Legendary shops full of must-have toys that Liverpool kids loved
by Jess Molyneux · Liverpool EchoYou could spend hours exploring the shelves
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Growing up in Liverpool, a trip to the city centre wouldn't be complete without a trip to one of these legendary toy shops and department stores. Before the days of online shopping, these sites were "Aladdin's caves" in their own right and kids would spend hours scouring the shelves for the latest must have toys and gadgets to spend their pocket money on.
This week, it was announced that iconic toy retailers Toys R Us will return to the UK high street six years on from when it closed its doors. Toys R US, which is now owned by WHP Global, has teamed up with WH Smith to launch a series of shop-in-shops across the UK, including one in Southport.
As Toys R Us is set to make its return, we've taken another look back at some of the popular toy shops and toy department that once called Liverpool home. As a child, you always felt the displays were giant and the shelves were sky high in these places, but looking back, they probably weren't all that big, the ECHO previously reported.
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These images are courtesy of our archives, Mirrorpix. Some show outside popular shops, whereas others offer a glimpse inside. Here, we take a look at a number of legendary shops and department stores which were full of must-have toys that Liverpool kids loved. You can see more in our gallery below.
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An exterior view of the toy shop Hobbies in Liverpool. Circa 1980
1 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)Inside the toy shop Hobbies. September 5, 1978
2 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)A view of Tarleton Street in Liverpool, with Hobbies in back. Circa 1981
3 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)The well stocked toy department at Lewis's department store, Liverpool. December 5, 1980
4 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)Lewis's department store getting ready for Christmas. Pictured, a remote control toy car. October 18, 1990
5 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)Lewis's department store getting ready for Christmas. A man surrounded by soft toys. October 18, 1990
6 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)
Inside Blacklers Department Store, child on a rocking horse in the toy department. December 11, 1987
7 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)Children pictured with Father Christmas, surrounded by toys in Blacklers. December 11, 1987
8 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)Staff stock up new Woolworth's store, London Road, Liverpool. November 14, 1962
9 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)Shop in Liverpool with decorations and toys. November 14, 1962
10 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)
Children in the Disney Store, Clayton Square, meet their favourite characters from Walt Disney's Peter Pan - Captain Hook and Mr Smee. March 16, 1993
11 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)Five-year-old Mark Robinson gets a warm response from King Louie from The Jungle Book in Liverpool's Disney store. April 5, 1993
12 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)A young girl dressed in Walt Disney fashion in Clayton Square's Disney store. February 9, 1993
13 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)The impact and popularity of the Toy Story film was evident when the queues to get hold of the Buzz Lightyear toy figure on Christmas Eve 1996 in Liverpool went around the block
14 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)
Buzz Lightyear toy queues on Christmas Eve, 1996
15 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)Buzz Lightyear toys at the Disney Store. December 24, 1996
16 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)Inside Liverpool's Disney Store, 1996
17 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)Buzz Lightyear toys at the Disney Store
18 of 18(Image: Mirrorpix)