This really is one of those gifts that makes you look incredibly generous without actually bankrupting you. The box is big, bright and immediately has that expensive feel when a child tears the wrapping off. It looks and feels like a “proper” present, the sort you proudly hand over knowing you are about to secure favourite uncle status. Speaking from experience, it works. Inside the smart cardboard box you get a sturdy plastic case that opens up into a little play station. Packed inside are a prince, princess and various little accessories, along with a generous amount of pink magic sand, lots of moulds and a good selection of tools for scooping, pressing and shaping. There is a real sense of abundance when you unpack it plenty to share between siblings or friends without anyone feeling short changed. My lot happily disappeared into this set for most of the afternoon. They built castles, invented kingdoms, buried and rescued the prince more times than I could count, and turned the whole thing into a running story. It is exactly the kind of toy that quietly boosts creativity, hand eye coordination and storytelling, while the children just think they are making a glorious sandy mess. From an adult perspective, it is more civilised than it looks. The bulk of the sand and toys stays inside the case, especially if you encourage them to play with the lid open as a tray. I still put a waterproof mat underneath because I know my audience, but for something involving loose sand it is surprisingly manageable. The sand itself is that lovely, mouldable, slightly magical texture that sticks to itself more than it sticks to everything else, so tidying up is easier than you might expect. At around twenty five pounds at the time of review, it feels like excellent value. You are getting a large, impressive box stuffed with play potential, not just a token amount of sand and two sad little moulds. As a birthday or Christmas gift it hits that sweet spot of looking luxurious, being genuinely fun and not feeling overpriced. Pros Very generous set with lots of sand, moulds and figures for the money Big, attractive box that feels like a substantial, special present Brilliant for imaginative play, storytelling and fine motor skills Most of the mess stays in the plastic case, especially with a mat underneath Perfect as a birthday or Christmas gift for children who love sensory play Cons You will still want some sort of mat or cloth under it to catch stray sand Plenty of small pieces, so be prepared for a bit of tidying and occasional retrieval from under furniture Worth the money Definitely. It looks impressive, keeps children happily occupied and offers a lot more play value than many pricier gifts.
