..., and I chose Hamleys.
I had heard such a lot about this store and had always wanted to visit and I was not disappointed. It is advertised as ‘The Finest Toyshop in the World’ and it is certainly that.
It is situated on Regent Street in the centre of London and is so big you really can’t ... Read review
Advantages: Too many too mention - read the opinion! Disadvantages: Only lack of time!
...bear for my collection with Hamleys embroidered on his foot and who was I to argue? The choice was almost bewildering, but I settled for a lovely looking chap with a Union Jack jumper costing just £15.99.
There were soft toys of every description ranging from small animals at about £5 right up to an enormous tiger priced at £2,500! And, no, we didn’t buy it!
I won’t try and tell you what is on each floor of this magical ... ...into one huge wonderland, so I’ll just tell you what I saw. If you ever visit you’ll have to sort out which bits are where for yourself! It won’t be a hardship, believe me.
They have a huge range of board games of every description from ones for toddlers up to the expensive strategy games for the real thinkers. There’s all the classics such as Monopoly, Cluedo etc in all their various guises, together with all the newer games based ... more
WOW! That’s the only word I can use to describe what happened to me at the weekend. That’s grabbed your attention hasn’t it?
Seriously though, we went on a weekend trip to London to see My Fair Lady and we had some free time for shopping on Sunday. Dave asked if I wanted to visit any of the big stores – Harrods, Harvey Nicholls etc., and I chose Hamleys.
I had heard such a lot about this store and had always wanted to visit and I was not disappointed. It is advertised as ‘The Finest Toyshop in the World’ and it is certainly that.
It is situated on Regent Street in the centre of London and is so big you really can’t miss it. We had to queue for a short while outside as there were so many people trying to get in – well it was 2nd December after all! One of the London Town Criers was on duty letting people in a few at a time as each group of people admitted moved away from the door inside.
The ground floor housed the largest collection of stuffed toys that I have ever seen. Dave wanted to buy me a teddy bear for my collection with Hamleys embroidered on his foot and who was I to argue? The choice was almost bewildering, but I settled for a lovely looking chap with a Union Jack jumper costing just £15.99.
There were soft toys of every description ranging from small animals at about £5 right up to an enormous tiger priced at £2,500! And, no, we didn’t buy it!
I won’t try and tell you what is on each floor of this magical place as I was so fascinated the memory all blurs into one huge wonderland, so I’ll just tell you what I saw. If you ever visit you’ll have to sort out which bits are where for yourself! It won’t be a hardship, believe me.
They have a huge range of board games of every description from ones for toddlers up to the expensive strategy games for the real thinkers. There’s all the classics such as Monopoly, Cluedo etc in all their various guises, together with all the newer games based on the current TV programmes.
There’s a selection of dolls that will do just about anything you want them to. I remember when I was little having a ‘state of the art’ doll that walked. If you stood her on the floor and gently pushed her it would make her legs move very slightly. When I look at the dolls nowadays they seem to do almost anything a real baby will do – and I do mean almost anything! There’s even one that wees in his potty and if you note the word ‘his’ you’ll know what I’m saying here!
They stock a wide range of magic tricks too, which members of staff are happy to demonstrate. In fact I noticed that there were members of staff all over the store playing with the toys – just to show how they worked of course! Now that’s what I call a job!
The baby and toddler section is extensive too, with all sorts of educational toys, but I’m afraid we didn’t spend too much time in this bit as we don’t have any babies to buy for.
The top floor appeared to be dedicated to the building toys such as Lego and Meccano, but we didn’t go up there either. This was partly because we were pushed for time and the temptation to play with the Lego would have been overwhelming for me and partly because we were saving the basement until last…….
The basement houses all the interactive toys! The range of games for the PC, Playstation, Gameboy etc. amazed me. I have been working with these games in various supermarkets now for a couple of months but I hadn’t even heard of a lot of the ones in stock at Hamleys.
There were numerous soft toys that giggled, sang and danced (amongst other things) when the appropriate buttons were pressed.
Some of the moving toys were on a large table with a raised edge to stop them falling off. Dave spotted these before I did, distracted me so I didn’t notice what was there, and then picked up the ‘Hand’ (the one from the Adams Family), reached round me and placed it, still moving, on my right boob! Much to the amusement of the other shoppers who all looked round when they heard the scream! I can’t take him anywhere can I?
We spent about three quarters of an hour wandering around, but we could have been in there for half a day quite happily had we had the time.
I expected the prices to be extortionate since it is such a famous shop, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were comparable with most High Street outlets.
If you fancy a mooch next time you’re in London the address is :
Hamleys 188 – 196 Regent Street London W1R 6BT
020 8752 2278
Or if you can’t get to London you could have a virtual mooch at www.hamleys.co.uk
Have fun! We certainly did!
By the way, being a toyshop, I expected this one to be a paying opinion! Oh, well, never mind eh?
Advantages: Lots of toys! Disadvantages: Busy and crowded
Whenever I walk though the doors of Hamleys, I get a feeling of nostalgia, in the pit of my stomach. Those childhood memories come flooding back, Pippa Dolls, Candy Canes and Lego. Yes they are as vivid today as they were xxx(!)ty years ago, when I first visited this store with my parents.
