Kids in London – Hamleys Toy Shop

Yes, I know it’s just a big shop but it is a special shop and a day out destination its own right.

We started on the ground floor – which is soft toy central. We were looking for a rabbit. Not just any rabbit, but one that looked like the Mimzi rabbit in the recent film (Excuse me film makers - you seem to have missed a major merchandising opportunity here!). And what fun we had checking out all those fluffies! Major giggles and "aaahs". There were some great displays of jungle critters – a moving monkey display as well as giant bears that small people could climb on. We stared at the huge giraffe and tried to imagine who would pay £3,500 for such a beast and where would they keep him (her)? There were lots of friendly (and noisy) staff showing us all manner of things – magic tricks, helicopters, balloons. And a charming young man on the Steiff stand explaining that their animals are all very realistic...(so no Mimzy here then...)

Down to the interactive basement area – to check out the games for our Nintendo DS. But we found lots of building block games instead. So we stood by a couple of large sofas where people were sat in front of large screens playing computer games before heading up to the games section on the first floor. We kept wondering how on earth parents with buggies would cope – no doubt there are lifts somewhere but we used the central escalators. On previous trips we had used the side stairwells - which are usually decorated in some theme (the Harry Potter theme was scary! even for adults!)

Anyway. On the first floor we had a look at the bear factory where you can get your own bear (or dog or dinosaur) "stuffed" and then choose your favourite outfits. They even di bear accessories. We found a photo area where you can get your image put onto mugs, mouse mats, coasters, canvas and ipod covers. Neat. Til we discovered we had to wait 15 minutes for processing...so we continued our exploration. It was here that we also found the Sweet Factory and faced some tough decisions at the Jelly Belly Bean stall.

Then it was off to the third floor – for girls! Yes. It was pink. There were dolls everywhere. There was an incredible display of dolls houses and things to buy to go in those dolls houses. There were Barbie dolls and Bratz dolls and just about every other make of dolls you can imagine. We delighted at the Sylvanian Families area (all the recent movies have encouraged them to introduce a penguin family!) and I tried to persuade my daughter that she would like some Polly Pocket (mostly because I wanted to play with them). She resisted. So now she shows self-restraint! We passed reasonably quickly through the dressing up area but I think this would be dangerous territory for those with little girls between three and seven years of age who are typically fixated on all things pink and glittery.

We needed the loos and found ourselves forced up the escalators onto the fourth floor (Boys stuff so we didn’t linger although my daughter’s eyes were drawn across to the radio controlled car demo area). Then up the stairs to the fifth floor (where they have an excellent train going round and some awesome suspended spidermen hanging from the ceiling!) where there is a large café - and we spotted a pirate attending a party in there!.

So. Although it is a shop and the purpose is to sell things, we like Hamleys. It’s kind of an institution. And the chances are that your kids will be so absorbed in looking at everything around them that they will forget to do the whiny “But I want one of those!” routines.

:thumbsup: :pirate2: :angel: