Hamleys the famous toy store (established 1760) of Regent Street, London has just opened a store in Dundrum Town Centre.

It’s a massive shop of 32,000 square feet, selling everything imaginable on three floors, with all areas clearly sign-posted. A band of bears playing Christmas tunes greets you and opens onto the considerable soft toys section.

All kinds of bears line the shelves. From Paddington with his suitcase for his passage from Lima to London, to the enormous bear crashed out in Regent’s Bear Park. A giant bear will set you back around €250.

Magic is cool with Marvin’s sets, wherein he reveals the secrets of his illusions, and kids can learn how to amaze their parents and their friends. There are all kinds of other wild animals in soft toys and ‘flying’ pigs and hogs.

There’s a hum of battery-operated toys all round the store and displays of yapping dogs and meowing cats. New out this year is Biscuit, a life-size Golden Retriever, who obeys six different voice commands, and will set you back €200.

On the middle floor, you will find the games section, with an extensive range of computer games. All the board games are there, including an electronic version of ‘Deal Or No Deal’ and the world edition of Monopoly, with electronic banking and millions of dollars at your disposal. You can build skyscrapers and pyramids as well as houses and hotels. There’s a travel game called Dicovering Ireland, a game that I’ve played that is really fun, as well as Diplomacy, Twister and Cluedo, and the Harry Potter Edition.

Hamleys has its own range of traditional games such as Snakes and Ladders, Solitaire, Ludo, Chinese Checkers, Labyrinth, Backgammon and Chess. There are pocket-size and standard sets available.

You can also find toys for outdoor play, science gadgets, Lego/construction toys and memory games. The top floor has all the dolls, from Barbie to Bratz, Hannah Montana and ponies, and Hamleys Limited Edition Costumes for girls. Also on this floor is an Arts and Crafts section and the Book Garden; the Regal Tea Cafe and a party room which can be hired.

The early learning range for pre-schoolers is very good, stocking the unbreakable Fisher Price range and Vtech games, which are mainly counting and musical toys. Elmo, pictured above, is hilarious-looking! He kisses you and tells you he loves you! Toys that swim in the bath are really affordable plastic squids, frogs and turtles. There are trains and cars galore as well as everything else you can think of.

Don’t miss a visit to the shop this Christmas if you have a child in your life.

Dundrum also has a Santa’s Grotto, where you can visit and get a photo and a present for €10.