Once walking though the large impressive doors the visitor in immediately draw into the mayhem of childhood. The clutter of the store seems to echo a child’s ... ...live demonstrations, seemingly placed hap-hazardously around the stores seven floors. Each display is trying to compete for the customer’s attention, but be warned many of their products are fly by night nature, here today and gone tomorrow, so be wary when parting with your money!
Within Hamley’s there is a wonderland of toys waiting to be explored. The floors tend to be themes with, models, and collectable toys, baby’s toys, dolls and soft toys ...
wulise 17.03.2001 (24.10.2001)
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...I think some things in Hamleys are really expensive and I didn't see many expensive things being taken off the shelves by customers! There's many things in Hamleys from a £5 ZeeBeez to a £3,000 Harry Potter wand for collectors!
I walked away from Hamleys with:
£5.00 - ZeeBeez
£14.00 - Pin Art
There are many things in Hamleys and I'd go again any day! But I won't be spending £3,000!
The world's biggest toy store!
AlexanderBanks ...
AlexanderBanks 20.02.2009
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Advantages: So much fun and toys Disadvantages: Does get very busy!
'Hamley's' must be one of the most magical stores in the world. Famous for it's toys, games, gadgets, gifts etc, this is one of the best places to have fun!
Situated at 188 - 196 Regent Steet, London, it has 7 floors filled to the brim with every toy imaginable. There's things that move, talk, squeak, or just plain old fashioned teddy bears!
The nearest tube station to this store is Oxford Circus, and there's also stores in Covent Garden, the departure ... ...also one in Schipol Airport, Amsterdam.
The Regrent Street store is no doubtedly the largest of them all, and one of the most exciting places to visit. Whether you've got children or not, do take the time out to visit Hamley's. You will truly have a brilliant time. The window displays are also something to be admired, especially over the Chrismas period. ...
Louise90 15.03.2001
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Advantages: lovely for children Disadvantages: very expensive, badly designed shop floor.
I remember coming into Hamleys as a child - it was a huge magical world packed full of everything a child could ever want. It was crammed with grottoes, sweet factories, hundreds to opportunities to play with toys and had an atmosphere of a real dream-land. Fantasy at its best.
I made a trip back to Hamleys two days before Christmas. It was not, unfortunately, all I had remembered. I realise that I had picked a day that was possibly the busiest ... ...shop is huge, but doesn't seem to be laid out in a way that it welcome to large numbers of people. People have to trail round demonstrators placed in obscure places, and shelves just 'plonked' in the middle of the gangway. It is not people-friendly and had me in a huge huff before long!
The other thing that really shattered my childhood allusion was the prices that they had set their products at. It was hugely more expensive than high street toy ...
lec299 27.12.2000
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Advantages: All the toys under one roof Disadvantages: Very expensive and you must wear comfy shoes to visit London
In the October half term, my husband and I took our three ankle biters for a day out in London. One of the attractions we had to see was of course Hamleys. We saved this one till last, thinking that the children might be too tired to walk any more and we could get away with it. It wasn't to be.
As Christmas is looming up fast I thought I would write a review on this well-known toyshop and help you decide where to spend your pennies over the festive period.
^^ What is Hamleys ^^
Hamleys is probably the most well known toy shop in the world.
It was first opened in 1760 by a Mr William Hamley, a Cornish gentleman. It has come a long way since its doors opened in Holborn. With the onset of the depression in 1931, the shop was forced to go into liquidation. Fortunately it was saved and was bought by a Mr Walter Lines ...
mrsmopples 02.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Hamleys (Shop)
Advantages: Lot and lots and lots of toys! Disadvantages: Gets very crowded.
Any time I walk through the doors of Hamleys, I get a feeling of nostalgia, in the pit of my stomach. Those childhood memories return, rushing into my head, Pippa Dolls, Candy Canes and Lego. Yes, they are as vivid today as they were when I first visited this store with my parents. Within Hamley?s there is a wonderland of toys waiting to be explored. The floors tend to be themes with, models, and collectable toys, baby?s toys, dolls and soft toys each being found on different floors. One floor even has a model train moving round the ceiling, that is great to watch is you are able to stand still for more than a couple of minutes. There are a number of ways to get to the various floors. Firstly via a central escalator. This is the most popular option. In the Christmas build up, due to the sheer volume of visitors, Hamley?s has to operate ...
wulise 24.10.2001 (25.10.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Hamleys (Shop)
Advantages: enormous range of toys, well set out,helpful staff Disadvantages: situated in London - not within easy reach for all but worth the trip
I can remember going to Hamleys as a child and loving every minute of it... I recently returned with my daughter and it was still as great today as it was then (although this time round I was concious of the price of everything!) Hamleys is the biggest toyshop in London(if not elsewhere) if a toy has been made then Hamleys will stock it - the range of toys is astounding - where do you start! If a new toy has come onto the market Hamleys will be the first to stock it and they usually will have an instore demonstration to show how the toy works etc - this can be very useful as it is sometimes hard to imaging how certain toys will actually work - this is especially useful with crafty toys. The staff in Hamleys are polite and well trained and know their toys! They respond well to children and seem to never tire of their questions ...
sarahlouise 19.09.2000
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