It's an annual tradition that retailers announce their top Christmas toys every year, prompting parents and grandparents everywhere to scramble to snap them up before they sell out.
So whether you’re shopping for toys for your children, grandchildren, godchildren, nieces or nephews, now is the time to get ahead. But don't take my word for it. “I speak to so many people who panic-buy at the last minute and end up spending more than they planned on toys that don’t always hit the mark," says child development expert Dr. Amanda Gummer. "A bit of forward planning can make a big difference.”
This Morning recently revealed its pick of the top 10 toys you can buy kids of all ages, which includes jelly building blocks and a colour magic painting kit.
We've scoured the web for more ideas and enlisted the help of some parents to present our pick of this year's top Christmas toys, which guarantee to put a huge smile on kids faces (and keep adults happy too!).
Top toys for Christmas: retailers
- Amazon: A wide selection of toys for all ages
- Argos: Up to 50% off selected toys in the pre-Christmas sale
- Lego: Discover a huge range of Lego sets for endless creativity
- Marks & Spencer: From dolls to drones, find the perfect toy for every child
- Selfridges: EShop trending toys including exclusive Jellycat toys, available no
Top Christmas toys 2025
As the big day inches ever closer, the top Christmas toys will start to dwindle in stock, so if you see something on your kids or grandkids wish list, it's worth grabbing it now. Below you'll find our pick of the best kids gifts, suitable for a range of ages, organised by category to help narrow down your search and find the perfect present quickly and easily.
Top family board games
"I got this for my eight-year-old son, who I am already in a constant battle with over screen time," says woman&home editor Kerrie Hughes. "I always look for new board games to enjoy with my kids at Christmas, to help build those bonds and make space for quality time away from digital devices. I just know he will love the brain teaser and fun elements to this one - I can't wait to play it with the family this year."
Based on the award-winning game Hurry Up Chicken Butt, Exploding Pigeon is sure to be yet another family favourite this Christmas. Act, draw or battle out what the card says before the timer ends and the pigeon explodes! The game says suitable for ages 7+, but there's undoubtedly fun to be had for old and young alike here. A brilliantly fun game to enjoy with the whole family over the festive period.
When it comes to family board games, Monopoly is hard to beat, and it's great to see Hasbro keeping this tradition alive with so many alternate versions for people to enjoy. "I got this in the summer and my son and I still play it regularly at the weekend," says Kerrie. "We are big fans of Roald Dahl and love all the nods to stories in the community chest, street names and silver play pieces - it's such a joy. I don't know a parent who wouldn't be happy with a set like this (or similar) for their kids for Christmas."
Top TV toys
If the children in your life love Disney, this enchanting projector is a lovely way to bring their favourite characters to life without the need to plug them into a tablet or TV screen. Suitable for ages 1-6, the set includes some of Disney's best-loved stories - including The Lion King, Bambi and Lady and the Tramp - played through 8 slides of images, narration and music. A magical way to bring bedtime stories to life
Baby Evie is Peppa's new baby sister, so she has lots of novelty appeal for young fans, making her an exciting and special Christmas gift. This cute and cuddly interactive doll makes over 20 sounds when little ones feed her, bounce her, or lay her down. Dressed just like in the show, she giggles, oinks, and even snores at nap time.
With the Gabby’s Dollhouse movie hitting cinemas this year, you've no doubt heard all about this colourful universe - especially if you have little ones aged 3 and up in the family. Gabby, the cheerful, cat-loving heroine, has already captured hearts on Netflix, and her magical dollhouse is topping children's wish lists across the UK.
Top creative toys
Bring all the magic of the Build-A-Bear experience home - without the queues or the price tag. Children can stuff, decorate and personalise their own soft toy from start to finish, including accessories and cute little heart to tuck inside the bear - a lovely gift for creating something memorable.
Got a budding artist in the family? The Instant Print Tablet blends screen time with hands-on creativity - children can draw, design, and instantly print their masterpieces. It's a tech toy that encourages imagination, problem-solving and storytelling, and it's grounded in real-world play.
This stylish toy is already causing a stir on social media - it's an all-in-one handbag and crafting kit packed with 500 stickers, beads, and charms, and 3 giant surprise Stickies. Kids can create wearable sticker bracelets, necklaces, and more. Perfect for sharing, decorating, and endless sticker fun!
Top vehicle toys
Know an energetic kid who loves making mayhem? Then this remote-controlled truck is just about the perfect gift. Not only can it crash into walls spectacularly, but it also falls apart and then puts itself back together at the touch of a button. It's impressively durable, too.
This is one of those gifts that will steal the show on Christmas morning. Beginning life as an unhatched egg, it builds anticipation with lights, sounds, and subtle movements until the dinosaur breaks through its shell and comes to life, moving and responding to touch.
Endlessly entertaining, this two-headed dragon car transporter is perfect for little car enthusiasts aged four and up - watch the dragons eat, launch, race and store Hot Wheels cars! It’s the kind of playset that inspires imaginative play and hours of storytelling fun.
Top interactive toys
"This was the perfect choice for my eight-year-old son, who is football obsessed and desperately wants to practise all the time, whatever the weather," says woman&home digital editor Kerrie Hughes. "The fact that he can play it by himself and switch between modes to mix things up means he rarely tires of using it, and it means his dad and I get a break from constantly being in goal too! I'm a big fan of anything that keeps him active and away from a screen, so for that and the amount of use it gets, I would say it's a worthy investment - and one any parent would be happy for their football-loving kids to receive."
