I have a new baby niece who will celebrate her first Christmas this year. As I will be in London in October, I really want to bring back an authentic Paddington Bear as a gift for her first Christmas. Is there a particular store where the "official" Paddington Bears are sold? Or would they be sold in various different stores? I've never shopped for a Paddington Bear before, so this is a new experience for me!
Posted by
California USA
4025 posts
It might be fun to choose one from the gift cart at Paddington Station or if you are in Harrods, look on the toy floor.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2582 posts
There's a shop in Paddington station if you're out that way. Hamleys on Regent Street is another more central option.
Posted by
Helena
117 posts
Or, you could skip the overseas shopping, prices and packing it in your suitcase, and simply buy the official, UK-imported Paddington Bear off Amazon:
A 1 year old (or, an adult) wouldn't know the difference. Shhhhhhh, we won't tell, either.....
Posted by
franktown, colorado
2252 posts
I have bought Paddingtons for all my grandchildren at Hamleys over the past several years. Seeing the store is an experience in and of itself!
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Yes, go to the "official" shop in Paddington station. There is a statue of Paddington there as well, but your niece is probably too young to appreciate this.
Get a DVD of the 2014 film. As a grumpy old f##t who generally doesn't watch kids films, I can say that film actually got a few laughs out of me.
Posted by
OP
Seattle
287 posts
Thanks one and all for the good info. As all my other nieces and nephews are in their tweens and teens, they have outgrown toys, so I'm somewhat out of practice in toy shopping. Although I think a Paddington Bear would be beyond the definition of a mere toy!