The ultimate dolls house

[StepfauxWife]

I really want to get my DD a dolls house for Christmas - she'll be 3.5 by then. I've seen lots of beautiful ones online and wondered whether the super expensive ones were worth the cash? I like the look of the Le Toy Van ones.

She has a younger sister so I'm hoping for years of use from it.

Can anyone recommend any particular brands that have stood the test of time and proved to be good value?

I think the wooden ones get grown out of quickly. If I had this time over again I would have bought a Lundy house with Swedish trendy furniture sets including lighting. Robust and more grown up.

Have a look at the dolls houses that the Sue Ryder charity sell (being silly and can't work out how the post an active link, but just google Sue Ryder dolls houses). They are all new, not second hand. We got dd, 4, one for her birthday and she loves it (the cream Victorian style one). Friends with older daughters also have wooden ones and still use a lot. We got the chunky asda furniture for now and she also uses her play mobile people / furniture too.

Have a look at the dolls houses that the Sue Ryder charity sell (being silly and can't work out how the post an active link, but just google Sue Ryder dolls houses). They are all new, not second hand. We got dd, 4, one for her birthday and she loves it (the cream Victorian style one). Friends with older daughters also have wooden ones and still use a lot. We got the chunky asda furniture for now and she also uses her play mobile people / furniture too.

I would recommend at least checking out the asda one. I found it fairly similar to a lot of the more expensive ones and my daughter (similar age to yours) loves it. It definately stands up to a clumsy 3yo and would be great for for younger children also. I looked at the John Lewis one and couldn't justify spending the extra.

After lots of research last year I got the biggest Le Toy Van one for my dds (luckily got an ex display one as full price would have been out of my budget). I think it's called Cherry Tree Hall or something like that. It looks lovely and has plenty of space for multiple kids to play at the same time. It has been used daily this year.

My two dds are 6 and 3 so I guess time will tell how long it holds their interest. I did fill it with playmobil furniture and figures rather than wooden ones as I knew my kids liked playmobil, and it means it fits with all the other sets we have. It also fits sylvanian families well.

That's all really helpful, thank you so much.

It's definitely an idea to get the asda one, particularly as the littlest DD is likely to batter it a little! We can always upgrade when she is older to one that they can both enjoy.

Also a great idea to fill with playmobil furniture.