I dare you to name a better rainy day activity than doing a jigsaw puzzle.
And while I wait, I’ll be getting stuck into the below options and supporting both my mental well-being and self-care.
Here are the 7 best jigsaw puzzles to add to your rainy day routine!
What are the best jigsaw puzzles?
When choosing the best jigsaw puzzle for your needs, it’s important to consider several factors, such as the number of pieces, your preferred genre or theme, and the space you have available for putting together your puzzle.
For example, if you are a beginner jigsaw puzzler, it would be best to stick with puzzles which are below 1000 pieces. Or if you are a bit of a pro, you can challenge yourself with a 2000-piece puzzle for a more rewarding experience.
And what is your preferred theme?
Do you prefer fictional tales or more of an enchanting landscape which will allow you to escape to another world?
My favourite puzzles are ones with plenty of colour and a distinct sunset.
You’ll also want to take into account the amount of space you have to put together your puzzle. If you have a big kitchen table then you will not have a problem with doing a standard 1000 or 2000-piece puzzle. But if you are short on space then look at buying a smaller-sized puzzle.
So without further adieu, let’s dive into the below puzzles and see why I think they’re the best.
- Around the World in 50 Trees 1000 Pieces
- The World of Jane Austen 1000 Pieces
- Map of the Universe 1500 Pieces
- Accidentally Wes Anderson 1000 Pieces
- Venice Canals World’s Smallest Puzzle 1000 Pieces
- Mount Fuji Cherry Blossom View 1000 Pieces
- Skyline New York 2000 Pieces
1 | Around the World in 50 Trees (1000 Pieces)
Piece together a living, vibrant world of trees, spanning from the beech forests of southern Sweden to the North African argan trees where goats climb their branches, journeying through India’s sacred banyan and the Hawaiian koa, all the way down to Australia’s jarrah.
This 1000-piece puzzle is an enthralling botanical adventure that will transport you to diverse landscapes filled with the beauty of trees from around the world.
Highlights
- 1000 piece puzzle
- Standard puzzle sizing
- The complete puzzle measures 19 x 27 inches
- Colourful and intricate design
- Includes complimentary poster
- Also available as a book
→ Price: £16.99 with free delivery on Amazon
My thoughts
This is the exact puzzle I’m getting stuck into at the moment and I absolutely love it. The smoothness of the pieces, the colours of the picture and the design. It is so intricate and carefully designed.
Definitely, the prettiest jigsaw puzzle I’ve ever done!
2 | The World of Jane Austen (1000 pieces)
If you’re a fan of Jane Austen and her fictional world then this jigsaw puzzle is for you.
Embark on a delightful journey through Austen’s world as you piece together this engaging puzzle featuring her most beloved characters.
From Pemberley to Bath, uncover hidden gems and relish in the charm of whispered intrigues, harmonious weddings, and proposals, making it a perfect challenge for Janeites and jigsaw enthusiasts alike.
Highlights
- Inspired by the life and works of Jane Austen
- 1000 piece puzzle
- Standard puzzle sizing
- Features 60 of Austen’s memorable characters
- Piece together your very own Mr Darcy
- One of multiple in “The World of… ” series
→ Price: £16.99 with free delivery from Amazon
My thoughts
From the same publishers as Around the World in 50 Trees, this puzzle is again beautiful, delicate and extremely captivating. It is inspired by the works and life of Jane Austen so if you’re ready to piece together your very own Mr Darcy then this puzzle is for you.
3 | Map of the Universe (1500 Pieces)
Explore how expansive our universe is with this awesome map puzzle. Piece by piece, uncover intricate details of galaxies, solar systems, stars, and constellations. With a stunning yet challenging design and a simple colour palette, this jigsaw puzzle will 100% keep you busy for the best part of a rainy day.
Highlights
- 1500 pieces
- The completed puzzle measures 80 x 60cm
- Printed on extra-thick and durable cardboard combined with fine, linen-structured paper
- Glare-free puzzle image
- From the bestselling jigsaw puzzle brand
- Made with FSC-certified materials
→ Price: £10.99 with free delivery on Amazon
My thoughts
As soon as I saw this jigsaw puzzle in Waterstones, I just knew it was a match made in heaven.
I don’t like to brag but I am an absolute pro at doing jigsaw puzzles. This stems a lot from doing them as a kid and so I find that I complete 1000-piece puzzles far too quickly for my liking.
So I am always on the lookout for a jigsaw puzzle that is going to challenge me.
And this Map of the Universe puzzle is exactly it.
So if you also like a jigsaw puzzle challenge, then this Map of the Universe is the best option for you.
4 | Accidentally Wes Anderson (1000 Pieces)
Assemble an iconic Wes Anderson-inspired gallery wall, featuring ornate frames filled with images from the original bestselling Accidentally Wes Anderson book, alongside exclusive never-before-seen bonus photos.
Highlights
- From the bestselling Accidentally Wes Anderson book
- Features exclusive never-before-seen bonus picture
- 1000 pieces
- Includes double-sided to-scale keepsake poster
- Resealable polybag for storage
→ Price: £19 with free delivery on Amazon
My thoughts
I’ve been following Accidentally Wes Anderson on Instagram for a few years now, and I absolutely love their whimsical and quirky content. So much so that I literally had a jaw-dropping moment when I realized they were releasing their very own jigsaw puzzle.
