London Toy Truthful 2026 made one factor very clear: the road between “children’ toys” and “grown-up hobbies” has formally dissolved. Wandering the present flooring this 12 months, it was simply as straightforward to identify nostalgic thirty- and forty-somethings (Shortlist counting itself amongst them) lovingly inspecting brick units, card video games and puzzles because it was children dragging mother and father towards the loudest, splashiest stand. From premium LEGO builds and licensed collectibles to escape-room brainteasers and unapologetically foolish gag presents, the business is leaning onerous into the concept play doesn’t have an age restrict.
That spirit of all-ages enjoyable runs by means of our picks of the very best toys at London Toy Truthful 2026. These are the standouts that caught our eye not only for their shelf enchantment, however for a way they faucet into wider developments — screen-free play making a comeback, DIY builds as stress aid, and large manufacturers realising adults need toys that look nearly as good on show as a lot as they do on a playroom flooring. Whether or not you’re looking for children, indulging your individual internal little one, or each directly, these are the toys that outlined the present.
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1. A LEGO World Cup you don’t must be Salt Bae to the touch
Need to get in on this 12 months’s World Cup motion at house, however haven’t kicked a ball because you had been 12 years previous? For a extra sedate tackle the gorgeous sport, LEGO’s made a extremely enjoyable, to-scale, 2,842 piece reproduction of the World Cup which you can raise above your head with England wins or not. Up for pre-order now forward of a March launch, the FIFA World Cup Official Trophy from LEGO will set you again £159.99. Will it be part of the ranks of the very best LEGO units?
LEGO
FIFA World Cup Official Trophy
2. A tonne of brick-based LEGO rivals going the place the Danes don’t dare
There’s loads of competitors towards LEGO as of late — the Danish toy firm’s patent over the interlocking brick system has lengthy expired, and many rivals need a chunk on the block-built pie. Corporations like Phantasy, Pleyerid and Sluban have their very own distinctive tackle what makes a fantastic construct, going the place LEGO by no means would with their designs. So whereas there’s completely child pleasant stuff licensed by these manufacturers like Garfield, Dragon Ball and Le Petit Prince-themed units on the Toy Truthful cabinets, there have been additionally some gnarly playsets themed round WWII battles, and even Das Boot!
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3. A water pistol that may really drown somebody
You’re by no means too previous for a water struggle. Whereas the summer time could really feel miles away now, when the warmth rises, you’ll need a Sprya water blaster in your arms. Aimed squarely at adults, the SpryaGravity and SpryaThree are ‘the world’s strongest’ water weapons — at the least this facet of riot management gear, anyway. With its superior three- spray modes and auto-reload function, the £144 SpryaThree is the highest gun right here, however you may get a nifty winter low cost on the water-bomb firing SpryaGravity in the intervening time, down from £99 to £64, when you purchase from Sprya direct.
Spyra
SpyraThree Waterblaster
4. The wildest Playmobil collaboration ever
Do you odor what Playmobil is cooking? To not be undone by the licensing energy of LEGO, Playmobil has pulled in an sudden associate within the WWE. Undoubtedly as a lot aimed toward older toy collectors as children (half the wrestlers the figures are modelled after are both lifeless or retired), but when your children need to see Hulk Hogan or the Undertaker physique slamming their manner by means of their Playmobil cities. Effectively. Fill your boots. These hit shops in July.
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5. A really intelligent, slyly humorous 3D puzzle
If the youngsters are going to interrupt any vase round the home, be sure that it’s this one — a 3D puzzle from Ravensburger designed to appear like a flowery pot. It’ll give them a great deal of restore expertise once they inevitably break the true factor. This one’s up for pre-order now, releasing in March.
Ravensburger
Vase 108-Piece 3D Puzzle
6. An at-home escape room with a theatreland pedigree
Escape rooms are a love ‘em or hate ‘em affair, however with the ability to clear up one among their mysteries from the consolation of your individual rooms definitely has its enchantment. The Thriller Company Sport’s escape-room-in-a-box choices have a number of options that give their mind teasers the sting over the competitors — they’re priced effectively, designed to have reusable components so a number of events can have a go at their puzzles, embrace premium props and, most vital of all, are written by Henry Lewis, he of ‘The Play That Goes Incorrect’ fame.
The Thriller Company
Ghost within the Attic – Haunted Escape Room Sport Thriller
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7. A Star Wars cardgame primarily based on the franchise’s greatest bit
The Star Wars: Limitless video games have accomplished a fantastic job translating the epic scenes of the sci-fi franchise right into a aggressive card-based battler, and its newest set may be its greatest (and most newbie pleasant). Star Wars Limitless: Intro Battle Hoth offers gamers two full decks on both facet of the Drive to play as, letting you lead the icy cost as Luke or Vader’s forces. Straightforward to study, addictive to play, and reasonably priced at only a £20 RRP.
Asmodee
Star Wars Limitless – Intro Battle Hoth
8. Preciouuuuus DIY ebook nooks to spruce up your Hobbit gap
Whether or not it was bricks, puzzles or mannequin units, build-it-yourself enjoyable was an enormous theme proper throughout the Toy Truthful. However our favorite of the bunch was Revell’s Tiny Adventures ebook nooks. Depicting key areas from the Lord of the Rings collection, these fairly picket puzzles gentle up and match snugly amongst your ebook cabinets. Out there now, count on to pay round £50.
Revell
Tiny Adventures Lord of the Rings Minas Tirith
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9. A Mario Kart World slot automobile racing observe — no Change required
Sure, all of us love Mario Kart, and sure, all of us love the Nintendo Change 2. However typically you’ve bought to tug the youngsters (or your self) away from all of the screens and bask in some good previous analogue enjoyable. To ease that separation nervousness, bridge the hole from digital gaming to real-world enjoyable with this Mario Kart World-themed slot automobile racing observe, which (signal of the occasions!) fees of USB-C. It’s-a-coming out in October.
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10. Buddy & Barney’s lift-the-flap, scratch and sniff fart books
They’re books that smells like farts. ‘Nuff mentioned.
Buddy & Barney
Dino Farts Scratch and Sniff
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