BoujeeKidsThe BRIO World wooden train system has been the gold standard since 1958. After a year with the starter set, here’s what you need to know.
BRIO · Swedish engineering applied to a children’s toy
BRIO World Wooden Railway Set
Solid FSC-certified beech wood rails with magnetic couplings, compatible with every BRIO set ever made. The starter set that hooks them for a decade.
Where to buy
BRIO is Swedish engineering applied to a children’s toy. Solid beech wood rails sanded smooth enough you’d let a baby chew them. Magnetic couplings strong enough to drag four carriages but gentle enough that a toddler can pull them apart. The track system has been compatible across decades.
The starter set
The 33-piece Classic Figure 8 Set (£75) is the right entry point. You get enough track for a small loop, an engine, two carriages, a station, signals and a bridge. Plenty for an hour of play. Crucially, every piece is compatible with every other BRIO set ever made, including ones you’ll find in charity shops from the 1990s.
This is the gift that grows with your child. From age 18 months (supervised) through age 7+ when they’re designing their own layouts. The starter set is genuinely sufficient, resist the urge to buy the giant kit. Add pieces gradually as gifts; the anticipation is part of the joy.
BRIO is what happens when an industrial design culture decides to make a children’s toy. It’s the train set you wish you’d had.
Pros
- FSC-certified beech wood, sustainably sourced
- Non-toxic water-based paints
- Compatible across decades of BRIO sets, including second-hand
- Survives genuine abuse, ours has been jumped on, thrown, washed
- Magnetic couplings are excellent fine motor training
Cons
- £75 entry point is steep relative to plastic alternatives
- Battery-powered engines (sold separately) feel slightly off-brand
- You will, inevitably, buy more