Best toy shop

[ItsNotReallyChaos]

When we were kids, it became a family tradition to take us to Toys R Us to choose a toy to spend our Christmas money on.
This was hugely exciting to us as it's the only time we were ever taken to a toy shop and allowed to choose something.

This is the first year that DD has received enough money for us to do similar and I'm wondering which shop to take her to. I usually buy toys from our local little independent shop or bargain hunt online but I'd like DD to have the exciting big toy shop experience.

Any ideas?

If you have a big smyths near you they remind me of toys r us.

Hamleys if you're in London.

Smyths is essentially the same as toys r us (big - packed to the ceiling, out of town).
The Entertainer is great but they don't open Sundays or sell any Harry Potter/Witchcraft stuff so if you specifically are into that and/or shopping Sunday be advised !
Local independents - many are supplied by the Toymaster franchise. Obviously every store will vary but the ones I go to are excellent.
Where do you live? People might be able to recommend a specific independent.

If you are near, The Toybox, Ironbridge is like something out of a film. Not massive but a gorgeous range and very nice/knowledgeable staff. Merrythought teddy bears just down the road too!

Also I would recommend waiting a week or so.
The big toy companies always release the new ranges on January 1st. There will be loads of new stuff being released. Toy shops at the moment will be half bare.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

We're near Aylesbury if anyone has any specific recommendations within an hour of there. We'll happily tie in with a trip to a NT place or whatever that we've not been to.

Aylesbury has both a branch of Smyths and The Entertainer.
Smyths is 'out of town' and the Entertainer in the shopping centre.
You are of course near Milton Keynes and it's massive shopping centre.
There is a branch of Lego Store at Milton Keynes if your daughter is into Lego.