World-Famous Hamleys Reveals This Year’s Must-Have Christmas Toys

If you’re already sweating on Christmas gift inspiration, then look no further. Legendary U.K. toys and games retailer Hamleys has just revealed its top toy predictions for Xmas 2020. And the list is heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and new-found priorities for both parents and children.

Among the star turns are an interactive Lego-set based on Nintendo’s iconic Super Mario and wide-eyed, animatronic Present Pets pups, which the retailer believes will be among the bestsellers during the Holiday period.

This year there’s also a distinctly retro feel to Hamleys’ annual list of top toys for Christmas, with Monopoly, Cluedo, Barbie and Playdoh also making the roster of must-haves as the big toy manufacturers try to attract kids of all ages.

Hamleys, world-famous for its flagship toys and games emporium on Regent Street, London, reckons that Italian plumber and pizza lover Super Mario will appeal with its mix of tradition and gaming, even though in small-plastic-brick form he comes in at a cool $65. Meantime, following in the footsteps of a pet ownership increase during lockdown, Present Pets pups will unbox itself in order to greet its new owner, with the added element of surprise waiting to find out which cute, battery-powered animal is waiting inside.

Traditionally, in economic downturns people carry on spending on their children and their animal friends – so this might just be on to a winner!

The focus on home and family activities has boosted toy sales already in 2020, as housebound adults returned to the likes of jigsaws and traditional board games during the COVID-19 lockdown. Given the distinct possibility of upcoming family holiday travel and gatherings being restricted in the U.K., the retailer says that it anticipates strong demand for toys with “inter-generational appeal”.

Hamleys’ Predictions for Its Top-Sellers Christmas 2020

• Lego Super Mario starter set – Hey everybody, it’s your favourite plumber, Lego-style ($65)
• Present Pets pup – Too-cute-for-words, wide-eyed animatronic pups ($71)
• Osmo Genius Starter Kit – Educational gaming that interacts with phones and tablets ($130)
• Laser Battle Hunters – Remote-controlled vehicles, including Reaper and Shadow, battle it out ($77)
• Nerf Ultra One Blaster – Parents will be delighted to hear that it fires the longest-range flying darts yet at 120ft ($65)
• Ferrari Scooter – For that child with everything, a scooter branded by the legendary sportscar maker ($90)
• Playdoh Snotty Scotty – Urgh, among a range of Playdoh options, snot and slime streams from the nose of this plastic head ($14)
• Barbie 3-in-1 Dream Camper – The Barbie toy reimagined to encourage kids to enjoy the great outdoors ($116)
• Monopoly for Sore Losers – The classic board game has been turned on its head to celebrate losing like never before ($30)
• Cluedo Liars Edition – Another traditional game with a true or false twist ($28)

Victoria Kay, head of buying at Hamleys, says creating “simple Christmas magic feels more important than ever” after such a challenging year for families. She also believes that updated versions of traditional family games such as Cluedo and Monopoly are likely to be stand-outs this Christmas. “We think there’s lots of memorable and affordable fun to be had with our 2020 hot picks. From clever tech to lovable animatronic pets and classic family games to be played around the table, we can see carefree, shared play and togetherness featuring heavily this year,” she says.

Hamleys Continues With International Expansion Plans

The 259-year-old Hamleys became part of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries last year and despite a plummet in tourist numbers in central London since March, which has inevitably impacted performance at the retailer’s Regent Street home, the group is pushing ahead with a planned refurbishment of its iconic flagship.

It is also opening 11 pop-up stores around the country, featuring temporary outlets in major malls in the U.K. including London, Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester. Despite the tough trading conditions, it has ambitions to expand into the U.S., Western Europe, Australia and Canada, while Hamleys is slated to relaunch its website – which has experienced a surge in sales – by the end of this year.