After it closed its doors in Fitzrovia a year ago, the charmingly curious Pollock’s Toy Museum has returned to London for a six-month pop-up for all things toys, games and dolls. And where has the UK’s oldest toy museum decided to (temporarily) set up shop for its return? Why, Croydon of course.
Pollock’s Toy Museum was forced to shut its former site on a quiet street behind Goodge Street after the museum was unable to negotiate a new contract with the building owners. Whilst the new pop-up is not a permanent site for the museum, and while Croydon may be a bit of a random spot, we’re certainly still glad to see the whimsical museum back in action and showing off its famous collection of toy-related curiosities for another day.
The pop-up is packed with all the unique and wonderful theatres, toys, dolls and games for which the museum is so well-known. With everything from Victorian dolls and rocking horses to train sets and Russian folk doll toys, there are endless toys and oddities for you to see.
An exclusive display of toys from the 50s-80s made in the local factory in New Addington features in the pop-up, along with Tri-ang toys made by the Lines Bros in their nearby Merton Factory. On your visit, you can even chat with the museum team about toys you may remember from your childhood.
The museum pop-up opened on January 20 in the Whitgift Centre with a special opening weekend. It will now be open every Saturday from 10am-4pm and is absolutely free to enter although donations are welcome. Head over to their Instagram to find out more, or head to their website.
Find Pollock’s Toy Museum Croydon pop-up at Unit 49, Whitgift Centre, Croydon, CR0 1LP.