If you’ve popped into the West End lately, you’ll know London is deep in the grip of Paddington mania. With Paddington: The Musical now officially opened in London, children are suddenly requesting duffle coats, parents are whispering “please be gentle” at bus stops, and more than one London Mum has admitted to Googling “marmalade stain removal tips”. So, in the true spirit of festive survival and delight, we’ve rounded up the Paddington toys that have already passed the London Mums road-test with flying (and sticky) colours.
These charming gifts, inspired by The Adventures of Paddington, have been put through their paces by our mini reviewers – and the mums who inevitably end up playing along. Here’s what they (honestly) told us.
Paddington’s Must-Have Gifts for a Wonderfully Jolly Christmas
Paddington Collectible Plush (£9.99)? “My daughter tucked him into her coat and insisted he needed ‘fresh air’. He now does the school run with us. Every. Single. Day.” – Anna, Fulham
Paddington Talking Soft Toy (£19.99)? – Press his tummy to hear five familiar phrases from the show.?“I caught my son having a full conversation with him at 6am. It was oddly soothing – certainly more polite than his usual morning demands.” – Priya, Camden
Paddington’s Tea Set (£29.99)? – A sweet 9-piece set in a reusable suitcase.?“It started as a tea party for Paddington… then the cat joined… then I was told I was ‘the waiter’. Honestly, best ten minutes of calm I’ve had all week.” – Molly, Battersea
Paddington’s Camper Van (£24.99)? – Lights, music and plenty of imaginative space.?“My twins turned it into a full-blown road trip. They even packed snacks. I’m just grateful they didn’t ask to do the same in real life.” – Caroline, Chiswick
Paddington’s Bike and Sidecar (£17.99)? – Join Pigeonton and Lucky for on-the-go adventures.?“It’s the only toy bike in our house that doesn’t end in a crash. Paddington is clearly the responsible one here.” – Sarah, Walthamstow
Paddington’s Letters to Aunt Lucy (£14.99)? – Post, collect and repeat.?“My son spent an hour writing ‘extremely important letters’. One was a demand for more biscuits. Iconic.” – Emma, Wimbledon
Paddington’s Teatime Treats (£9.99)? – Chef Paddington cooks up his favourite goodies.?“Perfect stocking filler. Also inspired my daughter to make ‘real’ treats. My kitchen may never recover.” – Lisa, Islington
You can find all these Paddington treasures at Argos, Amazon, The Entertainer, The Paddington Store, Hamleys and John Lewis.
Here’s to a Christmas full of cuddles, imagination, and just enough mischief to keep things interesting – very much in the Paddington spirit.
Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://www.londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
