Hamleys of London

at 188-196 Regent Street, London , W1B 5BT United Kingdom

1. Gift Shop
2. Toy Store

<p><b>Hamleys</b> is the oldest toy shop in the world and one of the world's best-known retailers of toys. Founded by William Hamley as "Noah's Ark" in <a href="/pages/w/137286656295032">High Holborn</a>, London, in 1760, it moved to <a href="/pages/w/103701669668697">Regent Street</a> in 1881.</p><p>Its flagship store in London is across 7 floors with more than 50,000 toys. Located at Nos. 188-196 Regent Street, it is considered one of the city's major tourist attractions, receiving around five million visitors per year. The chain has several other outlets in the United Kingdom and others worldwide.</p><p>Hamleys was bought by the Icelandic investment company <a href="/pages/w/104064832963744">Baugur Group</a> in 2003 but was taken over by Baugur's main investor, the Icelandic bank <a href="/pages/w/112768985403573">Landsbanki</a> when the group defaulted. In September 2012, the French toy retailer Groupe Ludendo bought Hamleys for £60 million.</p><h2>History</h2><p>Hamleys is the oldest and largest toy shop in the world. It is named after <a href="/pages/w/132828706752929">William Hamley</a>, who founded a toy shop called "Noah's Ark" at No. 231 <a href="/pages/w/137286656295032">High Holborn</a> in London in 1760. Ownership of the shop passed through the family, and by the time it was operated by Hamley's grandsons in 1837, the store had become famous, counting royalty and nobility among its customers.</p><p>A branch at No. 200 <a href="/pages/w/103701669668697">Regent Street</a> was opened in 1881; the High Holborn branch was destroyed by fire in 1901 and was relocated to Nos. 86 - 87 High Holborn. The Regent Street branch later expanded to Nos. 188-196.</p><p>In 1938, <a href="/pages/w/134761469890140">Queen Mary</a>, the consort of <a href="/pages/w/108517429178764">King George V</a>, gave Hamleys a <a href="/pages/w/214548365276367">royal warrant</a>. During the <a href="/pages/w/109429592416229">Second World War</a>, the Regent Street store was bombed five times. In 1955, <a href="/pages/w/108316205868488">Queen Elizabeth II</a> gave the company a second royal warrant as a "toys and sports merchant".</p>

Opening time

• Mondays: 10:00- 20:00
• Tuesdays: 10:00- 20:00
• Wednesdays: 10:00- 20:00
• Thursdays: 10:00- 21:00
• Fridays: 10:00- 21:00
• Saturdays: 10:00- 20:00
• Sundays: 12:00- 18:00

Company Rating

5824 FB users likes Hamleys of London, set it to 88 position in Likes Rating for London, United Kingdom in Local Business category

Summary

Hamleys of London is London based place and this enity listed in Gift Shop category. Located at 188-196 Regent Street W1B 5BT. Contact phone number of Hamleys of London: 0870 160 7258