Contains affiliate links (#Ad).
Our pick of the best toys for 1 year olds UK includes seven gifts you can order today, from £9.99 MEGA BLOKS to a first balance bike for under £30. Prices were checked on Amazon UK on 13 November 2026 and may change.
Around their first birthday, many children start pulling up, cruising and taking first steps, and they love toys that make a noise, light up or can be stacked and knocked down. Every toy below is marketed for children from about 12 months, and we have mixed building, music, pretend play and active toys.
In this guide
Quick picks: the best toys for 1 year olds UK at a glance
| Best for | Product | Amazon UK price* | Rating on Amazon | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best under £10 | MEGA BLOKS ABC Train | £9.99 | 4.7/5 (6,156 ratings) | Amazon · eBay |
| Best pretend play | VTech Cutie Puppy Carrier | £16.49 | 4.6/5 (133 ratings) | Amazon · eBay |
| Best mess-free creative toy | Kikidex magnetic drawing board | £19.99 | 4.5/5 (11,938 ratings) | Amazon · eBay |
| Best wooden toy | Vanplay wooden 7-in-1 | £23.99 | 4.5/5 (1,011 ratings) | Amazon · eBay |
| Best musical learning toy | Fisher-Price Smart Stages Tablet | £25.00 | 4.7/5 (15 ratings) | Amazon · eBay |
| Best for first steps | VTech First Steps Walker | £28.48 | 4.5/5 (24 ratings) | Amazon · eBay |
| Best active toy | Umatoll baby balance bike | £29.99 | 4.8/5 (5,952 ratings) | Amazon · eBay |
Our reviews of the best toys for 1 year olds UK
Here is a closer look at each pick, with the price we saw on Amazon UK on 13 November 2026, who sells it, the key specs from the listing and who it suits.
MEGA BLOKS First Builders ABC Learning Train
The MEGA BLOKS ABC train cost £9.99, sold by Amazon. It has 60 pieces, including big blocks printed with the letters A to Z and rolling wheelbases, so children can build a train and push it along.
The blocks are sized for small hands and work with other big-block sets. MEGA BLOKS rates it for ages 1 and up, and with more than 6,000 ratings it is one of the best toys for 1 year olds UK parents can buy on a small budget.
VTech Baby Cutie Puppy Carrier
The VTech Cutie Puppy Carrier cost £16.49, sold by Amazon. It is a pet carrier with a puppy and six removable accessories, including a water bottle rattle, comb, treats, bone, flying disc and mobile.
Light-up buttons introduce numbers, colours and shapes, and it plays two songs and 15 melodies. A moving zip, crinkly bag and squeaky parts keep little hands busy. Among the best toys for 1 year olds UK shops sell for role play, it suits toddlers who love copying grown-ups.
Kikidex Magnetic Drawing Board
The Kikidex board cost £19.99 from a third-party seller. It has an 8.7-inch magnetic drawing area and a magnetic pen, so toddlers can scribble and wipe it clean with no paint or pens.
Removable legs let it stand up or lie flat, and it is marketed for ages 1 to 3. With nearly 12,000 ratings, it is a popular choice for car journeys and quiet time.
Vanplay 7-in-1 Wooden Hammering Toy with Xylophone
The Vanplay activity toy cost £23.99 from a third-party seller. It combines seven activities in one wooden set: a pounding mole game, magnetic fishing, a xylophone, rotating gears, a maze, bell spinners and a push-pull bus.
Vanplay says it uses water-based paint and rounded corners. It is a good-value present if you prefer wooden toys to plastic ones, though the magnetic fishing parts should only be used with an adult nearby.
Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Smart Stages Tablet (UK English)
The Fisher-Price tablet cost £25.00, sold by Amazon. It has 28 app-style buttons, dancing lights and more than 100 songs, sounds and phrases in UK English.
Three Smart Stages levels introduce the alphabet, objects and colours as your child grows, and Fisher-Price rates it for ages 1 to 3. It is a newer listing with fewer ratings, but it is one of the best toys for 1 year olds UK families can get for pretend tech play.
