The best Elf on the Shelf accessories to buy in the UK depend on how you use your elf. If you want easy daily setups, ready-made prop kits are usually the most practical choice. If you want variety across the season, outfits, scene sets, small activity books and family games often give the best mix of replay value and effort.
This guide focuses on accessories that help with common buying decisions: making nightly ideas easier, adding new looks, extending play beyond the morning reveal, or supporting the wider Christmas tradition. Where useful, specific products and collections are linked only when they directly help with that choice.
Quick answer: which accessories are most useful?
If you want the shortest route to better elf setups, start with props, then add outfits, then choose one or two activity-based extras. This order usually gives the clearest benefit for most UK families.
Prop kits for quick daily scenes and less planning.
Elf clothes and costumes for visual variety without needing a full setup.
Games and puzzles for family use after the reveal.
Arts and crafts for quieter activity time.
Plush and companion characters for younger children or story-led play.
1. Best for easy daily setups: prop kits
Prop kits are the most practical accessory category because they solve the hardest part of Elf on the Shelf for many parents: coming up with a new idea every night. The POLAR PROPS and SCOUT ELVES AT PLAY collection is specifically described as ready-made elf scene props for fast, easy and fun elf ideas every night, which matches this need closely. The wider Activities & Accessories collection also groups official props, activity kits, games, puzzles and clothing for easier planning.
Two strong options stand out. The Polar Props 24-Day Ultimate Elf Ideas Kit includes 24 sets of official props and is designed to offer many scene possibilities with minimal effort. The 24 Day Kit Game Night includes 80-plus mix-and-match props and 24 idea packs, which is useful if you want a month-long structure rather than buying single novelty items.
Who should buy prop kits?
Parents who want low-effort nightly setups
Families using one elf scene per day in December
Buyers who want a single purchase instead of many small accessories
2. Best for visual variety: elf clothes and costumes
If your elf already has enough scene ideas, clothes are usually the next best accessory because they refresh the look without needing a full prop build. The Claus Couture Collection is focused on official outfits, including pyjamas, costumes and seasonal wardrobes. For a more niche theme, the Harry Potter collection covers robes, pyjamas and props in a Scout Elf edition.
Clothes work best when you want a simple visual change from one day to the next. A themed set such as the Claus Couture Collection Touchdown Tidings Set can create a complete scene with very little setup, while a single item change can still keep the tradition feeling fresh.
When clothes are a better buy than props
You already enjoy making your own scenes
You want accessories that take up less storage space
You prefer reusable items that can rotate year after year
3. Best for active or playful scenes: small scene accessories
Some accessories are designed around one visual joke or action pose rather than a full month of ideas. These are useful when you want a standout morning reveal, especially if your child enjoys sports, motion or themed setups.
For example, the MagiFreez Holly Jolly Ollie Skateboard Set is built around a skateboarding display, while the bendable FleXfigs Boy gives a poseable figure format rather than a fabric elf setup. These types of accessories are best as occasional add-ons, not as your main purchase, because they usually solve one scene rather than many.
4. Best for family use after the elf reveal: games and puzzles
If you want accessories that continue being useful after the morning surprise, games and puzzles are a strong choice. The Games & Puzzles collection is designed around festive family game nights and puzzle play, which makes it a good fit for households that want the elf tradition to lead into an activity.
Examples include the Tangled Twistmas Card Game, Merry Guess-mas Card Game, and the 4 Pack 50 Piece Kids Puzzles. These are especially useful if your child enjoys the character but does not need a new physical elf scene every day.
5. Best for quieter activities: colouring and craft accessories
Arts and crafts accessories are useful when you want the elf tradition to support independent play or a calm indoor activity. The Arts & Crafts collection is built around colouring books, scratch art and craft kits themed around Scout Elf characters.
Useful examples include the Aqua Magic Colouring Book with Magic Marker for mess-free reuse, the Scratch Art Box Set, and the Artists Pad. These are often a better accessory choice than props if you want the elf to introduce an activity rather than just a scene.
6. Best for younger children: plush and companion characters
For younger children, or for families that prefer gentler story-led play, plush accessories and companion characters can be easier to use than detailed scene props. The Plush collection focuses on soft character toys, while the Plushee Pals collection centres on cuddly toy versions of Scout Elves.
Examples include Plushee Pals, the smaller Plushee Pals Snugglers, and the larger Plushee Pals Huggable 27 inch. These are less about daily elf staging and more about comfort, imaginative play and extending the character beyond December mornings.
If you want story-based companions rather than a plush version of the Scout Elf, the Elf Pets collection adds reindeer, Saint Bernard and arctic fox characters linked to storybooks.
How to choose the right accessory type
Need |
Best accessory type |
Why |
|---|---|---|
Less nightly planning |
Prop kits |
They provide structured scene ideas and matching pieces. |
More visual variety |
Clothes and costumes |
They change the elf's look with minimal setup. |
More family interaction |
Games and puzzles |
They turn the reveal into a shared activity. |
Quiet solo play |
Arts and crafts |
They support colouring, sticker or scratch-art activities. |
Younger child appeal |
Plush or companion characters |
They are easy to handle and story-friendly. |
What to buy first if you are starting from scratch
If you are buying your first accessories, a simple order works best. Start with one prop kit for structure, then add one outfit set for variety, then choose either a game or a craft item based on your child's age and habits. This usually covers the main parts of the tradition without creating clutter.
If your household treats Elf on the Shelf mainly as a morning surprise, spend more on props and outfits. If you use it as a wider Christmas activity, shift more of the budget into games, puzzles, crafts or story-led companion products.
FAQ
What are the most useful Elf on the Shelf accessories?
The most useful accessories are usually prop kits, because they reduce planning and make daily scenes easier to set up. Clothes are useful for visual variety, while games and crafts are better if you want the tradition to lead into an activity.
Are prop kits better than elf clothes?
Prop kits are usually better for families who need help with daily ideas. Elf clothes are better if you already create your own scenes and just want a quick way to change the elf's appearance.
Which accessories suit younger children best?
Plush toys and companion characters often suit younger children best because they are simple to handle and support story-led play. Plushee Pals and Elf Pets are two examples of this type.
Do Elf on the Shelf accessories only work in December?
No. Games, puzzles, plush toys and many craft products can be used beyond the daily December hide-and-seek tradition. They work especially well for holiday activities, story time and family play.