Toys ‘n’ Things

When I was a child, I really wanted a Sylvanian Family Canal Boat. I had loads of other Sylvanian Family stuff, but for some reason the Canal Boat never turned up in my Christmas stocking.
I have never let my mother forget this. Every time we go into a toy shop I drag her to the Sylvanian Family section to complain about how I never had a Canal Boat.
It’s become a bit of an in-​joke between us, and for my last birthday she decided she would get one for me. Sadly, it was not to be. She couldn’t find one anywhere. After scouring the internet we discovered that they were being re-​released this September, so I popped into Toys ‘n’ Things to see if they had any.
Toys ‘n’ Things has a pretty large collection of Sylvanian Family stuff considering the size of the store, but I couldn’t find one on the shelf so I thought I’d enquire as to whether they’d be getting any and when. I had my reservations about asking the girls working in there, as they were both quite young with an air of apathy about them. However, I was quite mistaken, and the young lady I spoke to was extremely helpful, spending the next 20 minutes on the telephone and then the computer to find out as much information as she could for me.
Toys ‘n’ Things is a lovely toy shop, and, though it is small, it is very well stocked with both new and classic toys. It also has a good selection of fancy dress costumes and face paints. Probably the best toy store in Cardiff.

This is a toy shop that combines classic and contemporary toys, offering a good mix of fun, educational and outdoor play things for a broad range of age groups from babies upwards.
Weirdly, there is a separate but kind of connected fancy dress shop here, too, which sells a few outfits that might not seem all that suitable being right next to a toy shop (nothing really outrageous or sexual, but quite a few are ‘sexy’ outfits that just seem a bit odd sat right by a range of children’s toys!).
While this shop stocks a great toy range, with trendy up to date items and more old-​fashioned favourites, it’s not really a great pleasure to shop in. I felt a bit self conscious because it’s just way too quiet in there, and the shop assistant is overly attentive. When I go into a shop to buy a present for someone I want to be left alone to look around at my leisure (once I’ve told the assistant I’m not looking for anything in particular) — but that doesn’t seem to be an option here. If that kind of weirdness doesn’t bother you, though, it’s a great shop!

Toys N Things is a great little independent toyshop on the Wellfield Road. It’s not quite as big as its competitor, Stepping Stones, a few doors down, which acts as a distribution centre as well as a retail outlet, but Toys N Things is, in many ways, just as good. It seems that they both share a similar ethos, with Toys N Things supplying educational games and toys for children of all ages, just like its counterpart.
Stepping Stones is not as colourful as Toys N Things, but that’s mainly due to the fact that the latter cashes in on all of the ultra-​popular big brand names like Barbie and does a fine line in fancy dress with all of the usual suspects covered. It is also a joke and novelty shop that supplies fireworks. I’m not so keen on fireworks but I am rather partial to whoopee cushions and things of that ilk… perhaps with exception of stink bombs and bangers.
Toys N Things is not a Stepping Stones copycat. It is very much doing its own thing. I think the latter is more commendable in many respects, but there is definitely a place for what Toys N Things is doing.

Great to see that Wellfield Road has such a good independent Toy Store! The toys on offer are generally rather modern, and most are brands such as Barbie, Playmobile, and Doctor Who are on offer.
What I really like about this place is that the prices range from the very cheap (ideal for pocket money) to the more expensive, so if you need to buy a toy for someone, you’re bound to find something suitable.
I think the items in this store would mainly be suitable for 3 – 12 year olds, however older children (and adults) may enjoy the board games on offer.
They do have a small fancy dress selection (mainly wigs), but unless it’s an emergency and you need something quick, I would recommend you go to one of Cardiff’s excellent fancy dress stores instead!