This place is a cool, fun, cute toyshop for all ages.
Although not officially Japanese, most of the products here seem to be. For anyone who’s been to Japan - this place is like all the really, really cool bits of Tokyu Hands in one small little shop.
There’s all sorts of curious little actiony figury things, lots of strange cuddly toys, various posters and wall stencils.
There’s also these weird books for kids that are obviously translated from Japanese and are hence, eccentric as hell, but quite entertaining. Nice place for odd gifts.
Lots of other offbeat cartoon character paraphenilia.
I’ve just moved into a new flat, so I’ve decided to kitsch it up and clean this place out! Lots more fun than boring Muji!

I absolutely love this quirky little shop, I just wish I had a little bit more money to spend here as most items cost a little more than you’d usually pay, because of their unique design and thought behind them.

If you ever yearn for the strange, unusual and above all unique, this is the place to come, especially for gifts. If you really can’t resist buying something, there are little things like wrapping paper and notebooks that may tickle your fancy. It’s a shop that’s worth a look, with work there by graphic designs, artists and illustrators like Jon Burgerman.

Before Playlounge I had to sit and drool over Japanese or US websites with all their lovely vinyl figures and incredibly high shipping rates. Where were our Kubricks our Uglydolls, our Astro Boys?

Fortunately we didn't have to hold our breath for too long because at the end of 2002 Playlounge opened in the West End, just off the end of Carnaby Street, and just in time for Christmas too. I couldn't get down there fast enough.

What's great about Playlounge is that everything about the shop is as well designed as the stuff it sells. It's branding is top notch, right down to the plastic bags and the shop looks beautiful, inside and out.

Plus the staff are friendly and know what they're talking about. You'd think it would be hard to be snobbish about little plastic toys but, believe us there are people like that out there. Thankfully they don't work at Playlounge.

And the merchandise? Well it's positively lethal. Figures, games, books, puppets, they're all here and all displayed on custom made hexagonal shelving that you want to take home as well.

The shop's always pretty up-to-date. To say most of their stock comes from far flung places and is sometimes ridiculously rare you can always rely on Playlounge to either get it or die trying.

Because, in the end, the staff at Playlounge love these daft little things as much as you do. If only all shop staff in central London had that same passion eh?