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Original poster

To wonder why there are no nice toy shops/ departments anymore?!

63 replies

StrawberrySkittles · 27/12/2012 11:28

There used to be so many lovely toy shops/departments about 10 years ago. My DN loves dolls and we wanted to take her to a toy shop / department but we cant find one.

Hamleys in London is not ideal as we couldnt drive to it but all the toy departments like John Lewis, who 10 yeaes ago had a lovely selection of prams and dolls on displsy doesn't anymore, it is all electronic toys.

Toys r us isnt half as good as it used to be. We're in hertfordshire, is there nice toy departments we don't know about??

OP posts:
Alisvolatpropiis · 27/12/2012 11:32

I have nothing to suggest but I agree with you.

A few of my friends have had children who are now at the playing with proper toys age. Finding said proper toys can be a nightmare. Cheap plastic shit...easy to find. Quality toys...not so much.

Does Hamley's have an online shopping option?

They've recently opened a Hamley's in Cardiff. Spent a good hour on Christmas Eve wandering around like a child. They had toys I used to play with in there! My mum suggested I was enjoying it too much Grin

noisytoys · 27/12/2012 11:36

Toys are expensive and rubbish these days. Even the independent toy shops just sell plastic tat

WhereYouLeftIt · 27/12/2012 11:36

Presumably they no longer exist because they don't make a living any more. People come in, browse, go away to 'make up their minds what to buy', then order it online cheaper.

You get what you pay for, sadly.

forevergreek · 27/12/2012 11:37

It's online but myriad is lovely for quality wooden handmade toys

sleeplessinsuburbia · 27/12/2012 11:42

I looked everywhere for dolls that looked like they weren't mass produced plastic or the rag doll types and it seemed there were two extremes: plastic mass produced or too precious to be played with.

MrsMushroom · 27/12/2012 11:44

The Design a Doll's are lovely....from Argos and they look beautiful and last a long time as the quality is so nice.

cassell · 27/12/2012 11:45

There are some lovely toy shops but they tend to be small independent ones rather than big stores. For example in SE London where I am, Chock a Block toys in Greenwich, Gently Elephant in Brockley, Just William in East Dulwich to think of a few all have lovely imaginative toys, often wooden and are very different to the usual toys r us selection.

MrsMushroom · 27/12/2012 11:47

Here

firawla · 27/12/2012 11:47

selfridges were supposed to have done "slow toys" for their xmas toys (mainly wooden toys, more traditional stuff) so presuming they would have a good display of them in store. not been in myself, and probably similar to hamleys a bit of a pain for you to get there - but i think it would probs have the things your looking for

SantasHoHoHo · 27/12/2012 11:48

Manchester used to have a lovely store called Daisy & Tom. It was heaven for the kids, lots of toys out on the shop floor to play with and a cafe downstairs with a play area. Sadly it closed. Probably due to the fact everyone shops online.

PenguinBear · 27/12/2012 11:50

Thanks all. In not looking for wooden toys specifically, just nice dolls and dolls pushchairs/Prams and accessories.

The only pushchairs anyone seems to sell have very cheap looking thin wheels!

PenguinBear · 27/12/2012 11:50

Sorry op, I've just jumped in your thread Blush I am also hunting for simile for my dd!

PenguinBear · 27/12/2012 11:52

Similar*.

If its any help, the best place I've found is eBay! Although obviously it sounds like you want the shopping experience

PolkadotCircus · 27/12/2012 11:56

Harrods has a good range of dolls,waaaaay better than Hamleys. Petalina website has the best range.

Sadly I think websites are killing toy shops.They can hold more stock without the financial outlay but kids don't get to handle quality toys and parents often aren't aware of the nice quality TV character free lesser known toys that are out there.

Bar Lego,SF,Playmobil a lot of other great toys are out there but it's often word of mouth.Many parents play safe and buy toys advertised on TV or that are linked to TV shows they know.

Yanbu

gazzalw · 27/12/2012 12:14

We had a very cute - but small - independent toy shop near us - the type that sells lovely wooden toys. Even though it was in quite a yummy mummy area it was out of the way of the main shopping centre so required a determined trip. It lasted a couple of years. But it's non-central location and smallness (it would have been difficult to get one of the cumbersome modern buggies in there and have room to manoevre) really counted against it.

Yes, toy shops did used to be places of wonderment and magic but even Hamley's isn't really like that any more. Think the Harrods one is the closest you will find in this Country (but I stand to be corrected).

The thing is that technological and plastic toys (which account for the majority these days) just don't have a place in a magical, fantastical toyshop do they?

bedmonster · 27/12/2012 12:21

I took my nieces and nephews to hamleys to choose Xmas treats but was so disappointed to find that its just like woolworths but on lots of floors! Not worth the hype if you ask me.
And as for there being less toy shops around, agree with the pp who said no financial outlay on shop premises to stock items, fewer staffing costs contributing to bump up the instore prices.

Atthewelles · 27/12/2012 12:23

Its very hard to find a 'proper' toy shop nowadays. Most of them are either like big warehouses or are just a few shelves of toys in the middle of a big department store. Also, so many toys seem to be just battery operated rubbish that kids get sick of after a couple of days, rather than things that stimulate their imagination and get used time and time, battered but beloved.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 27/12/2012 12:29

Its a sad sign of the change in values. People now want more more more, for next to nothing.

Its not just toys, anything you buy is just cheap crap sold at a premium. Companies lining their pockets and giving business to china.

fuzzypicklehead · 27/12/2012 12:36

Lovely one in Ely, if anybody is near there.

Tragedies · 27/12/2012 12:38

Sorry they are so far away www.toysgalore.org/

5Foot5 · 27/12/2012 12:40

SantasHoHoHo Oh I used to love Daisy and Tom's in Manchester. It had a roundabout downstairs as well that the children could ride on. There was also quite a decent book department as well.

I suppose it is online shopping that hurts them but such a shame. I have spent lots of happy times browsing for pressies in there when DD and all the nephews and nieces were little

FestiveElement · 27/12/2012 12:47

The toy department in Harrods is well worth a trip if you can do it. We spent almost an entire afternoon in there a couple of weeks ago. It's way better than Hamleys, and children like going to the pet department or looking at all the chocolate in there as well so you can plan a whole children's day out around Harrods if you want to.

PolkadotCircus · 27/12/2012 13:06

I echo Festive re Harrods, we normally go every year.Kids love pet kingdom ,the dog parlour(complete with running machines,oh yes indeedy)and an extortionate milkshake at the milkshake bar on a high stool.Used to love the sweet dept but it's changed.

If you're near Devon The Cider Press in Dartington has a gorgeous huge toy shop complete with wooden floors,fab toys,sweets etc.Very hands on too,has a play area.

Graceparkhill · 27/12/2012 13:13

If you are ever in or near Glasgow go t

Graceparkhill · 27/12/2012 13:15

To the Sentry Box off Byres Rd. Toys from pocket money to £££ Great service and lovely atmosphere . I have been a loyal customer for over 20 years.