As more and more people are starting their Christmas shopping early, Hamleys have revealed which ten toys they predict will be this year’s most popular.
The toy retailer, whose flagship store is the pride of Regent’s Street in London, has announced which toys will be the most in demand ahead of the festive season.
A £310 Barbie Dream House and a £50 interactive globe are among the top picks, which aim to encourage creativity and role play, the store said.
Following 18 months of isolation and doom and gloom, Hamleys said this year’s most- wanted toys encourage families to reconnect and play together – with an updated version of the classic board game snakes and ladders on the list.
British toy retailer Hamleys have revealed the top 10 toys they predicted would be the most popular this Christmas. Pictured: An interactive globe costing £50 is among the most popular this year. The globe is connected to an app which brings it to life with fun visuals, music, animal facts. The app is full of more than 1,000 world facts across six categories: animals, cultures, monuments, inventions, maps and cuisines of the world.
Playmobil City Action Police Special Operations Police Robot, which costs £20, is also among Hamleys’ top ten. It comes with the Police robot, a police officer and a criminal for re-enactment. The robot comes with an openable chassis so kids can put their own Playmobil characters in it
This Barbie Dream House is the most expensive toy on the list, setting parents back an eye-watering £310. It comes with everything the modern Barbie might need, with a bedroom, en-suite and a water slide (and Barbie’s pets get their own slide too)
The top 10 list includes racing cars, traditional family board games, Playmobil and Lego and the LOL! Movie Magic Dolls, which allow children to play with friends and create their own story lines, costing £11.
Lego’s Super Mario Adventures with Luigi Starter Course, which costs £50, encourages children to team up for real-life social play, while those with dreams of travelling again can turn to the Playshifu AR Globe, also worth £40, with interactive and education cultural information.
A £310 Barbie dream house is the priciest toy on the list, followed by a race car priced £90.
Meanwhile, the Magic Mixies Cauldron, which encourages role-playing and interaction with other family members or children, costs £70.
This adorable green dinosaur, which costs £20, is one of Hamleys huggables, the store’s own soft toys collection. It predicts will also be in high demand this year
This year’s popular game encourage interaction and creativity, Hamleys said. Pictured: Lego’s Super Mario Adventures Luigi Starter Course, £50. This game is suitable for the whole family, and can be built together. The Luigi figure comes with a colour sensor and an LCD screen to display many different instant reactions to movement and action bricks alongside his path
Pictured: Magic Mixies Cauldron, £70. The cost of Christmas is set to soar this year, including the price of popular toys. This magical toy releases a mist coming from the cauldron to bring potions to life and create your own interactive pet, who can react to what you say
The annual Hamleys toy predictions come as retailers suggested people who know what their children want this year consider buying early, amid concerns that supply chain issues could lead to some shortages ahead of Christmas.
Victoria Kay, head of buying at Hamleys, said: ‘Our 2021 top picks for the most wanted toys this Christmas include accessible toys that will really allow children to harness their creativity and imagination.
‘From the innovative and creative to the digital and classic toys on offer, we can see imagination really playing its part this year, bringing in-person ‘together-play’ back for the festive season.
‘Creating Christmas magic feels more important this year than ever, and we think the top 10 toys will have families playing and creating memories together for Christmas and beyond.’
The soaring cost of Christmas was laid bare last night amid rising prices on Chinese imports as well as higher petrol, energy and food bills.
Products leaving factories in China cost 10.7 per cent more last month compared with the same time last year.
It is the highest rise in 26 years amid runaway energy and commodity prices
Analysts expect this to make white goods, electronics, furniture, games consoles and many other products more expensive.
Separately, there is strong evidence that panic buying of toys and other products has already begun, with brands such as Barbie and Lego selling at ‘Christmas quantities’.
There has also been a surge in sales of frozen turkeys, while 75 per cent more Christmas puddings have been purchased than usual at this time of year.
The Magic Doll rom the L.O.L. Surprise movie is also among the most popular, and the cheapest toy on the list, costing £11. This ball contains a tiny doll as well as 10 accessories and movie props. Children will get an extra surprise if they feed or bathe their dolls
Nerf gun are still a staple of kids’ wish lists and Hasbro’s Nerf Elite Flip 2.08, costing £25, pictured, is predicted to be popular this year. It comes with a water blaster as well as eight water darts to make water fights even more eventual
The traditional board game of snakes and ladders is among the most popular this year and costs £14. This game – also featuring ludo – comes with a twist in the form of colour-changing dice that dictate whether you move forwards or backwards on the board