Small scale scenario

Palaces and castles

The Enchanted Palace from Letterbox has been built with co-operative play in mind: the back and sides of the palace are open to allow several children to play at the same time. The palace is wooden and painted in pastels and gold with a central, curtained balcony and sliding lattice doors. The palace measures 60(h) x 57(l) x 44(w)cm and is priced 79.99. A set of Royal family figures with bendable arms and legs and including a king, queen, prince and princess is priced 19.99.

Furniture for the state bedroom, children's bedroom, sitting room, bathroom and kitchen is also available, priced 14.99 for each set.

Letterbox also stocks a Georgian house, cottages painted in either pink or lavender, a farm, a garage, a fire station, a medieval castle and a woodland doll's house with extension.

Telephone 0870 6007878 www.letterbox.co.uk

Holz Toys boasts a 'Castle Collection' that includes a Large Castle (see the cover) and a Starter Set. All the pieces in the collection are handcrafted from solid alder wood and finished with natural Livos oil. The Large Castle set contains eight castle walls, a large turret, lookout, two steps, eight defence walls with entrance, a covered well,a tower with drawbridge, two ramps, a drawbridge, a large lookout, a large tower, a portcullis, one blue and one red riding knight and horse, two blue and two red standing knights, a king, queen and princess. The castle measures between 15 and 43cm in height, priced Pounds 595. The Starter Set contains five castle walls, a large turret, a lookout, steps, defence wall with entrance, a covered well and tower with drawbridge, a blue and red riding knight and horse, one blue and one red standing knight, queen, princess and king, priced 295.

Holz also stocks a fort, a large farm, a pirate boat and Noah's Ark.

Telephone 0845 130 8697 www.holz-toys.co.uk

E-niko's Castle comes with three towers, ladders, drawbridge and a set of 'bendy doll' knights. The castle is made from a combination of wood and reinforced cardboard and can be easily assembled by an adult prior to use.

The tall towers measure 43cm in height, the turrets are 40cm high with diameters of 14cm; the wall height is 28cm. Suitable for three-year-olds upwards, priced 89.50.

Telephone 01768 210121 www.e-niko.co.uk

Multi-storey living

NES Arnold's Block of Flats (below) has three storeys with several rooms and flights of stairs on each level and an attic room at the top. The flats are big enough for several children to play with at the same time and the rooms are also large enough for children to be able to manipulate figures and furniture around inside. Made from MDF throughout with hardwood stairs, the flats are coated in environmentally- friendly lacquer and a non-toxic stain. Measurements are 59(w) x 30(d) x 59(h)cm, priced 99.95.

Telephone 0845 120 4525 www.nesarnold.co.uk

The Three Storey Dolls' House from Galt is accessible from the front with a swinging roof that opens at the back and the front. The doll's house is painted in royal blue and turquoise with a natural pine look interior and is made from MDF. The house measures 50.5(w) x 27(d) x62(h)cm and comes with all the furniture you will need, including a toilet, double sink, computer desk, keyboard and screen, nursery, rocking horse, beds, cupboards and dining furniture, priced 139.95.

Telephone 08451 203005 www.galt-educational.co.uk

Life afloat

Playmobil's Noah's Ark is one of the company's latest additions and is designed to float on water as well as be played with on 'dry land'. The Ark comes with the requisite 13 pairs of animals, plus a gangplank, a working crane, a store room for bales of hay (also included), sleeping quarters and cages for below-deck. The Ark measures 52(l) x21(h)cm, is suitable for four-year-olds upwards and is priced around 49.99.

Telephone 0870 417 0007 www.playmobil.co.uk

Still on a nautical theme, NES Arnold's Polar Explorer is large enough for several children to play with at once and includes the ship, a crew of five, ten sea and arctic animals, two sloops, a helicopter, two sledges, three huskies, two life buoys and two rope ladders. The ship measures 34(w) x 70(d) x 36(h) and is made from wood. Suitable for four-year-olds upwards, priced Pounds 64.95.

Also from NES Arnold is Deluxe Ice and Snow, a wooden base with igloo, whale, boat and around 30 other small world pieces on a base board, measuring 53.5 x 38.5cm. This is part of the company's Wooden Environment range that includes dinosaurs, jungle, Noah's Ark, castle, Egyptians and Native Americans, priced 49.95 each.

Telephone as before

Filling up

A garage can be used as part of a whole town/village set-up or be placed next to a road play cloth to extend the whole scenario. Asco's Garage is made from birch plywood with bright red painted doors and roof. The set includes a petrol pump, two closing doors, a ramp and upper and lower floors. Measurements are 43(w) x 34(h) x 24(d)cm, priced 27.50. Cars for the garage come in a set of 16 vehicles and are 6cm in length, priced 13.75 the set.

Telephone 0113 2707070 www.ascoeducational.co.uk

Nursery setting

The children are bound to be keen on a nursery scenario, especially when it contains characters they recognise. The Balamory Nursery is one of five buildings in this range, made from wood with plastic accessories, with an opening front door and open-plan room set for easy access and manipulation.

This set includes Miss Hoolie and two children, a dual purpose, 'flip the lid' activity table for pretend sand and water play, a cupboard and special stickers to decorate the set with. The set is easy to assemble for an adult and is suitable for three-year-olds and upwards, priced 14.99. Also available is Edie McCredie's House; Josie Jump's House; PC Plum's House and Spencer's House, all from Flair.

Telephone 0208 643 0320 www.flairplc.co.uk

Emergency services

These are ever popular scenarios with children and you could combine an A&E unit with a fire station and/or police station to provide extra drama.

The Plan Style Hospital from the Early Steps catalogue at TTS has access on all sides to facilitate group use. The set is wooden and includes 16 doctors, nurses, paramedics and patients, plus 36 hospital accessories. The rooms can be rearranged simply by reslotting the pieces together. The set measures 48(w) x 71.5(l)cm and is priced 74.95.

Telephone 0800 318686 www.tts-group.co.uk

Pintoy's Fire Station is made from replenishable rubberwood and comes complete with all 'mod cons', including satellite dish, control console, swivel chair, bunk bed, round table, two chairs and shelf unit. The two level station measures 57(w) x 59(h) x 31(d)cm and is suitable for three-year- olds upwards, priced 53.99. The station is designed to accommodate the Pintoy Fire Engine, which comes with two ladders, a fire hose with nozzle and two connecting hoses, priced 29.99. Pintoy also includes a large selection of dolls' houses, forts and farms in its range.

Available from Mail Order Express.

Telephone 08700 129090www.mailorderexpress.com