’s the perfect backdrop for endless imaginative stories.
Children can host tea parties in the treetops, go treasure hunting, or simply swing the afternoon away. Whether it’s a secret club, jungle lookout or magical woodland retreat, the story is theirs to tell.
A brilliant choice for independent or shared play—there’s plenty of room for imagination to grow!
🏴☠️ Swashbuckling Sea Adventures
Sometimes, the best stories begin with “Ahoy there!” Whether a peaceful sail across calm waters or a daring pirate raid, sea-themed small world toys open up oceans of possibility. From gentle island picnics with animal sailors to cannon-loaded adventures on the high seas, these toys inspire storytelling, confidence, and a healthy dose of mischief—all from the safety of dry land.
⛵ Sailaway Boat
All aboard for a high-seas adventure—on dry land! The charming Sailaway Boat is a traditional wooden toy with painted details, fabric sails, and cheerful bunting, captained by Bubble and Squeak, two delightful animal sailors from our Merrywood Tales collection.
Whether your child is imagining a daring voyage or a gentle island picnic, this beautifully crafted toy inspires nautical storytelling and hands-on play, without needing a drop of water.
You can even make it extra special by adding a personalised name, engraved onto the hull.
Set sail with the Sailaway Boat, part of our Small World collection.
🦜 Barbarossa Pirate Bundle
Ready the cannons and hoist the sails—adventure awaits! The Barbarossa Pirate Bundle is a thrilling set that brings classic pirate tales to life. Featuring the striking wooden Barbarossa Pirate Ship and a detailed Pirates Set, it includes everything your child needs for swashbuckling storytelling: six pirate figures, weapons and accessories, a cannon, flag, treasure chest, and even a skeleton with a wearable eye patch!
Perfect for dramatic play, this set encourages children to craft their own seafaring sagas—whether they’re rescuing treasure, manning the ship, or plotting the next big voyage. The ship’s working parts and detailed features invite hands-on exploration, building fine motor skills as they play.
Want to make it truly special? Personalise the ship with a child’s name (up to 9 characters) for an extra personal touch. Just allow a little extra time for delivery.
Save £8 when buying the bundle compared to purchasing the items separately.
A must-have for young adventurers aged 3+, this set is sure to become the flagship of any small-world fleet.
Available now in our Small World collection, or turn to page 21 of our catalogue to spot it in print.
🐓 Life on the Land
Farmyard play is a classic for a reason—it’s comforting, familiar, and endlessly engaging. These small-world toys introduce children to routines, caretaking, and the rhythms of rural life.
🐄 Oldfield Farm Bundle
Bring the charm of country life to playtime with the Oldfield Farm Bundle. This comprehensive set includes the vibrant wooden farm, a family of flexible and poseable farmers, and a delightful collection of wooden farm animals. Perfect for hours of imaginative role-play, this farm is designed for easy assembly, with magnetised roof panels and sturdy wooden structures like the barn, pigsty, cow shed, farmhouse, and fences.
Children can care for the animals—feeding cows, pigs, lambs, ducks, and chickens—and explore the workings of farm life. Whether gathering eggs or leading the animals to pasture, this set encourages learning about the world of farming, where food comes from, and the importance of caring for animals.
And the best part? You save £12.00 compared to buying the items individually!
🐔 Chicken Coop
The Chicken Coop is full of farmyard charm—from the rooster and hens to the freshly laid eggs. This delightful wooden playset is perfect for teaching children about responsibility and the wonders of the natural world. With its rooster, two hens, little chick, nests, and feeding trough, it’s a wonderful addition to any farm-themed play scene or a perfect stand-alone set for imaginative play.
Compact and easy to move, it’s ideal for taking along on adventures, too!
🌾 Penny Windmill
Add a touch of countryside magic with the Penny Windmill. This beautifully detailed wooden playset features a two-storey windmill with spinning blades, an opening door, and a charming wheat bag that rises and lowers as the blades turn. The set also includes a family of three adorable field mice and a variety of flour-themed accessories, such as a bread oven, loaves of bread, and a fabric armchair.
Perfect for imaginative storytelling, this delightful toy invites children to create adventures for the mice, from baking bread in the oven to settling the baby mouse into bed on the second floor. Part of the Merrywood Tales collection, it’s sure to become a treasured favourite for years of creative play.
🪴 Greenhouse & Garden Set
For little green thumbs, the Greenhouse & Garden Set is a delightful way to bring gardening to life. With a traditional plywood greenhouse, removable roof panels, and a planting bench, children can pot plants, grow pretend vegetables, and learn about the joys of nurturing nature. It’s the perfect set to spark conversations about sustainability, food, and the environment, all while encouraging imaginative outdoor play.
Whether part of a doll’s house or as a stand-alone set, this garden features everything a budding gardener needs: a cold frame for tender plants, raised beds to fill with veggies, a watering can, a wheelbarrow, and even a traditional deck chair to relax in after a day’s work.
This charming set is designed for hours of play and is sure to become a favourite. It inspires children to take care of their miniature garden and grow their love of the outdoors.
🚑 Community Helpers & Everyday Heroes
Small world toys help children make sense of the systems they see around them—doctors, buses, post offices, and more. These sets let them try on different roles and explore themes like kindness, cooperation, and care.
🏥 Mini Hospital Playset
Whether it’s a broken leg or a teddy bear check-up, the Mini Hospital Playset is perfect for soothing nerves and encouraging empathy. This wooden fold-and-go playset is easy to take anywhere, thanks to its soft cord handle, and features painted details inside and out. It includes a doctor and nurse, medical equipment, and a teddy patient, giving children everything they need to act out doctor visits and care for patients.
It’s a wonderful way to help children process real-life medical visits, make sense of big feelings, and explore the world of healthcare in a friendly, approachable way.
🚖 Timber Taxi
Call a Timber Taxi and ride in style! This quirky log-shaped wooden vehicle is perfect for picking up passengers in the Merrywood world. Featuring three charming characters—Robbie the reindeer, Woody the bear, and Fungi the toadstool boy—children can take them on all sorts of adventures around town.
With its simple yet delightful design, the Timber Taxi is ideal for sparking storytelling and imagination, whether as part of a larger play scene or as a fun introduction to life in a bustling community.
🎭 Building Stories, One Scene at a Time
What makes small world toys truly magical is how they evolve with your child. A toddler might simply move figures around and make animal sounds. A few years later, the same set becomes the backdrop for detailed, multi-layered storytelling.
Many of the toys we’ve shared here can be mixed and matched to build a bigger world—perhaps the safari jeep visits the farm, or the tree house becomes the base for a garden rescue mission. This kind of open-ended play supports flexible thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, all while being entirely child-led.
It’s also a lovely way for children to play alongside siblings, parents, or friends, working together to build stories, solve problems, and learn through collaboration.
💚 Why Small World Toys Are a Big Win
There’s so much to love about small world toys beyond just the fun they offer.
- Heirloom quality: Many of the sets we stock are made from quality wood and built to last, making them beautiful gifts that can be passed down.
- Tactile and hands-on: These toys are made to be touched, arranged, and moved, supporting fine motor skills and sensory development.
- Encourages screen-free play: In a digital world, it’s refreshing to offer toys that hold children’s attention through simple, meaningful play.
- Supports emotional development: From helping a hurt animal to setting up a hospital ward, small world play fosters empathy and understanding.
🛒 Explore More: Browse Our Full Small World Collection
We’ve only scratched the surface—there’s a whole world waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re buying a birthday present, refreshing your playroom, or looking for a special gift that will grow with a child, our Small World Toys collection has something for every little storyteller.
From quality materials to thoughtful details, these toys inspire big adventures in tiny hands.