Hopscotch is an independent toy shop. It's worth a look just for this I think. Beats the corporate…read moremass franchise Toys R Us types that have isles and isles of 'stuff'. The kids might love this but if you're shopping for the kids or looking for a unique gift for a friend's new baby the big stores aren't such a pleasurable experience. Hopscotch caters for aged 6 months and up. Bath toys and teething rings for the little ones right up to circus playhouse tents, doll prams, watering cans, kites and tutu's. The owner Jenny and her male sidekick are friendly and offered to wrap my gift at no extra charge. Nice touch that I can't imagine the big chains offering.

Imagine if you will that Father Christmas had a particularly tricky letter arrive at his frosty…read moreNorth Pole home. A letter from a kid who has everything; not that the kid is spoilt, just that he's been surrounded by the best. He's the type of kid that knows his Radio Flyer go-kart from the version that Granny bought at Target. The kind of kid whose plastic Reindeer should be Schleich because that's a German brand and not just easier for Granny to say after a few Christmas sherries. The kind of kid who staggers out of his Cath Kidston wigwam on Christmas morning with a cheery face, just chomping at the bit to get writing his thank you notes on his personalised letterhead. Well, then Father Christmas should hop on is sleigh and head to Hopscotch. It's high-end, high quality stuff but mixed in with really very affordable pieces that can compete on price with the high-street. Well worth of visit if looking for a gift for that special little elf in your life.

An awesome dream factory where the past is created in the present. Toys for, not only for boys…read more Just White Toy Shop on the top level of the QVB in Sydney is a mountain of great quality toys not just for kids either. It's a crowded carnival of boxes, sounds and ambient memories from toys come to life. Many of you may not even recall how amazing recreated wind up robots, cars, tanks, people can take you back to a place where only your memories are. It's a tight fitting space and if it gets crowded, which it does you have to be careful not to knock toys of their shelves (not knock off as in steal people). There is something here for every occasion. My boys love just exploring the shelves and screaming in excitement whenever they discover some item of curiosity. Look I'm a big fan of branded products and enjoy watching my lovely boys interact between the movies, books, and activities of branded merchandise, however at Just White Toy Shop it's the freedom from branding (well mass branding as Just White offers quality branded products we don't buy as often as we might otherwise. There is a fantastic range of boys and girls toys but it's the expanded diversity of non gender specific toys that makes the store even more of a jewel. Prices for the hundreds of awesome toys cover all budgets and there are some lovely well made products that when you're looking for a present for one of your children or a children's friend will always bring total surprise. Games, books, wind up robots, cars, characters and tanks, creativity sets, soft toys, collectibles, jigsaw puzzles, problem solving toys, nota computer game in sight. Though I may be wrong in that statement because when I go to Just White Toy Shop it never occurs to me to look for computer games. This space is magical and worth the visit, even simply to enjoy the curiosity of your kids and yourself.

'Queen Victoria's Toy Shop' it claims. Better have plenty of stock then, Victoria sure knew how to…read morebreed. There is a bit of an old-fashioned vibe to this literally and spatially upmarket toy shop. Old fashioned wooden toys and mechanical windup robots, golliwogs. Hang on a sec, golliwogs? Really? Since when did they resit the PC exam and pass? If you're shopping for toys in the QVB you've obviously got a few coins to spare, so we're talking pricey here too. And I have to wonder, a lot of the toys seem more aimed at nostalgic adults than kids of today. French flash cards? Hmm... Even the dollshouse furniture is Swedish and uber-designed. The staff seemed friendly enough, but eyed me carefully. Or maybe it was just all the dolls. I hate dolls. Beady, beady eyes...

A huge boutique kids toy store! Awesommeee…read more... Yeah, it does make me feel young again. Theres so much colour and vibrance. And because its not a huge toy department store, it has more feeling. But also maybe less variety, and higher prices. The place is boutique, but still has that "big" feeling. It doesn't stock a lot of common brand or mass produced toys - its more original than that. There's a $295 rocking horse at the door way that looks very cool, but is very small, and I suppose that's indicative of the rest of the store. Higher prices, but originality and uniqueness. There building blocks and learning material, soft toys and various other things. The store seems to encourage learning as a part of a child play, which is a good thing. It really is a play ground of excitement for kids, I'd recommend it if you're looking to get something new and exciting, and educational, for your child.

I got a 90% discount from the manager (think her name was Julie- the oldish blonde one) who works…read morethere when I went in and I will be a loyal customer forever now. Such a well kept store! Cheaper than kids stuff by at least 10% on most items!!!

For people who take their fun seriously…read more Go up to the third floor in the QVB (the Queen Victoria Building) to find an amazing store filled with toys, models, games and more. This family owned and operated business has been spreading fun since 1935. It is Australia's largest privately owned hobby retailer. Definitely check out the model train set on display in the window. Tunnels. A city. An amusement park. Ferris wheel. So cute. An iconic toy store that will make you smile.

I always enjoy visiting your store in Liverpool and I think it carries a fine range of hobby…read morematerials but as a model aircraft enthusiast, I find the range, for me, quite limited. Nevertheless I will keep coming and hope to pick up some bargains as they appear. Your staff is always helpful and knowledgeable and I appreciate their feedback when I speak with them.

This is the perfect shop to buy a gift for a curious child or childish adult. There are all sorts…read moreof mystical magical mind messing puzzles and toys to play with in there. It's a little bit like the National Geographic shop but with less of an emphasis on nature and more on investigating the weird and wacky stuff that's been invented by some genius mastermind. Think edible insect lollipops, science kits, fossils and minerals, rockets and kites. There's are real emphasis on gadgetry and science so there's definitely an educational aspect as well as a fun one. The staff are young, geeky and friendly - just what you want from a discovery store. This is a great place to shop for cheap stocking fillers or kids birthday party game prizes.

The Flying Penguin is a Newtown mum's haven/money sucker…read more Miles away from the Kmarts and Toys-R-Us of the world, Flying Penguin stocks a choice of kids toys and play equipment that is both eco friendly and encourages kids to develop a healthy relationship with their environment. Flying Penguin has everything from amber phosphate baby teething necklaces (which argue that amber has soothing properties), paint-it-then-play-it ukuleles, wooden hand made tricycles that you (or perhaps someone more child-sized) can test run around the shop and puzzles, maps and costumes made from entirely organic products. They're bringing home the idea that you can make your own fun, encouraging creativity amongst the little-uns. This message goes out to the big-uns too, and purchasing a gift from Flying Penguin somehow seems far more satisfying than buying a run of the mill factory produced present, despite the potentially large difference in the price-tag.

Flying penguin is a quality toys and educational store for kids aged 0-15.Located in the heart of…read moreNewtown the shop stocks environmentally friendly toys. Their toys are designed with the purpose of fostering imagination and creativity. They also aim towards making the kids understand our relationship with the environment. Its bright and colourful and very well designed so kids and go and explore the toys and see what appeals to them. It is by far one of the best kids toy shop who just don't stock toys mindlessly. In this day and age we should all be very careful about our impact on the environment and also to make sure that our children are playing with chemical free products. Very creative and different products and the service is very good as well.