Wooden Castle / House for a boy!

[princesskerry]

Hello Everyone

Just wondered if anyone could help or advise me, I would like to get Joshy a large Castle or house for his upcoming third birthday, was thinking about wooden so it could withstand the force of two boys. All my family have said they would put together to get him a really nice one.
Both boys are massively into their cars but already have a lovely garage and though there are better ones around I dont see the point in getting another. So I was thinking a Fort / Castle / House could give them something else to play with and they can still put their cars inside like a garage too.
Josh sits and plays with my friends little girls (8) dolls house for ages, just parking his cars inside and driving them around, just like a garage really.

I have found this one which looks lovely.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pintoy-88720-Wooden-Medieval-Castle/dp/B0000A8TXQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=kids&qid=1236597216&sr=1-5

Thankyou again

Kerry x

[markat]

Maybe have a look at ELC - see what they have around the £500 mark !!

[tyroleandancer]

Hello Everyone

Just wondered if anyone could help or advise me, I would like to get Joshy a large Castle or house for his upcoming third birthday, was thinking about wooden so it could withstand the force of two boys. All my family have said they would put together to get him a really nice one.
Both boys are massively into their cars but already have a lovely garage and though there are better ones around I dont see the point in getting another. So I was thinking a Fort / Castle / House could give them something else to play with and they can still put their cars inside like a garage too.
Josh sits and plays with my friends little girls (8) dolls house for ages, just parking his cars inside and driving them around, just like a garage really.

I have found this one which looks lovely.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pintoy-88720-Wooden-Medieval-Castle/dp/B0000A8TXQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=kids&qid=1236597216&sr=1-5

Thankyou again

Kerry x

3 very good reviews Kerry
Looks fab :)

[britchic4]

My son has one from Great Little Trading Co, and although they don't do the same one now, this one looks very nice:
http://www.gltc.co.uk/fcp/product/-/toys_games_pretend_play/Three-Tower-Castle,-Red-Knights-&-Blue-Knights-Set---SAVE-%C2%A310/10000001056

My son's castle is similar to this:
http://www.littlebundles.co.uk/prodpage.asp?ProdID=368
by Le Toy Van (French company I assume!) - it's very good quality.
Here are all the castles and accessories in Le Toy Van's range:
http://www.letoyvan.com/products.php?CAT_ID=105&CATPATH_CLEAR=YES

My son loves the trebuchet (his favourite thing at Warwick Castle too) and the Siege Tower.

[Zaul]

Just an idea (+ I know you'll have vouchers coming soon :D) but do you know anyone whos good at joinery and could make one? Or is that too much faffing about?

[britchic4]

Actually the ELC one looks quite nice funnily enough!
http://www.elc.co.uk/toy/castle-courage-revamp/

[Zaul]

Actually the ELC one looks quite nice funnily enough!
http://www.elc.co.uk/toy/castle-courage-revamp/

+ comes with a freebie :D
http://www.elc.co.uk/toy/castle-playmat/

[princesskerry]

He He when I posted this thread I didn't know about my win lol.

I looked at the £75 ELC one and wasn't sure in person it actually looks a bit cardboady, but the £60 one you posted looks really nice. If we have received the vouchers by the weekend we will pop in and have a look.
I've always looked at the really lovely farm in ELC with all the animals and wanted to get that but it seemed like such a lot of money so think I will definately get that.:clap2:

[princesskerry]

Maybe have a look at ELC - see what they have around the £500 mark !!

They have one of those big wooden Pirate Ships for the back garden for £500 lol! Think I'm getting way too carried away he he.

[DIVA1977]

I know 2nd hand on ebay, but this is very similiar what my brother had 25 years ago and it took one heck of a battering and was still good enough to pass on to our cousins

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WOODEN-WILD-WEST-FORT-WITH-SOLDIERS-COWBOYS-INDIANS_W0QQitemZ130291671615QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _Toys_PreSchool_RL?hash=item130291671615&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318

and this is exact same one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OLD-WOODEN-FORT_W0QQitemZ330310850851QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_To ys_Games_ToySoldiers_EH?hash=item330310850851&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318

[Becles]

My boys have had the old style ELC castle for years (it was more of square shape) and it's been played with loads. They never found it flimsy and it's never been broken like the review says on the website page. I would recommend it based on the amount of play my lads have had from it.

They also have the ELC wooden pirate ship and a pirate island set. They've both been played with loads and are still in good condition.

The boys are 12 and 10 now, and they still play with them so they've really been good value for money.

[britchic4]

My son also has the ELC pirate ship and it isn't flimsy. The playmat is also sturdy, and good value though it seems a bit expensive.

[princesskerry]

Thankyou both for your reviews, hopefully my store will have both of these things in.

The £75 castle is very tall and thin, not like the cheaper one that has been posted. I went into a large Mothercare to get a stroller for the boys for our holiday and they have a section for ELC in there and had this castle and the girls version on display so you could have a look.
It looks really nice but then you looked closer and I dont think it was actually worth the money.
As a kid everything we had was so much sturdier then they are today.

I know what you mean about the reviews, I was reading the reviews about the animal farm set and almost every single one complained about the fact they had to glue it together otherwise it fell apart, so you know there is a problem there but if there was only one or two negative comments then I would probably think it was worth the risk. I had looked at this in the shop and thought it looked lovely, it wouldn't put me off I would just make sure I glued it together before I gave it to the boys.