Hamleys London 2026: Regent Street's Iconic Toy Store & Hours

Strolling along London's Regent Street,

I suddenly found myself in desperate need of a restroom.

E!!!MER!!!GEN!!!CY!!!

So, where did I dive into?

None other than Hamleys, London's legendary toy store!

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Honestly, Hamleys is a place I usually pop into for a browse whenever I'm in London.

But the sole purpose of this particular visit wasn't toys; it was a restroom...

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As I made my way up, searching for the facilities, I somehow ended up at the very top floor.

After taking care of business, I decided to start my exploration from the top, working my way down floor by floor.

And just like that, my unexpected full-store Hamleys tour began...

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From life-sized British Royal Family LEGO displays to drone demonstrations, Pokémon cards, and Wicked LEGO sets,

and in the basement, there were Pop Mart and Bandai figures, even K-Pop Demon Hunters merchandise!

Every time I've visited Hamleys before, I only ever browsed,

but this time, I even bought a Jellycat doll as a gift for my niece!

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What started as a desperate search for a restroom turned into a thorough and delightful exploration of Hamleys! Here's my review.

1. London Hamleys Location & Opening Hours

Hamleys is nestled right on

Regent Street, the heart of London's shopping district.

📌 Location

188-196 Regent Street, London

📌 How to Get There

Approximately 5 minutes' walk from Oxford Circus Station

📌 Opening Hours

Monday-Saturday 10:00-21:00

Sunday 12:00-18:00

It's perfectly located to pop into

while you're exploring Regent Street or Carnaby Street.

And if, like me, you suddenly find yourself

in urgent need of a restroom while on Regent Street,

remember Hamleys!

Because I went in just looking for a loo,

and ended up ascending all the way to the top floor!

2. What Kind of Place is Hamleys?

Hamleys is a

toy store started by William Hamley in 1760.

It began as a small toy shop called 'Noah's Ark'

in London's High Holborn.

Later, in 1881, it moved to Regent Street, and has occupied its current large premises since 1981.

While it boasts over 260 years of history, stepping inside doesn't feel like an old store at all.

Instead, you're immediately immersed in a

bustling, vibrant world of toys!

From the moment you enter, staff members are demonstrating toys,

and each floor has its own distinct atmosphere.

Hamleys has a

long-standing connection with the British Royal Family,

so encountering the

life-sized LEGO Queen Elizabeth

on the top floor felt perfectly fitting.

3. My Hamleys Floor-by-Floor Review, from Top to Bottom

Hamleys uses the British floor numbering system, so the floor labels are slightly different from what you might be used to.

What would be the 1st floor in some countries

is the G (Ground) floor in the UK.

📌 Here's what stood out to me during my visit:

5th Floor — LEGO

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4th Floor — Drones · Pokémon

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2nd Floor — Wicked

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G Floor — Toy Demonstrations · Souvenirs

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Basement — Pop Mart · Bandai · K-Pop Demon Hunters

And that's just a glimpse!

First, on the top floor,

what really caught my eye was the life-sized LEGOs.

Queen Elizabeth and King Charles,

even a red British post box and a Queen's Guard!

Seeing iconic British symbols

recreated as life-sized LEGOs was quite a sight to behold!

What was particularly amusing was

the stark difference in popularity between Queen Elizabeth and King Charles.

In front of the Queen Elizabeth LEGO figure,

people were actually lining up to take photos!

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Meanwhile, King Charles, right next to her...

was so incredibly quiet...

Guess King Charles isn't too popular even here, huh?

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I personally found Queen Elizabeth

much more welcoming as well.

With the red post box and the Queen's Guard also present,

it was perfect for capturing some truly authentic London-themed photos.

Even if you're an adult not particularly interested in toys,

I think you'd still find this section quite enjoyable to explore.

There was also a cafe on the same floor,

but I didn't stop there.

I just caught a whiff of the delicious aromas and headed downstairs!

On the 4th floor, a staff member was

demonstrating a drone by flying it themselves.

What's really fun about Hamleys is that

they don't just display toys.

The staff members actively move and fly the toys themselves,

constantly showcasing them to passing customers.

The staff's energy is truly incredible!

They're all just pure 'E' energy personified...

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If you prefer a quiet shopping experience,

it might feel a little chaotic,

but I personally loved this lively atmosphere,

which felt authentically Hamleys and super fun!

There were also Pokémon products,

and the Pokémon card section, in particular, was bustling with people.

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It's easy to think of it as just a toy store for kids,

but once you actually look around,

you'll find plenty of sections where adults are seriously browsing too.

On the 2nd floor, I spotted Wicked LEGOs!

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Since I had also seen the Wicked musical in London,

it was even more delightful to find them in a toy store.

With such a huge variety of toys,

as you wander around,

there's also the joy of discovering characters you recognize,

one by one!

Once you descend to the Ground Floor,

you'll truly feel Hamleys' unique,

vibrant atmosphere.

Staff members are demonstrating toys everywhere,

and you can also browse plush toys like Paddington Bear and other teddy bears,

plus London-themed souvenirs.

And when you make your way down to the basement,

the atmosphere completely shifts again!

you'll find Pop Mart and Bandai,

along with K-Pop Demon Hunters merchandise!

To see K-Pop Demon Hunters

right in the heart of London at Hamleys!

It made my patriotic heart flutter a little!

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Every time I'm in London, I always make sure to swing by Hamleys,

and it's always fun because there's something new to discover every single time.

4. Paddington Bear Purchase · Hamleys Visit Review

Even though I've popped into Hamleys on every London trip,

I'd never actually bought a toy there... until now!

But this time, for the very first time,

I opened my wallet!

It was for a Paddington Bear plush, a gift for my niece!

The price was... intense.

It might not be *my* toy,

but still, success on my first Hamleys purchase!

I originally just popped in to find the restroom,

ended up exploring every single floor,

and finally walked out with a Paddington Bear plush!

On this visit, as much as the incredible toys themselves,

the vibrant atmosphere inside the store truly left a lasting impression.

Seeing families from all walks of life enjoying the toys together,

with both kids and adults looking absolutely delighted,

the staff were demonstrating toys all over the place,

kids were absolutely thrilled watching,

and seeing adults smiling and laughing along with them,

I couldn't help but feel incredibly happy myself! 😊

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So, even if you're not planning on buying any toys,

just soaking in that lively atmosphere alone

makes Hamleys such a fun place to be.

If you happen to be strolling down Regent Street in London and decide to pop in,

definitely check out the incredible life-sized British LEGO displays and

the energetic toy demonstrations by the staff.

They are an absolute must-see!

And a word of caution to anyone who steps in just because they urgently need a restroom:

You might end up like me, planning just a quick restroom break,

and walk out with a Paddington Bear plush in tow!