Hamleys has announced a list of the 100 greatest toys of all time and LEGO bricks have been named alongside icons such as Barbie, Tamagotchi and Hot Wheels.
The famous UK toy retailer, Hamleys, has just released a list of the 100 greatest toys of all time. The list was compiled in celebration of the Hamleys company selling toys and games for 265 years. Toys and brands were chosen based on their impact, popularity, and historical significance.
It’s no surprise that LEGO bricks made their way onto this list. The LEGO Group has been making toys for more than 90 years, easily meeting the criteria for historical significance and as the company continue to expand into new regions, the popularity of LEGO sets continues to grow. “LEGO is a timeless, creative phenomenon,” Hamleys said in a press release, noting that the LEGO brand ia also part of a wider world of films, music and theme parks.
“Once you start looking at this list, it turns rapidly into a nostalgia-fest – even for toys from four or five years ago,” says Hamleys Head Buyer Victoria Kay. And that rings true for LEGO fans as well because with a wide variety of themes that have relatively short shelf lives, sets quickly become collectibles or fond memories to display.
With a seven-story flagship store on Regent Street in London, Hamleys is a staple of the UK toy retail landscape.
LEGO bricks sit alongside other famous toys on this list, including Barbie dolls, Furby, the classic Tamagotchi, Rubik’s Cube and board games such as Monopoly. Many of these toys are the perennials of Christmas lists and trends, which almost always feature a LEGO set too. “You can never underestimate the power of togetherness created around some of the big-sellers,” continues Victoria. “Those toys that bring people of all ages together and get families around a table talking and playing.”
Hamleys are running an exclusive LEGO Make & Take event on Saturday 26 July, 2025, so if you’re visiting London then you’ll have the opportunity to build your very own LEGO build to take home with you. It will also be available in the Glasgow and Westfield White City stores.
Support Blocks’ work by purchasing your LEGO sets via our affiliate links. And if you want to get new LEGO set announcements straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter. Of course, if you really want to upgrade your LEGO hobby for the true insider experience, take out a subscription to the monthly LEGO magazine for fans.