Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot 2.0 review: we test out Mumsnetters’ favourite robot toy

Price on writing: £55 | Buy now from Amazon

Our verdict

From Learning Resources, the makers of another Mumsnet favourite, the Code & Go Robot Mouse, Botley is a super cute little robot toy offering a fun introduction to coding, encouraging early programming skills and critical thinking in children as young as five.

Children can use the included coding cards to visualise and plan the path they want Botley to take, before programming Botley to perform the actions. Actions include moving forward, turning left and right, reversing, avoiding obstacles, manoeuvring around courses and even moving objects with his detachable little robot arms.

Botley can perform up to 150 actions in a row, so once the sequence has been created, children will love pressing transmit and watching the robot spring to life.

We loved the included secret tricks -  hidden sequences that when programmed correctly, result in Botley performing hilarious actions such as cheering and singing his name. 

With a huge list of activities, games and commands for kids to work their way through, life with Botley is never boring. It’s little wonder that time and time again Botely comes highly recommended by Mumsnet parents.

Related: Don't miss our comprehensive gift guides for kids of all ages: Best toys for 4-year-olds | toys for 5-year-olds | toys for 6-year-olds | toys for 7-year-olds | toys for 8-year-olds | toys for 9-year-olds | toys for 10-year-olds.

How we tested

I tested the Learning Resources Botley Robot 2.0 with my two children, aged seven and five, for several weeks. Botley the Coding Robot was rated on how easy it was to set up and use, as well as the variety and quality of content available

What’s in the box?

• Botley the Coding Robot 2.0

• Remote programmer

• 2 removable face masks with arms

• 40 coding cards

• 6 double-sided tiles

• 27 obstacle-building pieces

• Starter guide with coding challenges

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Is Botley the Coding Robot easy to set up?

Botley doesn’t come with any batteries included, so if you are buying this as a gift, make sure you stock up on some AAAs first. The bot requires three AAA batteries, while the remote programmer needs just two. 

Once the batteries are in place, flip Botley over to find his power switch and switch to code or line-following mode as required.

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How do you use Botley the Coding Robot?

In code mode, each arrow button pressed on the remote programmer represents a step in the code. Hitting the big blue transmit button sends Botely the instructions to follow. 

Line-following mode, as you would expect, sets Botley on a course to follow a black line with the help of a special sensor underneath him. Kids can use the black line on the double-sided cards, or they can draw their own course for Botley to follow.

My kids loved sending Botley around their own homemade obstacle course and my five-year-old enjoyed playing the ‘Botley says’ game, where kids have to follow a pattern of lights and sounds (think Simon).

Botley the Coding Robot 2.0 comes with an excellent set of instructions that are clear and easy to follow, for kids and adults alike.

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What other special features does the Botley the Coding Robot have?

Botley the Coding Robot comes with several secret tricks that when programmed correctly, result in Botley performing hilarious actions such as cheering, singing his name, kissing objects placed in front of him and pretending to be a ghost. My five-year-old loved these extra commands and I could see she got a genuine sense of achievement from correctly programming the bot for each move. This is in contrast to the lengthy list of Easter egg commands that came with the Miko Mini AI robot which, although these required less work, left both kids underwhelmed.

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Is Botley the Coding Robot good value for money?

Selling on Amazon for just £55 at the time of writing (December 3rd), I personally think Botley 2.0 the Coding Robot is excellent value for money. There are so many different ways to play - Botley certainly isn’t a one-trick robot - but the fun and affordable Botley the Coding Robot Action Challenge Accessory Set (£19 at the time of writing) and Botley Crashin’ Construction Accessory Set (£15 at the time of writing) are great additions to make sure your kids coming back to Botley.

Looking for a gift for a younger child? Check out our guides to the best toys for 2-year-olds and the best toys for 3-year-olds, featuring products tried, tested and recommended by Mumsnet parents.

About the author

Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on toddler play, child play and outdoor play. She is a mum of two and lives in Sussex.

Laura is a freelance journalist and has written for a range of publications including The Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful.

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