Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop

Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop in Covent Garden Market is one of London's most loved independent toy shops, and it fully earns that reputation. Tucked into The Market building in WC2, it specialises in the kind of beautiful, imaginative toys that encourage storytelling and creative play — paper theatres, marionettes, puppets, music boxes and vintage-style games.

The shop is named after Benjamin Pollock, a Victorian printer who popularised toy theatres in the 1800s, and that theatrical heritage runs through every shelf. Walking in with a child feels like stepping into a story — there are things to look at everywhere, things to pick up and try, and a genuine sense that every item has been selected with care.

With a 4.5-star rating, it's adored by parents who want to give their children something more interesting than mass-market plastic. It's a particularly good spot for gifts — the products here are original and personal in a way that department store toys rarely are. The staff are knowledgeable and happy to help find something age-appropriate.

For children who love imaginative play — dressing up, putting on shows, making things — this shop will feel like finding treasure. It's small, so it's naturally calm and manageable, and its Covent Garden location makes it an easy stop on a day out in central London.