If your grandkids want a real pet, the Zuru Pets Alive range is every parents dream. The closest thing you can get to a real pet without the reality of having to look after it or any mess, this will keep both kids and adults happy. "I bought my four-year-old the Pets Alive swimming Axolotl a while back, and it comes out for play at every bath time," Kerrie says. "When my parents asked for gift suggestions, I sent them details of this mummy turtle and babies set as I know she'll love it."
"I have yet to come across a toy that will keep my very active three-year-old engaged for such a long time," says Kerrie. "My daughter is very sensory and easily distracted - Connetix magnetic tiles not only keep her entertained for ages, they are also such a calming influence on her. I wouldn't be without them now and recommend to every parent with kids of a similar age."
Top screen-free toys
Affordable, fun and just a little bit addictive, these slime-filled blind boxes are fantastic stocking fillers and trinket gifts for tweens aged six and up. Each pack includes colourful, scented slime with collectable charms, tapping into the hugely popular slime craze with a twist.
A favourite among parents, the updated Toniebox 2 is a brilliantly simple, screen-free audio player that streams stories, songs and educational content. Ideal for encouraging quiet moments at home or on the go, and encouraging a love of stories.
Delightfully ridiculous, this new toy is designed to make kids laugh while cleverly teaching them about routines and responsibility, Gigi the giraffe wiggles, giggles, talks, and sings when she needs the loo - plus she comes with reusable magic 'food' they can feed her!
Top action toys
A beautifully detailed, build-it-yourself model of Wicket the Ewok - one of the most beloved characters from the original trilogy. Fully poseable, it’s part of Lego’s more advanced range, making it a brilliant choice for tweens and teens who still love to build.
Inspire a new generation of Star Wars superfans or spoil the mini Jedi in your life - and impress their Star Wars-loving parents! This is the first lightsaber of its kind that kids can build and personalise, choosing different crystals to change the colour, sound effects and power level.
Fortnite fans will be thrilled with this new creative building toy - it’s both challenging and imaginative, encouraging kids to get hands-on. It also doubles as a striking display piece, making it perfect for tweens who love to show off their latest builds.
How to choose the best Christmas toy for a child
It’s easy to get swept up in what’s trending - the must-have toy of the moment or the one flying off shelves fastest. But when it comes to choosing the best toys for Christmas, child development expert Dr Amanda Gummer suggests taking a step back.
“It’s tempting to get caught up in the hype,” she says. “But I always recommend looking beyond the ‘hottest toy’ and asking yourself: Will this still be played with in a week - or will it be forgotten by Boxing Day?”
Dr Gummer advises focusing less on the sheer volume of presents under the tree and more on value for money and longevity. In other words, choose gifts that will get played with again and again, rather than 'five-minute wonders' that might dazzle on the big day but quickly lose their appeal.
“Taking a bit of time to make the right choice will not only save you money,” she explains, “but also means your little one will get far more enjoyment from a toy that truly suits their personality, age and interests.”
- Avoid toys that will be five-minute wonders
- Focus on value for money and how often a toy is likely to be played with
- Choose toys that can be played with individually or with friends or siblings
- Avoid five-minute wonders
- Focus on value for money and how often it will be played with
- Choose something that can be played with individually or with friends or siblings
What are the best Christmas toys to buy?
“Choosing the right toy can be overwhelming, especially during the holiday season,” says Vese Aghoghovbia, founder of the inclusive children’s brand Philly and Friends. She’s right - between the trending must-haves and mile-long wish lists, it’s easy to feel unsure about where to start.
While she always takes her child’s preferences into account, Vese says it’s equally important to think about your goals as a parent or grandparent and what values you’d like to encourage.
“As a supporter of STEM education, I often opt for toys that offer learning opportunities,” she explains. “But sometimes, I just want to see the joy on my child’s face - and that means going for something fun from their wish list, even if it’s not educational.”
And let’s not overthink it - children can often be delighted by the simplest of toys.
“My son is usually thrilled with things like Pop-Its or Hot Wheels,” she says.
To make gift-buying easier, Vese recommends categorising toys by type and matching them to your child’s age and temperament. Here’s her expert breakdown:
- Dolls & Figurines - “From soft dolls to action figures, these encourage imaginative play, help children build empathy and nurturing skills, and offer a brilliant opportunity to introduce diversity into their toy box.”
- Learning & Educational Toys - “Whether they’re toddlers or tweens, learning toys - particularly those that promote STEM - are a priority for families who value development through play.”
- Craft Kits - “Think baking sets, gardening kits, or art projects - these are fantastic for keeping kids busy and engaged, while also building practical and creative skills.”
- Magnetic Toys - “Products like Magna-Tiles or SmartMax give endless opportunities for building and experimenting, all while sneakily teaching concepts like structure, balance, and spatial awareness.”
- Pretend Play - “Dress-up costumes, play kitchens, or shop sets are brilliant for developing storytelling and social skills - and they keep kids happily playing for hours.”
- Digital Toys - “Audio boxes and screen-free tech are really popular right now,” Vese adds. “They’re a great way to build listening skills and introduce independent play in a calm, focused way.”
Whether you're looking to support creativity, encourage learning or just deliver some pure festive fun, this thoughtful approach can help you make choices that feel both joyful and meaningful - for the child and the grown-up buying the gift.
What is the latest toy craze?
For Christmas 2025, UK toy trends are led by much-loved characters such as Bluey, Star Wars, Jurassic World and Gabby’s Dollhouse. Interactive hatching creatures remain firm favourites, while surprise-led collectables - from blind boxes to slime packs - are set to fly off shelves. Retro favourites are also making a comeback, with classic brands like Lego and timeless wooden toys proving as popular as ever. Mix-and-make toys add to the magic, delighting children with hands-on play that combines creativity, mystery and the thrill of the unexpected.
