Are you looking for ways to encourage your kids to spend more time outside? Your little one can get stuck right in and make mud pies using sand, dirt, water and plants if you purchase a mud kitchen. Many designs are also fitted with a water function, taps and opening ovens so they can role-play and pretend they're making a real meal!
It's best to look through our buying guide if it's your first time purchasing one, so you end up with a high-quality product your child will love. We've also included a ranking of the best outdoor mud kitchens in the UK for toddlers and kids, with options from top brands like Chad Valley, TP Toys and Plum. They're all available to buy for great prices from Amazon, Argos, eBay and John Lewis.
Quick List - Top Mud Kitchens for Kids
Big Game Hunters
Loads of Storage and a Working Tap and Water Butt
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Mud kitchens are a lot of fun, but if you're on the fence, we're here to tell you about their many learning benefits. Firstly, as they are fitted with pretend ovens, cupboards and sinks, they are perfect for role-playing. Role-play helps to improve your child's creative thinking, language development and social skills as they immerse themselves in a world of their own creation.
The use of water, dirt and various other garden materials to make recipes adds a sensory play element, which can improve coordination and brain development. Combining and mixing ingredients also helps to teach investigative and measuring skills needed for science and maths lessons.
When you're buying a mud kitchen, there are a few things you need to consider to find the best one. We've put together some key information on important features to look out for to help you choose.
Most mud kitchens are free-standing, but some need to be attached to a wall. Freestanding models often have more features, like shelves and cupboards for storing accessories and other items. Some even include a pretend oven that kids can act out cooking food inside, further immersing themselves in the experience.
If freestanding mud kitchens are out of your budget range, look for a compact design that you can secure to an outdoor fence or wall. Although these styles have less storage space, they're less likely to fall or tip forward. Alternatively, you could build your own custom kitchen by attaching a wall-mounting model to a wooden table.
Mud kitchens need to be treated before you can use them outside. The easy option is to go for one that states it has already been treated, which means it's been coated with preservatives or had a pressure treatment. This protects the wood against the elements and stops it from rotting or becoming damaged by various pests.
If the kitchen comes untreated, you'll have to do the job yourself. It's important to coat it with a preservative that protects, rather than a wood stain or oil that only enhances the appearance. If you choose to not treat the wood, it should only be used outside in dry weather and stored indoors after use.
One other great feature to consider in a mud kitchen is a working tap or pump – all you have to do is connect the tap to your garden hose. This feature saves you from having to fill up the bowl with water before the kids start to play.
Another option is to purchase a mud kitchen with a water butt attached to a tap. These are better for conserving water, as you can let it fill up with rain or put a rationed amount from the mains supply inside. They'll still have the same realistic experience of turning the tap, but you'll conserve energy and save money.
Your child needs pots, pans and utensils to role-play their kitchen activities, and luckily, some mud kitchens come with these included. Their new toy will be ready to use straight away and they won't get bored waiting for the extra gadgets to arrive.
Also, keep an eye out for mud kitchens with a blackboard, which further adds to the role-playing fun. Kids can invent their own recipes and write them down to remember, or they could decorate the board with fun pictures and even pick a name for their kitchen.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Big Game Hunters Triple Mud Kitchen With Working Tap | ![]() | Loads of Storage and a Working Tap and Water Butt | |
2 | Playhouse Marvellous Mud Kids' Kitchen | ![]() | A Creative Look With Colour-Coded Taps | |
3 | Charles Bentley Children's Wooden Mud Kitchen | ![]() | Excellent Value for Money With Realistic Sounds | |
4 | Big Game Hunters Mud Kitchen With Working Tap | ![]() | A Compact Design With Excellent Features | |
5 | Plum Discovery Mud Pie Kitchen | ![]() | Help Them Develop Green Fingers | |
6 | Chad Valley Wooden Mud Kitchen | ![]() | Room for Two to Join in the Fun | |
7 | TP Toys Deluxe Mud Kitchen Playhouse Accessory | ![]() | An Affordable Option to Fix to a Wall or Fence | |
8 | Craftplay Acacia Wood Mud Table With Pump | ![]() | Focus On Making Fantastic Concoctions | |
9 | TP Toys Deluxe Mud Kitchen | ![]() | Great for Multiple Kids With a Large Bowl and Worktop | |
10 | Peppa Pig Mud Kitchen Playset | ![]() | A Fun Kitchen Approved by Everyone’s Favourite Pig |
Without a doubt, this is the best mud kitchen on our list! It comes in a big size and has excellent features. There's a working tap and a water butt, so you can choose which option you'd prefer. It also has a sliding drainage board, which extends to create extra room.