VTech Baby First Steps Baby Walker
The VTech First Steps walker cost £28.48, sold by Amazon. It is a push-along walker with six electronic play features and four mechanical activities, including a drum, guitar slider, piano keys and a detachable microphone.
The activity panel comes off for sit-down floor play, and sounds play as the walker moves to encourage those first steps. Always use it on a flat floor away from stairs.
Umatoll Baby Balance Bike (12-24 months)
The Umatoll balance bike cost £29.99, sold by Umatoll UK. It has a light 1.5kg aluminium frame, quiet EVA wheels for indoors and outdoors, a 3-position seat and a 135-degree steering limiter.
It goes together without tools and has a removable basket for favourite toys. With nearly 6,000 ratings and a 4.8 score, it is a popular first birthday present for confident walkers.
How we chose the best toys for 1 year olds UK parents will like
We looked at the most popular toddler toys on Amazon UK and kept only those in stock on 13 November 2026, marketed for children from about 12 months, and with good ratings. We then picked a mix of play types: building, creative, pretend play, music and learning, first steps and riding.
We relied on the age ratings and features in each listing and did not test the toys ourselves. For older brothers and sisters, our guide to the best toys for kids aged 3 to 8 has more ideas, and our list of the best toys for 1 year olds UK shops sell will be updated as stock changes.
Tips for buying toys for a one-year-old
Check the age rating
Toys for under-3s should not have small parts that can be swallowed. Look for the age rating and the UKCA or CE mark on the box, and buy from a seller you trust.
Choose toys that grow with them
Toys with stages or several activities, such as the Fisher-Price tablet or the VTech walker, stay interesting for longer as your child develops.
Mix noisy and quiet toys
Electronic toys are fun, but blocks, drawing boards and wooden toys encourage open-ended play. Many of the best toys for 1 year olds UK buyers choose are simple ones.
Safety at home
RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has practical advice on keeping toddlers safe at home, including around stairs and batteries. Keep button batteries well out of reach. For what to expect at this age, see the NHS guide to your baby’s development.
Toddler toys and Black Friday
Black Friday falls on 27 November 2026, and big toy brands such as VTech, Fisher-Price and MEGA BLOKS often feature in the sales. We have not quoted any discounts here, only the prices we saw on the day. Popular toys can sell out before Christmas, so it is worth ordering early.
Best toys for 1 year olds UK: frequently asked questions
What toys are good for a 1 year old?
Toys that encourage stacking, pushing, pressing buttons and simple pretend play are ideal. Blocks, push-along walkers, musical toys and chunky activity toys are all popular at this age.
Is a balance bike suitable for a 1 year old?
Some balance bikes, like the Umatoll, are designed for 12 to 24 months and are low and light. Your child should be walking confidently first, and an adult should always supervise.
How many toys does a 1 year old need?
Not many. A few toys that offer different kinds of play are enough. Rotating toys every week or two can keep them interesting.
Are wooden toys better than plastic toys?
Both can be good. Wooden toys are durable and often encourage open-ended play, while plastic electronic toys add lights and sounds. Check the age rating and safety marks either way.
What should I avoid buying for a 1 year old?
Avoid toys with small parts, long cords, loose button batteries or strong magnets that could come loose. Follow the age rating on the box.
Our verdict on the best toys for 1 year olds UK
For most families, the MEGA BLOKS ABC train is the best-value starter toy, while the Umatoll balance bike is a lovely first birthday present for active toddlers. The VTech First Steps walker helps with walking, and the Fisher-Price tablet is a fun musical choice. Any of these would be among the best toys for 1 year olds UK parents can order today.
Related guides
You may also find these guides useful:
- toys for kids aged 3 to 8
- stocking fillers under £10
- Christmas gifts under £20
- LEGO sets for Christmas
See more in our guide hub: Christmas gift guide UK.
#Ad – This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Smart Pocket Deals earns from qualifying purchases.
Learn how we pick deals.
