Playtime in playhouses

Made from plastic or wood you can choose from a vast array of cottage, castle or Barbie pink style playhouses. Most home retailers or DIY stores such as Argos and Next, Homebase or B&Q have cheap and cheerful playhouses available but if you are after something more sturdy or flamboyant really the sky is your limit.

John Lewis are selling Hideaway Cabins for £79.99 – which to me look very similar to a small playhouse, or Country Cottages and Log Cabins from £249.95. At the top of their range is Bramble Cottage which has double storey windows and an internal loft area. It boasts Georgian windows (ten of them) and shutters on all windows. This is a snip at just £599 although be aware that it arrives as a flat pack and you will need to construct it yourself.

Many other retailers sell playhouses in all shapes, sizes and colours according to your child’s wishes and the amount of space you have in the garden. You can even buy a bespoke playhouse.