If you’re travelling with kids, you’ll know that keeping little ones entertained on the journey can be a challenge! Whether you’re travelling by car, train, boat or plane, we’ve rounded up some of the best travel toys to help keep boredom at bay.

While tablets are often the go-to solution for long journeys, there are plenty of screen-free alternatives that can capture children’s attention while helping to develop important early childhood skills at the same time.

We’ve done a fair few long journeys as a family over the years and have amassed quite a collection of toys that I’ve carefully chosen for our travels. 

Here are some of our favourites, along with some other popular choices I’ve recently discovered that are perfect for keeping little ones busy when you’re on the go. 

1. Magneti'Books 

Magenti’Books are perfect for travelling because everything comes in a self-contained box to keep all the bits together! Ideal for children aged 3-8, there are lots of different options to choose from, including educational sets focused on letters and shapes, as well as others designed simply for fun. Most come with pictures for children to copy, which is great for developing observation skills. 

2. Sticker Books 

Sticker books are a fail-safe way of keeping little ones entertained. If you're travelling by plane, the Usborne First Stick Book: Airports is a must! And even if you're not, Usborne has a fantastic selection of sticker books for a range of ages. I always buy one for each of my girls when we head on holiday, and they never fail to keep them happy and busy!

3. Town Maze Magnetic Game 

Magnetic games like this Town Maze from Haba are great for little ones. The challenge is to guide the balls back to their matching-coloured buildings. Not only is it lots of fun, but it also supports concentration, coordination, problem-solving and fine motor skills. Plus, everything is safely sealed inside the maze, so there’s no risk of the balls getting lost.

4. Water Wow books

These books are a great low-mess alternative to painting that are perfect travelling with kids. Simply fill the pen with water and use it to reveal the pictures underneath. Once the page is complete, just wait for it to dry and it can be used again and again! They’re a brilliant travel toy for preschoolers aged 3–6. 

5. My Big Day Activity Book

This gorgeous activity book for children aged 3+ is a favourite with my girls and makes a brilliant travel toy. There are 10 fun and challenging pages covering a range of important skills, including fine motor skills, number recognition and telling the time. It’s one of the more expensive toys on our list, but the detail is fantastic and there’s so much to keep little ones interested.

6. Wikki Stix

If you haven’t heard of Wikki Stix, check them out! The special wax coating means they can be stuck to each other, as well as most smooth surfaces, so children can create all sorts of wonderful models. They’re great fun to use at home, but are particularly popular as a travel toy because they’re mess-free. They also come in a handy travel kit, making it easy to keep all the pieces together when you’re on the go. Suitable for ages 3 and up. 

7. Travel Tray

Travel trays provide a handy surface for kids to eat on, draw on and play games on, while also giving them somewhere to keep all their favourite toys. They make reading, eating and playing on the go a little easier and fold up for simple storage too.

8. Scratch Art 

This scratch art doodle pad from Melissa & Doug is a great creative activity for when you’re on the go. It contains 16 blank spiral-bound pages ready for children to design their own pictures by scratching away the coating to reveal the colourful background. Melissa & Doug make a whole host of creative and educational toys for children, and this one is suitable for ages 4+. 

9. Dobble 

Dobble is one of our favourite family games. I’m not sure who loves it more, the children or us parents! With everything contained in a small, handy tin, it’s a great size for travelling. It’s perfect for the airport, plane or train, and there are lots of different versions, including some with fewer pictures that are better suited to younger children. The original Dobble is recommended for children aged 6 and over, while Dobble Kids is suitable from age 4.

10. Mini Octons 

Based on the popular First Octons, this miniature set has been designed especially for travelling. Octons are a fabulous, well-loved construction toy, and this set comes with 72 pieces and a step-by-step guide to building models to get you started. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

11. Audio Books

I’m always amazed at how audio books capture my kids’ attention, especially when they’re listening to stories they’re already familiar with. We often listen to their favourite Julia Donaldson stories on loop when travelling! Listening to an audio story helps children develop their ability to concentrate and listen, while also supporting language development and imagination.

A subscription to Audible gives you access to a huge library of children’s audio books, as well as hundreds of titles for grown-ups. Amazon usually offers a free trial, so it’s worth giving it a go if you have a long journey coming up. 

12. My Busy Bots Busy Bags 

My Busy Bots are a UK-based company offering a fantastic range of busy bags designed to keep children entertained on the go. They are low-mess activities, fun and educational at the same time! My Busy Bots make a range of busy bags suitable from 18 months to 8 years old. To find out more read our Busy Bots Review here. 

13. Orchard Toys Travel Games 

Orchard Toys is one of our favourite brands for puzzles and games. They have a huge selection covering lots of different interests and areas of learning, and my girls absolutely love them! They also make these brilliant mini games that are designed to be space-saving and perfect for travelling. We own a few and always take them with us on holiday.

Be Ready for Your Next Journey 

Whether you’re heading off on a family holiday or simply have a long journey ahead, having a few well-chosen travel toys can make all the difference. From magnetic games and sticker books to creative activities and family games, there are plenty of screen-free ways to keep little ones entertained on the go.  

The best travel toys are compact, easy to pack and engaging enough to hold children’s attention, while many also offer opportunities to develop skills such as fine motor control, problem-solving, creativity and concentration.  

We hope you’ve found some new ideas to add to your travel bag and that they help make your next journey a little easier!