Toys ‘R’ Us is FINALLY returning to the UK high street

Toys ‘R’ Us is set to make its high street return thanks to a recent deal with WH Smith. 

Last month, the retailer relaunched exclusively online with over 14,000 toys and gadgets from over 100 suppliers for sale, including toys by Lego, Marvel, Star Wars, Crayola and Play-Doh.

But now, nine Toys ‘R’ Us stores are set to open within WH Smith shops across the country in the first six months of 2023 thanks to a new deal signed with the retailer.

This will initially be a trial scheme for Toys ‘R’ Us exclusively – not its sister brand Babies R Us –  and will last for at least a year.

N Chadwick / Geograph

If the trial is successful, Toys ‘R’ Us and WH Smith could extend it by five or even ten years.

This news comes nearly a year after the retailer initially announced it would be making its grand return to the high street.

In October 2021, its parent firm signed a long-term exclusive licence agreement to relaunch the stores across the UK from 2022 onwards.

After struggling to keep up with the new age of online shopping, Toys ‘R’ Us was forced to close all of its UK and US stores back in 2018, much to the dismay of those who grew up with the retailer throughout the 2000s.

Manchester City Council

Toys ‘R’ Us Australia chief executive Louis Mittoni, who has spearheading the UK launch, said in a statement at the time: “I’m very excited to welcome over 100 years of retailing experience in our new team, who will lead the relaunch our iconic brand back into the UK market in the next few months.

“We have an amazing toy and baby buying team, which I believe is the best in the country.

“With this team now in place, we’re hitting the ground running and have been reaching out to the supply base to see with whom we can align on this amazing journey.”

Toys ‘R’ Us launched in the UK in 1985, when it emerged as the ‘world’s first toy supermarket’.