Victorian Parlour Games

Traditional Games for the Whole Family

Parlour games were initially designed for adults but are enjoyed today by families and children alike. Many parlour games can be played as party games or are great family games for holidays when you are sharing accommodation with other families.

Younger children may not know where the term 'parlour games' comes from. You can explain to them that in Victorian times the late 1800's, before electricity and television, people spent their evenings playing games with friends and family. These games were usually played in a room called the parlour which is the equivalent to our family room.

Do You Love Your Neighbour?
Players- Five or more
Duration- A few minutes for each round
Equipment- Chairs, one less than the number of players

The chairs are lined up with all players sitting down except for one. The standing player asks one of the other players, 'Do you love you neighbour?' If he replies no, then the two players either side must quickly jump up and swap seats. He may reply yes, but must attach an exception. Eg 'Yes, except for those wearing blue jeans' or '...except for those with blonde hair.' Then all of those players must jump up and find a new chair.
Whatever the answer, while players are attempting to find a new seat the player who asked the question can try to sit down. Whoever is left standing asks another player, 'Do you love your neighbour?'

Hot Boiled Beans or Hot and Cold
Players- Three or more
Duration- A few minutes for each round
Equipment- An object that is easy to hide

One player is sent out of the room, while those remaining hide a small object such as a ball, pen or a watch. The player returns to the room as the others call, "Hot Boiled Beans and Bacon for supper, hurry up before it gets cold." The player attempts to find the missing object while everyone else calls out that her supper is getting "very cold", "freezing cold", "hot", "very hot", or "burning" in relation to how close or far she is from the hidden item. Once the item is found a new player is sent from the room and the object (or a new one) is hidden in a different location.

Lookabout
Players- Four or more
Duration- About 10 minutes for each round
Equipment- Any object that is easy to hide

Players are shown a little knick-knack -a teaspoon, pen, thimble, anything small- and are then asked to leave the room. A player remains in the room and hides the item. When they return, everyone is to look for the item until they spot it. They are then to sit down without saying anything. It is recommended to wander around for abit longer after finding the object so as not to reveal the hidden item to the other players.
The last one to find the object hides a new item for the next round.

Pass the Slipper
Players- Six or more
Duration- A few minutes for each round
Equipment- Traditionally a slipper, but any similarly sized object will do

Players form a circle, sitting on chairs or the floor with one person standing in the middle. They must close their eyes while the 'slipper' is passed from person to person behind their backs. When the center person opens her eyes, the passing immediately stops and she must hazard a guess as to who holds the 'slipper'. If the guess is correct, they trade places. If wrong, the eyes are closed and the passing begins again.

The Name Game
Players- Four or more, better with larger groups
Duration- A few minutes for each round
Equipment- Slips of paper, pencils, basket or hat

Provide each guest with 10 small pieces of paper, and a pen or pencil. Ask them to write down the names of 10 famous people- movie stars, authors, sports figures, politicians, artists, inventors, scientists, etc.
Fold the papers, and put them into a hat or basket. Seat guests in a large circle. Each round is limited to 30 seconds, so have a watch with a second hand available. The first player pulls out a name, and keeps giving clues to the person beside him, but never actually saying the name or what it starts with. Once the name has been guessed within the timeframe the guesser scores a point, as does the clue giver.
The hat is the passed to the next person and the clue giver now becomes the guesser and there is a new clue giver. The game continues around the circle until everyone has guessed and everyone has given clues. The one with the most guesses correct wins.

You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile
One of the sillier parlour games, of which there were many. Parlour games often involved a person being required to perform silly actions in order to win the game.
Players- Four or more
Duration- A few minutes for each round
Equipment- None

One person is selected to be "it." That person is the only one in the group who is allowed to smile. He or she can do anything they want to try and get someone else to smile apart from touching them. If the person smiles, he or she becomes it. The person who never smiles is declared the winner.

Other popular parlour games which are still played today are Charades, Blindman's Bluff and others - find them on our Party Games Pages.

Back to Indoor Games from Parlour Games

Board & Dice Games . Learning Games . Puzzles