A mud kitchen is essentially about cooking up grubby fun. Your kids can sauté leaves, oven-bake mud pies and wash up after your garden gnomes have devoured the meal. The splash steel sink is also easy to clean stainless steel - and the little plant pots are a nice touch to encourage little gardeners.

Here's a more compact version of the Big Game Hunters' triple mud kitchen without an opening oven. It's more modest in size and therefore better for younger children,single-child households or smaller outdoor spaces.This table is perfect if your child would prefer to focus on making mud pies or other concoctions instead of engaging in role-playing. Unlike other options, it doesn't have a pretend oven or other bits and centres more around the sink and pump. Plus, it being in the garden allows kids the freedom to make a mess and it doesn't matter as much as it does inside the house. How much does a mud kitchen cost? Most dads reading this will remember their own childhood, spent outdoors until the sun went down. We ran around the fields, explored the muddy banks of streams (perhaps our own versions of mud kitchens), and played conkers with the collection we found on the ground. As the mother of two children, Erin and Neve, our writer Lucy was determined to provide honest and independent advice on the fantastic mud kitchens your little ones will love using. If you’re limited on space in your garden, this wall-mounted ‘bolt-on’ makes a great alternative to a free-standing mud kitchen. It comes with a starter set full of pans and a whisk, so your kids can get creative straight away. The water butt and large sink are also ideal for washing and rinsing away.

Chat to your child about what they'd like to see in their mud kitchen but remember they can add their own extras and that's all part of the creative play. The Chad Valley Wooden Mud Kitchen is an attractive toy with rustic styling and thoughtful features. It has two small metal sinks that can be removed easily for draining and cleaning and are great for two children playing together side by side. The best mud kitchen for your family will very much depend on your requirements, however, for its high quality, versatility, substantial size and range of accessories included, we feel the TP Muddy Madness is the best mud kitchen you can buy today. Whether you’re buying for a single child or for siblings to share together, this mud kitchen offers great value for money and is built to last the test of time. How we chose our recommendations Recommendations from real Mumsnet users There are also little hooks to hang up your pans and utensils, which come with the kitchen - including two pans, a lid, ladle, whisk and spatula.Key specs: Size: H x 105; W x 93.5; D x 52.5 cm | Material: Untreated wood | Accessories included: 8 stainless steel utensils | Age suitability: Three years and over | Assembly time: One hour plus What we love: It's big enough for up to three children to play with at the same time so ideal for a large family. Plus, it comes with a starter set of pots and pans and a spacious under-shelf to store them on - this mud kitchen has got all bases covered. Complete with a functional chalkboard and faux kitchen utensils, this mud kitchen has everything it needs to keep your little one's attention.

Key specs: Size: H105 x W127 x L90cm | Material: Wood | Accessories included: Metal bowl | Age suitability: Three years and over | Assembly time: Not specified What we love: There's also a sliding draining board and large splash tub, which is removable and easy to clean after each muddy play session.Just like the real deal! Roomy painted hob area with fun DIY stencil to create hob rings and 'mud kitchen' logo.