Toys R Us set to open 23 more locations before Christmas as it makes a UK high street comeback – see the full list
AN ICONIC 90s toy store is making a comeback just in time for Christmas.
Toys R Us will open another 23 new UK high-street stores before Christmas.
The popular toy store will continue its partnership with WHSmith after it opened its first shop-in-shop in the UK in 2023.
The new Toys R Us stores from WHSmith will start opening on Saturday September 28, with Bexleyheath, Eastbourne and Southampton as the first new stores to open its doors.
WHSmith will then continue to open an average of three Toys R Us shop-in-shops every week in the build up to Christmas.
The new stores will bring a wide range of the latest toys and games to more families and customers.
Managing director of WHSmith High Street Sean Toal said: “Nearly 40 years ago, Toys R Us first came to the UK, and we take great pride in being the steward of this much-loved brand in the UK.
“We’ve had queues around the block for many openings in the last year which tells you just how much people are loving seeing Toys R Us back again.
“But our job isn’t done yet, and I’m pleased to be bringing the magic of Toys R Us to even more customers over the coming months ready for the best time of year – Christmas!”
Ahead of the festive season kicking off, WHSmith and Toys R Us toy and games buying manager Michelle Phillips has shared the top five toys and games to watch out for this Christmas:
She said: “In Toys R Us we offer so many different brands and have a wide range of choice for the whole family.
“We’re expecting Squishmallows to top the list of our bestselling toys this Christmas because we know they are really popular.
“Ladbaby have also just released a hilarious new game dedicated to their sausage roll obsession likely to be a family favourite.
“And we can’t forget our very own Geoffrey the Giraffe, who will be stocked in every Toys R Us store.
“Stocks are limited, so make sure you pick them up from our stores as soon as you can.”
New Toys R Us stores coming soon to a location near you
ICONIC 90s toy store Toys R Us is set to open several new stores inside of WHSmith in the lead up to Christmas. Here's where you can find the new stores:
- Bath
- Leicester Gallowtree Gate
- Bexleyheath
- Newark
- Cardiff
- Newbury
- Carlisle
- Plymouth
- Chipping Norton
- Scarborough
- Coventry
- Southampton
- Dumfries
- Southport
- Dunfermline
- St Annes
- Eastbourne
- Truro
- Fareham
- Weymouth
- Havant
- Yeovil
- Kings Lynn
WHSmith High Street operates more than 500 stores in the major towns and cities throughout the UK and is known for being the Hub of the High Street.
The retailer offers a wide range of products and services for customers, including the latest chart-topping books and a wide range of own-brand and third-party stationery.
It comes after the iconic retailer opened 30 new shops across the UK in 2023.
The Sun visited the first store opening in 2023 after the retailer vanished from the high street five years earlier.
Our reporter was not expecting too much at first but was pleasantly surprised – read our exclusive report to find out more.
The new stores have a slightly different look as they are “shop-in-shops” and are located inside WHSmith stores.
Shoppers can browse and play with toys in-store and each branch will feature a demonstration area where customers can try products out-of-the-box and see how toys and games work before purchasing.
Customers can then pick their toys off the shelf as normal and go to the WHSmith tills to pay.
Toys R Us collapsed in 2018 and closed all of its 100 UK branches.
Toys R Us was founded in 1957 by American businessman Charles P Lazarus.
It quickly expanded from its first store in Wayne, New Jersey, to become a chain of more than 1,500 stores worldwide.
Toys R Us mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe – originally known as Dr G Raffe – was introduced in 1969.