SHOP: Benjamin Pollock’s Toy Shop, London

Up a little wooden staircase in Covent Garden Market, you'll find one of London's oldest toy shops, Benjamin Pollock's Toy Shop; which still retains much of its 'ye olde worlde' charm via Victorian-inspired gifts. Think dioramas, shadow boxes, and pop-up theatres. Here, you'll find various treasures to inspire storytelling and theatrical play, also including books, puppets and music boxes. This tiny Aladdin's Cave also contains kaleidescopes, jacks, dominoes and wooden yo-yo's, and little, sweetly silly things, perfect for party bag treats or stocking fillers, and many a trinket reminiscent of days gone by. Not to mention those precious little Maileg Mice.

To claim this is the toy shop of my girlhood dreams would be an understatement. And for Victoriana/toy enthusiasts, no trip to Covent Garden would be complete without a visit here, through the Christmas season and beyond. 

Address: 44 The Market Building, Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 8RF

Opening Hours: Mon-Wed 10.30-6.00pm, Thurs-Sat 10.30-6.30pn, Sun 11.00-6.00pm