Not to mention that this mud kitchen has lots of storage space with an extra cupboard for you to store accessories or other toys. Plus, the oven looks realistic with black turning knobs and oven rings, which will enhance the experience. A fantastic all-rounder that's well worth the cost.
This mud kitchen has a cute and creative look, with large white knobs and square taps that are colour coded for hot and cold water. This will be particularly useful for younger children that are still learning which one is which.
It also has holes at the top to slot pots into, so kids can learn how to grow and look after their own plants. It's a great find, and has even won an award in 2020 for the best role-play toy! Plus, it comes with five different accessories and the wood is pre-treated and ready to use straight away.
The Charles Bentley mud kitchen is another great budget option with smaller dimensions that's suitable for younger kids. It has all the basics, including an oven, bowl, storage space and blackboard that can be added to if you fancy.
Perhaps the most appealing feature for kids, however, is the realistic ignition sound which adds to the excitement. And for the parents, it looks attractive with its slightly darker treated fir wood. It's also all sustainably and ethically sourced as the wood comes from an FSC-approved forest.
Here's a more compact version of the Big Game Hunters' triple mud kitchen without an opening oven. It's more modest in size and therefore better for younger children, single-child households or smaller outdoor spaces.
There are some great features, including a water butt, a working tap and a sliding drainage board you can extend to create more room – perfect if friends come over to play. We also love the large chalkboard space for decorating and writing down recipes.
Plum's kitchen has a unique design, as it includes plant storage and a trellis. You could easily double this up as a gardening station and teach your kids how to grow and care for plants. It also has a wind chime and painting screen that will keep them entertained for hours.
The construction has a natural woodland look, which will complement any garden, and the FSC-certified wood has been treated so you don't have to worry about doing that yourself. Overall, it's a great find from a very dependable kids' brand.
Your child's friend or sibling can join in if you purchase this mud kitchen. It's spacious with two sinks so they can have a separate workspace to create their mud pie – you could even turn it into a competition! This option also comes with eight kitchen accessories, making it good value for money.
Produced by reliable brand Chad Valley, it's also likely to last a long time as the construction is sturdy and well made – just remember to coat it with a wood preserver first. To top it off, there's plenty of blackboard space for kids to write down their recipes.
Are freestanding mud kitchens seeming a little out of your budget? You can save money by purchasing this accessory that attaches to a wall. In addition, it still comes with all the basics your child would need, including a large bowl, a water butt and four kitchen accessories.
This is another one that is a little difficult to assemble and will require drilling, so it's best to purchase it if you have some DIY know-how. All in all, it's excellent quality and the wood is sturdy and treated, so it'll last a long time.
This table is perfect if your child would prefer to focus on making mud pies or other concoctions instead of engaging in role-playing. Unlike other options, it doesn't have a pretend oven or other bits and centres more around the sink and pump.
Admittedly, it does seem a bit expensive considering it only comes with the sink. However, it's still a great product as it's made from sturdy, high-quality acacia wood that's beautifully presented with a shiny finish. It looks good enough to go in a real kitchen!
This mud kitchen benefits from a large mixing bowl with a sliding wooden cover, which can be opened for extra cooking space if playing with friends and family. Kids will have easy access to water, as there's a butt. It'll feel just like a real kitchen as they can turn the tap to release the water!
One thing to note is that it can take a while to construct, and you'll need a drill and perhaps an electric screwdriver to hand. On a positive note, it's a good pick if you're environmentally conscious, as it's made from FSC timber which is ethically and sustainably sourced.
If your child loves Peppa Pig, why not treat them to this themed mud kitchen? It's beautifully decorated with pink surfaces and an illustration of Peppa in her chef's outfit. The realistic look of the sink and the opening oven will immerse your child in the experience.
It also comes with a range of accessories to keep your child entertained, and it's big, so they'll have enough space to move around. There's plenty of room underneath for storing items, too. Just note that the wood is not treated and some parents report that it is not the strongest, either.
It's important to teach kids early to enjoy playing outside so they can get lots of healhy exercise and fresh air. Check out our article on the best outdoor toys to encourage your child to explore the garden – you could even buy a sandpit or teach them to ride a scooter!
A mud kitchen is sure to keep your little one entertained as they pretend to bake and create different concoctions. We hope our tips and ranking have given you some ideas. Remember to consider different features like working taps, water butts and accessories when buying a mud kitchen.
Author: Rosa Fairfield
No. 1: Big Game Hunters|Triple Mud Kitchen With Working Tap
No. 2: Playhouse|Marvellous Mud Kids' Kitchen
No. 3: Charles Bentley|Children's Wooden Mud Kitchen
No. 4: Big Game Hunters|Mud Kitchen With Working Tap
No. 5: Plum|Discovery Mud Pie Kitchen
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