- Title: Traditional games top Hamleys Christmas list
- Date: 6th October 2016
- Summary: TEDDY BEARS IN THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE TRAIN TRUCK
- Embargoed: 21st October 2016 16:33
- Keywords: toys Christmas consumers shopping Hamleys Star Wars Pokemon Lego Nerf
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Living/Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00252VBJ2X
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Britain's Hamleys toy store has revealed its top ten picks for the 2016 Christmas best seller list with many traditional games showing their staying power.
The London shop's top tips include Lego, board games, and magic sets costing 20 pounds (25 USD) along with high-tech toys, such as remote controlled cartoon figures and flying Star Wars drones, and a child-sized BMW costing 300 pounds (379 USD).
"The top ten this year is really led by social interaction. What we're really loving is that it is about spending quality time with your family and friends rather than potentially having your head in the screen, being over-run by modern technology. It's great that tech complements the product but this time it is about good old fun, which we love," said Natalie Riley, Hamleys' Senior Buyer.
The store says it is expecting a bumper year with the weak pound attracting higher-spending customers.
"About 50 percent of the customers that come to Regent Street are tourists and it's about what they are spending on and I guess that what we are seeing just generally in London is that people are spending more. So it's not necessarily a massive influx of more people, but they are certainly willing to spend more because they feel that they are getting more for their money," Riley said.
Shoppers can spend as little as three pounds for a packet of collectables, 90 pounds for the world's biggest Nerf gun, 200 pounds for a Star Wars drone and up to 500 pounds for a fully programmable robot.
Hamleys, where Queen Elizabeth bought toys for her children, opened its first toy shop in 1760 and is now in 23 countries around the world.
The seven-floor toy emporium in London's Regent Street is a tourist attraction in its own right is well-known for its traditional British items such as Beefeater bears and toy London taxi cabs. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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