It's a testimony to the toys of old that, even in the digital revolution, the latest toys and games available to children are, as often as not, based on older, more classic toys. When the Toy Retailers Association revealed their top 12 toys for Christmas treats for 2010, monopoly (available since 1924) and Sylvanian families (based on the age-old concept of dressed-up animals), as well as a newer version of a Buzz Lightyear originally heralding from 1995, featured amongst the highlights.
No matter how many sockets, batteries or remote controls a toy in the 21st century needs, there is a definite fascination within the industry for the toys of old. But this fascination goes back way beyond even the last century. At the Museum of Childhood in London's East End, the sector most popular with visiting children is reportedly the old wooden toys and model train sets, which can trace their origins to Victorian times and before. A culture of hand-me-down toys from generation to generation, as well as the power traditional toys have had to spark the imagination of children, are two plausible theories why such time-tested favourites as the doll, the teddy bear and the model train have helped to survive into this age of technology little changed in decades.
But buying an old fashioned toy for a gift is not so easy in a world governed by samey chain store franchises offering only mass-produced, modern toys. Some classic old toy shops have survived, however – there are other options than Hamleys in London for quality, quirky toys.
Where to Buy Toys in London
- Benjamin Pollock's Toy Shop – Tracing its history back to London's East End Victorian toy theatre business, Benjamin Pollocks is London's leading antique toy shop, particularly good for Victorian mini-theatres, peep shows and theatrical memorabilia.
- After Noah (121 Upper Street, Islington N1) – There is a good selection of old toys (especially jigsaws, board games and cars) at this antique furniture and lighting shop. Some of the products are new but made in an old style; some are genuinely ancient. There is another branch in Chelsea.
- Eric Snooks Toy Shop (32 the Piazza, Covent Garden WC1) – An Aladdin's cave specialising in wooden toys, with a good selection of soft toys and bizarre gadgets.
- Traditional Toys (53 Godfrey Street, Chelsea SW3) – A long-standing Chelsea antique toy store, this place has everything from puzzles to Peter Rabbit and model trains to helicopters.
- Dotty Dot (67a St Helens Gardens, Kensington W10) – Not all the toys in Dotty Dot are old but there's a quirky, old-fashioned theme going on here with some refreshingly individual, beautifully-designed gift ideas for kids from wooden birds to wacky board games. The toys you see here, you will see only here.
Best of the Rest – Other UK Toy Shops
- Leicester Vintage Old Toy Shop (Odeon Arcade, Market Place, Leicester) – This store is great for gadgets and quirky toys from the 1970s through to the modern day, with a good selection of Daleks and robots, action men and toy cars. Comic book lovers and James Bond fans will be particularly pleased at the products on offer. A website catelogue is under production.
- Collectors Old Toy Shop (89 Northgate, Halifax) – Specialises in Corgi and Dinky model cars.
- Harburn Hobbies (67 Elm Row, Leith Walk, Edinburgh) – One of Scotland's best model shops, and one of the UK's oldest, this treasure trove has a great collection of model locomotives and trains, as well as Scalextric. There are also plenty of products with a Scottish theme: Scottish trains and model houses, for example. Nearby Leith is a great place to check out when visiting Edinburgh, with the Royal Yacht Britannia, cutting edge restaurants and some of Scotland's greatest antique and vintage shops.
Old Fashioned Toy Shops Online
These days some of the most traditional toy retailers have websites, such as Benjamin Pollock's and Eric Snooks. For good quality wooden toys it is also worth visiting Wooden Toy Store.
For an unusual and (most probably) more educational present, Britain's network of old toy shops will certainly come up trumps and, now more of the classic toy shops are moving online, ordering their products is also significantly easier this Christmas than ever before.
Luke Waterson - Author Luke Waterson writes, or has written, for various publications including Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Moon Guidebooks and The ...
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