If you ever find yourself in London, you should DEFINITELY visit Pollack’s Toy Museum. It is apparently off the beaten path because there were almost no people there – like two other families and that’s it.
It’s a tiny little museum but full to overflowing with fantastic toys. Really great stuff. My “new step-father” would be in heaven there. It was full of everything he loves. If you go, look closely because every corner of the place has something to see and it’s easy to miss something behind you or above your head because you don’t expect there to be MORE or something hidden under a stairwell.
The gift shop, also fun. Lots of tiny little toys and wooden toys and miniatures and just fun stuff.
After that, we headed to Piccadilly Circuse to the “biggest toy store in London” – Hamleys. Huge. Much better than FAO Schwartz in either NYC or San Francisco. The kids were beside themselves. The young folks who are paid to demonstrate the toys are very good at their jobs. I was impressed with their enthusiasm. So impressed that we bought a UFO and I’d have bought more of the goods they were hawking but these darn kids prefer their old stand by faves – Sylvanians and Game Boy games. Boring!
Toy day was a hit.
Each trip to London, I’ve er, toyed with the idea of visiting the toy museum — but we are never there for very long, so it doesn’t make its way to the top of the list! Now I really want to take a look! (I hope you took lots of pictures)
Ah, yes, Piccadilly Circus. I remember getting somewhat lost in London (I went there by myself for a few days when I was studying in Amsterdam). It was always fun, though. I just kept backtracking and studying my map until I finally found my way around. 🙂