The best playsets for kids for hours of imaginative play

From the moment they can start moving around and using their hands, toddlers are already trying to imitate our actions. Whether it's pretending to cook dinner or do some gardening, young ones are always trying to copy Mummy and Daddy - and playsets will help them do exactly that.

For older children, on the other hand, playsets can help make their dream jobs a reality. Whether they're still in the "I want to be a princess" phase or have graduated to the aspirations of wanting to be a teacher, doctor or (our personal favourite) astronaut, we can guarantee that there's a playset out there to help make their dreams come true.

Playsets for kids are a fab way to encourage imaginative play, letting their imaginations run wild and spending hours and hours in a world created entirely by them. It'll help boost their creativity and fine-tune those motor skills as they try to navigate their way around a toy gardening pot or a wooden stethoscope. Most important of all, playsets will provide hours of endless fun, while you get some much-needed downtime - or at least some time to tidy up after them!

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Best Playsets For Kids 2022

We've done our research, and found the best playsets for kids you can get your hands on. From gardening playsets, all the way to palaeontology sets, shop our top picks below.

Perfect for the dino-lovers, this playset includes a chalkboard, brush, magnifying glass, dinosaur puzzles and more to keep your little explorer entertained for hours. They can explore fossils, complete puzzles, and carry everything in their very own palaeontologist carry case.

Review: "I have 4 grandchildren and they all scramble to find the pieces in the sandpit. It is a great set and the 2-year-old makes cakes with the dinosaur mould!!"

Tea parties will never be the same again! Not only will this wooden tea set inspire hours of imaginative play, but it'll also look gorgeous in the nursery or playroom. From the wooden tea bags to the lemon slices and milk jar, expect to be served many cups of imaginary tea!

Review: "My niece loved the tea set!"

A pastry chef in the making? This adorable baking set comes with a mixer, bowl, spatula and rolling pin, as well as eggs and assorted biscuits. The mixer even has its own clicking dial that your little one can turn as they mix their imaginary dough. Trust us, they'll be Michelin star chefs before you know it...

Review: "Brilliant product. My boys (4yrs and 2yrs) both love to bake, this was a major hit for Christmas and has been played with almost daily since."

Read next: 15 best toys for 3-year-old girls

Make the doctor's office a less scary place with this fun doctor's playset! The set includes four plasters, a thermometer, syringe, stethoscope and everything else a doctor can't go without. We love that it comes with a bag so that little ones can tidy up after themselves, and the wooden material is much more sustainable and visually appealing than plastic alternatives.

Review: "It looks beautiful and the handy bag encourages my kids to tidy away when they're done playing doctor and nurse. We love it!"

A playset for the most heroic job of all, this feature-packed fire station contains everything your kiddo needs to fight as many imaginary fires as they like. Including a zip wire, training dolly, control centre desk and more, they can carry Fireman Sam down the fire pole and to his next adventure.

Review: "Bought this for my son and now for my nephew! A great toy and perfect to travel elsewhere as well with the carry handle. Other bits can be bought separately to make it a fantastic set."

Ah - wasn't becoming a vet everyone's dream? Spending time with animals all day certainly sounds like fun, which is why we fell for this 16-piece vet playset. It comes with a plush dog, as well as all the accessories needed to groom and care for it. Most important of all, the act of caring for something will help children develop empathy and learn responsibility.

Review: "Daughter loves it. She has really enjoyed pretending to be a vet and a doctor with it. Compared to some of the other ones we saw, this was a much cheaper option, it doesn't have any sharp ends coming out of the toys making it great for little ones to play with. Worth it for that money."

What better lesson to teach young ones than healthy eating habits and self-sustenance? Containing a selection of fruit and veg such as carrots, strawberries and more, your child can slot their veggies into the patch, keeping it in check with all the extra accessories such as the gardening fork, name pegs and watering can.

Review: "This is a lovely set. So compact so saves on space. Children love pretending to water the fruit and vegetables and imagining them grow. It is expensive but I haven't seen anything else like it."

How adorable is this toy subscription service? Every three months, you'll get a lovely package like this one, arrive at your door for your little one to play with. This kit is for children 25, 26 and 27 months; however, Lovevery has options suitable from birth up until 36 months. We like that this kit isn't just for children - it has a play guide for parents that talks you through ways to play, as well as expert tips and provides fun activities to try at home.

Review: "This kit is all about the senses. There are different things that your toddler can touch and get involved in. We like the felt flowers, as well as getting them to stand up. They also make a good tool for drawing around. The skink is also a fun activity to use."