Jaques of London
Jaques of London is a family firm founded in 1795, run by the eighth generation of the family from Edenbridge in Kent. Games the world still plays came from here: the Staunton chess pattern registered in 1849, croquet sets that won two gold medals at the 1851 Great Exhibition, the Ping Pong trademark of 1901. The catalogue today is mostly wooden: shape sorters, stacking toys, dominoes, jigsaws, garden croquet, plus chess at the top end. Wood is FSC certified, packaging biodegradable, toys tested to UKCA and CE standards.
Good fit for buyers who want traditional wooden toys with real history, and for gift shopping: orders arrive boxed with a hand tied ribbon. Awkward outside Britain: the company's own shop ships to UK mainland only, free over £35, so overseas customers rely on Amazon listings, where the choice is narrower. Croquet and chess sets cost far more than supermarket toys.
Pros
- Family firm making games since 1795
- Invented Staunton chess, croquet and Ping Pong
- FSC certified wood, biodegradable boxes
- Tested to UKCA and CE standards
- Gift packaging with hand tied ribbon
- Free UK delivery over £35
Cons
- No international shipping from own site
- Croquet and chess sets priced high
- Narrower range abroad, only via Amazon
- Paint chips reported on toddler toys
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