Hamleys in London is the oldest toyshop in the world and one of the world's best-known retailers of toys.


Hamleys is the oldest toyshop in the world and one of the world's best-known retailers of toys. Founded by William Hamley as "Noah's Ark" in High Holborn, London, in 1760, it moved to Regent Street in 1881. 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. Hamleys was bought by the Icelandic investment company Baugur Group in 2003 but was taken over by Baugur's main investor, the Icelandic bank Landsbanki when the group defaulted. In September 2012, the French toy retailer Groupe Ludendo bought Hamleys for £60 million


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Location: Hamleys in London is the oldest toyshop in the world
Photo credit: © Rik Hamilton / Alamy / Afripics
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