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.”
Argos has already kicked things off by revealing its Top Toys for Christmas 2025 already, featuring 20 of the year’s most exciting and in-demand gifts. Their list brings together world-famous brands, beloved characters, and plenty of interactive toys. We’ve scoured the list and picked out our top recommendations here. So before the rush begins, grab a cuppa, browse our shopping editor–approved guide, and get a head start on ticking the top toys off your list.
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
In a hurry to get this year's most popular toys crossed off your shopping list? We’ve pulled out our top toy recommendations from the Argos list - including a couple of our own suggestions - to help you narrow it down and find the perfect present quickly and easily.
Top TV toys
Bluey is a lovable blue heeler dog from the wildly popular Australian children’s TV series. A favourite with preschoolers, Bluey follows the adventures of the playful six-year-old pup, her little sister Bingo, and their oh-so-relatable mum and dad. This mega bundle playset is tipped to sell out quickly and is sure to be the gift that gets hours of play.
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 October, you're about to hear 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 wishlists 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
Football meets high-speed tech with this interactive football trainer - great for kids aged six and up, especially those dreaming of a future football career. It has six fast-paced game modes to sharpen ball control and reaction skills, turning any space into a training ground.
Bitzee’s newest release brings a modern twist to the virtual pet craze we all remember - think Tamagotchi, updated for today’s digital natives. Packed with interactive features, this hamster ball is a fun, on-trend toy for children aged 5 and over who enjoy nurturing play.
Bring the whole family together with this plug-and-play interactive learning system based on fun, educational games. It’s the kind of 'edutainment' that helps children develop literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills with engaging, age-appropriate challenges.
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.
Dr Amanda Gummer, PhD in Neuropsychology and holder of a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, has more than 20 years’ experience working with children and families. She is a highly respected child development expert, specialising in cognitive, emotional and social development, child psychology, and the role of play and toys in children’s learning. Dr Gummer has extensive experience advising parents, educators and organisations on children’s behaviour, learning strategies, and the impact of play on development.
In 2012, she founded The Good Play Guide, an independent expert accreditation service for children’s products, including toys, apps and educational resources. The guide provides parents, schools and carers with evidence-based advice on products that support children’s learning, creativity and wellbeing, helping them make informed choices.
