Not just for children..

Pros: Hamley's lights up Regent Street during Christmas and definitely completes the festive spirit and feel on the high street. When I visited I was happy and surprised to find they had 20% off in the store. There's always someone outside the door to entertain you- on this occasion I had bubbles blown around me and there was man calling in the crowds.

It's a large store and even though I've visited a few times I still get confused about where to find things. For some reason I expect items displayed on the lower ground floor to be on fifth floor (I think they have five floors- correct me if I'm wrong). So this led to me walking around aimlessly which is okay- if you have time. You'll also find a cafe and the toilets on the top floor. The staircase is a great escape from the crowds and it's wonderful how they have decorated it.

The staff are great fun and I've found them to be extremely helpful when needed. Usually you'll locate someone to help you quite easily.The magic section on the ground floor always seems to draw in a crowd.

Hamley's sell something for everyone, it's not cheap but it's a good place to find fun and creative gifts for both adults and children.I've noticed lots of children carrying large boxes proudly from the Teddy Bear factory- very cute!

If you're heading to Central London- make sure you make some time for play!

Cons: There's a possibility you'll be run over by children and push chairs! They also need more places to pay as it can get crazy busy.

Tags paint,  creative,  games,  babies,  magic,  adults,  children,  toys,  london,  hamleys,  teddy bear, 

What a place!

Pros: What a place! Move out of the way kids, I wanna go in and play! I’ve always heard how wonderful this place was but this was the first time I had actually been.
I’ve never really been in a store like this with so many floors stocked full of toys and you almost find yourself reverting back to your childhood just as you enter through the main door, picking up the different toys to see what they do and pushing every push me, squeeze me or whatever button you can find. If the toy world makes it, it will be here.
Was fairly busy when I went in the summer. God knows what it is like during the Christmas rush!

You mean I can play with the stuff??

Pros: Seven floors if I remember right?
Seven floors. Seven floors of toys. That can't be bad.

Go to the top in the lift and work your down.

Where else in London can you find an entire wall of Tiggers all with "try me" buttons, upon the pressing of which they set about jumping up and down and making Tigger noises. Where else in London can you press, each and every single button on each of those Tiggers and cause the whole wall to come alive in some kind of Tigger-esque synchroised sponsored fit, and NOT get told off.

I love this place. You become a kid again instantly. The people that work here run about like children playing with the toys trying to entice kids so they'll harass their parents into buying the latest flying... thing...

At the top there's a food place. There's also a more than life-size Batman and or Superman model suspended from the ceiling.
There's also some sub-shop type areas like the Bean Factory, selling Jelly beans, too.

It's game time....

Cons: It's on Oxford street, it's not going to be cheap.

Set foot inside this place in the week leading up to Christmas and you'll be squashed, pushed, molested by fumbling hands, knees and elbows.

-Yet, even in the busiest of times... when the store was packed to the seams - almost to bursting point in the Christmas rush - everyone - and I mean everyone, still parted like the red sea for a little pink battery operated pig trying to make daring escape for the main doors.