Hamleys, West End, London

When I was a kid, Hamleys was the best place in the world. Now that I’m older, the kid in me is a little disappointed that the largest toy store in the world is showing its age and is looking a little rundown… Could do with a good refurb inside.

I know I should like this place but each time I go I am disappointed. It feels like this store needs renovation its tired and disorganised and frankly the choice of items are not all that. Even the lifts are small and cramped and not very pushchair friendly. I think kids will love it but having been to NY and seen the likes of their toy shops Hamleys’ doesn’t cut it- you’re probably better off to take them down the road to Harrods toy department.

absolutely the best toy shop in the known universe! bought my grandkids some of their best prezzys from here! it wouldnt be a visit to london without a trip here! perfect for kids from 0 to 80! addendum
my grandaughter went to London on a birthday treat recently & she was absolutely entranced by the place! especially when the staff outside dressed as pirates sang Happy Birthday to her!

Disappointed with the store. Shows its age and is a bit dirty. Selection of toys is not as good as other major toys chains. Too expensive. The store cannot cater for large toys.

We felt nothing but disappointment at the standards of the store. It was dirty, cramped and AWFUL.
As other reviewers have said it should be a store all children should visit once and enjoy the experience - but surely the staff should be more aware that the experince is something that should be enjoyed as well as the buying of the toys.
VERY SAD

Hamleys has to be the flagship of all toyshops.
A must that every young child must try and experience at least once in their life.
Its worth the trip to the west end just to see their little jaws drop wide open.
No other toy shop comes close to the standard set by Hamleys.
Benjisfones

It's impossible to not like Hamleys. In your head, you think it'll be full of kids running about, and noisyness and prams and pushchairs. And it's all of those things. But once you're inside, it doesn't matter how old you are, you can't help but PRESS ALL THE BUTTONS.

Don't try and fight it. I bet you want to play with that radio controlled car, don't you? And help the nice lady making the jigsaw (seriously, that's her day job, that's all sorts of cool) and oooh look, let's chase the bubbles from the bubble gun dude at the front of the shop.

And then, let's go up the secret stairs, that's a bit like a haunted house and sit in the cafe at the top, watching the train set and drinking Slush puppies.

Now tell me what could EVER be bad about all that? Hmmm?

I love this place. Such great memories of going through the store on my birthdays as a child. For several years as a child, I would have my birthday in London en route to Germany and back. Sounds swanky, yes, but I never got to buy anything there...just look. Mean parents

who was more excited me or the kids lol a huge selection of toys on diferent themed floors. console games etc on ground floor where i left the big boys and a cute girls floor with nails manicure etc
you could spend hours in here. I love the guy who dresses up as the entertainer, he was in rock mode the other day while launching paper jamz

Wow HUGE and MASSIVE and LOTS OF TOYS and my goodness I don't know how it is possible that people accomplish any shopping in here and leave with their hearing intact butohmygoodnesswhatashop.

Really - massive - huge - lots of stuff and really we're all just really big kids inside. WOW... an adult could be reduced to the level of a child filled with delight and wonder really quickly.

When I was there, a rock-and-roll pirate was giving crazy cubes away to ladies only who slipped him a special pink and black card... very mysterious!

"HAMLEYS!" is the highest pitched name in the history of children's stores. I'm sure of it. I hear that high pitched name squealed every other day (working near by enough to need to walk by often).
We all know children are small hysterical adults, but this is a phenomenon unto itself. Such was the average reaction that when I first moved to London I dodged the pirates and snow white with bubbles blower at the door and wondered in.
Ever after I have visited this store when I need a bit of cheering (note- never come here with a headache!) or feel the need to remember what an assault of bright colours is like.
Side note- I made friends with an ex-Hamley's magician and it is also pretty magical to be on the otherside of the counter apparently.

We came here on our Easter London Adventure on account of Steve has a Star Wars Lego addiction and thought we might find something he hasn't yet got. We did, but it was £40 more than in Argos, so we didn't buy it here. What we did do was take photos of the massive Lego Buzz Lightyear and Indiana Jones and had a wander round the gadget-y bit in amazement that some people get paid to play with toys. Awesome.

If you're going to make the trek out to Harrods, you ought to head down Regent Street to here. It's an institution and your kids will love it. Big kids too.

Toy heaven for childeren and lots of fun for adults too. They have absolutely everything that kids love, it is easy to spend a very enjoyable time here, of course kids don't want to go.

Hamleys is an amazing place... Not just for kids, but for anyone really....

These guys have comdined a childrens heaven and an adults guilty pleasure all in one!

Anyone coming to london HAS to visit!!

Once, when I was a kid and we didn't have Toys R Us and other big toyshops, Hamley's had a reason to exist as the world's biggest toyshop.

Nowadays, it is not unique for either its size or range of toys, but still does have a unique proposition which is the number of staff either giving demonstrations or in character costume.

This means that for kids, a trip to Hamley's is an event rather than just a shopping trip; a great place to go, just don't bother buying any of the rather ordinary and overpriced toys there (if you can avoid it !!!).

A wide range of choice - 6 floors of choice.

Took my 6 year old son here last weekend and he had a great time. There is a magical air to the place and it would be impossible to leave empty handed. We ate in the cafe at the top too which was fine, but pricey.

Tickle me giggly and make me a kid again! I want to grow up in Hamleys! This magical 7 storey toy store is the perfect model of what happiness is in all about in its entirety.
From the moment you walk through the exquisite doors which are generally decorated by staff hired from ‘once upon a time land’, you are surrounded by toys, teddies, games, models, cars, bubbles, and anything and everything conceivable to stimulate a child’s imagination. There are displays galore ranging from magically appearing snow in the Christmas time, to remote control cars, to magic markers, and flying UFO’s. If you’re intending to leave without blowing the budget I would recommend leaving the kids at home, this place is an addiction and everything in it is a must have, but, in saying that this store is vibrant, bubbly and an adventure every child should experience.

Childhood memories of racing cars around the store or the odd magician pulling a trick on you, was always a delight. I hope the innocence of children has not been worn down by the fast moving society of today and that they find some solace in a treasure chest of toys. The 7 floors are tightly packed together and always seem to be jam packed to the brim. I’m pretty sure there is always something there for the big kids out there.

This store is fantastic! I took my 5 year old here on a visit to London, and we were both amazed! The store didn’t seem as big as I imagined when we walked in- until we realised just how tall it is! There is every concievable type of toy in the store, with different floors being allocated a different style- girls toys, boys toys, babies, etc. The prices weren’t as bad as I was imagining, either.
The best part were the demonstrators. Everywhere you looked, someone had out a new toy, and was playing with it around the shop, letting the chilren all have a go…lots of fun! Would certainly recommend!