The Brighton Toy museum is an unique repository of nostalgia and playfulness, showcasing an exquisite collection of toys that span generations, captivating the young and the young-at-heart alike. Home to over ten THOUSAND priceless toys including teddies, trains and dolls that any 7 year old would give their right arm to own.
Here you can find a range of antique treasures, old porcelain faced dolls with hand-sewn garments and their evolution from delicate China dolls to Barbie, different types of puppets, miniature versions of worlds, vintage video games, old storybooks and many more.
The museum is situated under the Victorian arches supporting Brighton’s railway station (a perfect distance if you’re visiting for the day) and has a magical feel when you step into its almost secret doors. For the collectors among us, manufacturers such as Bing, Hornby, Meccano and Steiff have period pieces on display. Moreover, you’ll find individually engineered Spitfire fighter planes amongst many more throughout the museum.
If you just fancy a brief visit, or to get a taste of Brighton on the way into town, the entrance to the first arch is free. It includes within it a Railway platform style Museum Shop with small trinkets and gifts on sale, along with World of Warcraft and Lord of the Rings ranges for the slightly older kids. Within the first Arch there is also a Visitor information point, presenting maps and help to those visiting Brighton along with beautiful Victorian toys (my favourite was the Meccano Ferris wheel, just don’t let any youngsters clamber into it!).
If you have any spare toys which you cant quite give to a charity shop, the Brighton Toy Museum is the perfect place for them to continue to be loved past the younger years of a child’s life (before it gets all Justin Bieber and Call of Duty). The museum, with the owners agreement, put on sale the toys which are a bit too special to give away and ensure that they go on to good homes.
If you’d like to explore the rest of the museum it is open daily from 10am-5pm with an early open and close time on the weekend from 9:30am-6pm. Adult tickets can be purchased for £10 and tickets for children under 12 are £6. If you are planning to visit as a family (2 adults + 2 children) a family ticket is £28. Tickets can be booked online to guarantee entry when you visit.
What’s more, the museum is wheelchair accessible offering a ramp for entry, elevators and accessible toilets. Audio guides are available for visitors with visual or hearing impairments. The museum also often hosts educational workshops, special events, and interactive programs for both children and adults.
Website: https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/
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