5 | Venice Canals World’s Smallest Puzzle (1000 Pieces)
Discover the enchanting city of Venice, renowned for its history, canals, and romantic ambience. The World’s Smallest 1000 Piece Jigsaw captures the beauty of the ‘Canal Grande’ and Fondaco houses, with pieces a quarter of the size of standard puzzles.
But despite their small size, these precision-made puzzles still offer an engaging experience as they are twice as challenging.
Highlights
- Designed to be a challenge for jigsaw pros (a.k.a me)
- 1000 pieces
- The completed puzzle measures 29 x 42cm so won’t take up too much space at all
- Pieces are less than a quarter of the size of standard pieces
- Made from sturdy cardboard
- Compact sizing for easy storage
→ Price: £5.99 with free delivery on Amazon
My thoughts
I absolutely love the idea of the World’s Smallest Puzzle! When I was living in the UK during lockdown, I lacked the table space for 1000-piece puzzles and so my partner surprised me with these small versions.
I’m a firm believer in buying products depending on our needs, and the World’s Smallest Puzzle met my needs.
So if you also struggle to find the space to do a puzzle, then check out Cheatwell’s options — they’re also even more affordable than standard-size puzzles. The only thing I would say is you must have good vision to do these small puzzles because the pieces are super tiny.
6 | Mount Fuji Cherry Blossom View (1000 Pieces)
Ravensburger includes some absolutely stunning landscapes on their jigsaw puzzles and this one of Mount Fuji in cherry blossom season is no different.
It’s colourful, stunning and epic. So escape to another country while it pours down with rain outside and invite a little bit of colour into your otherwise gloomy day.
Highlights
- Stunning photographic view of Mount Fuji in cherry blossom season
- 1000 pieces
- Glare-free puzzle surface
- Printed on extra-thick and durable cardboard combined with fine, linen-structured paper
- From the bestselling jigsaw puzzle brand
- Made with FSC-certified materials
→ Price: £14.99 with free delivery on Amazon
My thoughts
Ok, so firstly, I had to include this one because Japan is at the top of my bucket list and I can’t get over how stunning this picture is. And secondly, I have been doing Ravensburger puzzles since I was a kid.
They were, at some point, the only brand of puzzle I could get my hands on, and they don’t disappoint. Each Ravensburger jigsaw puzzle is printed on the best thick and durable cardboard made with a glare-free surface so you can guarantee that your puzzle experience will be a smooth one.
So if you’re a first-time puzzler, then you will not go wrong with a Ravensburger jigsaw puzzle.
7 | Skyline New York (2000 Pieces)
If you’re getting too good at 1000-piece puzzles, and you fancy a greater challenge then let me introduce you to this Ravensburger Skyline New York 2000 Piece Puzzle. This epic jigsaw features a stunning panoramic view of the iconic New York skyline, boasting twice the pieces for double the excitement and a truly rewarding puzzling experience.
Highlights
- Stunning image of the Manhattan skyline
- 2000 pieces
- Same puzzle quality as 1000-piece puzzles
- Crafted with premium quality cardboard
- The complete puzzle measures 98 x 75cm
- Precise interlocking pieces
→ Price: £25.99 with free delivery on Amazon
My thoughts
As I mentioned earlier, I am a pro at doing puzzles. And because I’m so good at doing 1000-piece puzzles I also crave a greater challenge. And 2000-piece puzzles offer me that challenge. And the best thing about this jigsaw puzzle — you still get the beautiful image and quality that Ravensburger are famous for.
The benefits of doing a jigsaw puzzle
Doing a jigsaw puzzle is self-care. And like with any self-care product I write about on my blog, jigsaw puzzles offer a range of benefits.
They boost your brain health, help you to unwind, improve memory and creativity and are a fun way to bond with family and friends.
But that’s not all — doing a jigsaw puzzle can also:
- Naturally boost dopamine
- Improve cognitive skills, memory and concentration
- Reduce screentime
- Allow you to tap into your creativity and inner child
- Foster social interaction and teamwork
- Provide a sense of accomplishment and happiness
- Offer a fun and educational activity for all ages
Seriously, what’s not to love?
So say hello to your latest self-care activity — and with thousands of puzzles to choose from you definitely won’t get bored.
Plus, they’re budget-friendly so puzzles are essentially everything we look for in a self-care ritual:
- Simple: YES
- Affordable: YES
- Realistic: YES
- Fun: YES
Final thoughts
On Monday I wrote a blog post all about our brain’s happy chemicals.
And as I was writing it, I realised that what makes me happy is doing a jigsaw puzzle. They give me a natural boost in dopamine as I feel like I’ve achieved something when I complete it.
So don’t underestimate the power of doing a jigsaw puzzle.
Instead of feeling low on a rainy day, give your self-care and well-being a boost by tucking into one of these jigsaw puzzles:
- Around the World in 50 Trees 1000 Pieces
- The World of Jane Austen 1000 Pieces
- Map of the Universe 1500 Pieces
- Accidentally Wes Anderson 1000 Pieces
- Venice Canals World’s Smallest 1000 Pieces
- Mount Fuji Cherry Blossom View 1000 Pieces
- Skyline New York 2000 Pieces
I can’t wait to hear which jigsaw puzzle(s) you choose and how it best benefits you and your well-being on a rainy day.
Until next week,
Thalia xx
Just a heads up — This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using the links above, then I will be rewarded at no extra cost to you. Thank you, as always, for your support.
