London Toy Fair

Location:
Olympia Exhibition Centre, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London. W14 8UX

Telephone:
020 7385 1200

The 2010 London Toy Fair dates were:
26-28 January (Olympia)

The 2011 London Toy Fair dates will be:
25-27 January (Olympia)

The London Toy Fair
Always held at the end of January, The London Toy Fair moved back to central London (to the Olympia Exhibition Centre) in January 2010 and will be returning there on 25-27 Jan 2011. Previous venues have included the London Docklands Excel Centre, the Birmingham NEC and Earls Court - although the very first Toy Fair (way back in 1954) was held in Brighton.

Organised by the British Toy and Hobby Association, The London Toy Fair is the only UK show to be totally dedicated to the world of toys, hobbies and games. About 200 exhibitors of all sizes show their products and new ideas to a wide range of interested visitors. These range from buyers, inventors, merchandisers, importers, distributors and of course the media. It’s a great place to launch new products, and some bigger companies will have lavish stands and celebrities to announce the new ranges.

The high profile nature of the fair makes it the perfect opportunity to act as an awards ceremony too - and there is always a lot of interest surrounding the Toy of the Year and Toy Retailer of the Year awards.

Strictly a business event, the London Toy Fair is not open to the public. More than just a showcase of new and innovative products, it is also a place where buyers can get to meet industry top executives and discuss their current and future plans, as well as meeting their fellow retailers to exchange news and ideas. The increasing importance of the internet as a selling medium is recognised by all suppliers who have to balance the allocation of various toys between the independents and the multiple groups.