Creepy Dolls at Pollock’s Toy Museum in London

Museum of the Month is a brand new series in which I share my experiences of visiting unique and often strange museums from around the world. My aim is to rebuff the notion that museums are boring!

Pollock's Toy Museum

One of the things I find myself despairing over in today’s world is how the nature of childhood appears to have changed so much. 

I’m shocked every time I see a kid in their pram playing on an iPad that’s bigger than their body, and it’s not even an uncommon sight anymore. I long for the halcyon days when kids played out more and re-enacted scenes from a Walt Disney film or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

All these concerns about the relationship between children and technology were recently heightened by a visit to Pollock’s Toy Museum in London. Visiting was like walking back in time to how things used to be before we became so obsessed with Play Stations and having the latest gadgets (I don’t know what the latest gadgets are so excuse my non-specific references).

Pollocks Toy Museum, Goodge Street

Inside Pollock's Toy Museum

Although the museum initially appears small you’ll soon discover it’s full of winding, creaky stairs and a variety of rooms. There’s a lot of nooks and crannies, just when you think you’ve seen everything, there’s another door to push open or another set of stairs to swing down!

It feels a bit like entering the pages of a children’s book. If there had been a wardrobe, I would have tried to climb through it to find Narnia.

Pollock's Toy Museum in London

Although this is a toy museum, I don’t think the target audience is children. Instead, it’s best for adults who want a wistful trip down memory lane.

All the toys and dolls are placed behind glass and some of them look like they haven’t had the dust blown off them for years. In a way, this adds to the museum’s charm – it kind of feels like you’ve just entered a Victorian time warp.

Pollock's Toy Museum, London

Its old-worlde atmosphere is the best thing about the museum. There were so many vintage games and toys that gave me an impression of childhood long before technology shaped what’s normal now. It’s certainly an interesting contrast to what we entertain kids with today compared to the late 19th and early 20th century. 

Pollock's Toy Museum, London

Pollock's Toy Shop in London

Admittedly, I found some of the toys rather creepy, with their blank stare, solemn expressions and face’s with paint half peeling off. If one had been sitting on my bed, I think I would have wet the bed in fear! 

Luckily, they’re some familiar faces like sooty and sweep. Beloved characters of childhood that has stood the test of time throughout generations.

Pollocks Toy Shop in London

Pollock's Toy Museum in London

These toys are a part of our history and importantly, they are a part of our childhood – if we’re not careful these toys will perish in a world that’s virtualising at a scary speed. Viva Pollock’s Toy Museum!

Pollock's Toy Museum in london

 How to get there: Go to Goodge Street Station and it’s a close walk to 1 Scala Street.
Admission Fee: Adult £6, concession £5, children £3
Opening Times: Monday-Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm

Would you like to visit Pollock's Toy Museum in London?

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Hi, I'm Shing

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15 Responses

  1. Funnily enough I had never heard of this place until Thursday night, when I walked past and pressed my face to the glass. Glad it sounds worth a visit, as it got me wondering/planning…

    1. That’s a sign! You should definitely go then! It’s a charming yet strange little place that should evoke some warm memories. Ahhhhh those were the days!

  2. Finally!! I’ve been wanting one of my blogging community friends to post this and say just what you did, “we are on the brink of destroying the essence of childhood” re: the tech devices. Shing, as a kid I was outside playing all of the time and learning interaction and building relationships. Or learning how to. That can not be done via a computer to translate to the real world. This may be my fav post of your’s yet. Ok sorry, 2nd. The dog sledding still is #1 🙂 That picture of you needs to be Pinned and Stumbled 10 times over with the essence of your message. Gawd, I loved this our friend! 🙂

    1. Haha the dog sledding post will be a difficult one to top! I’m glad you liked the more serious message I was trying to convey, the adverse effects of modern technology is something I struggle with. For all the good it can do, there’s also a huge dark side that children shouldn’t be privy to so early on. Bring back all the toys and dolls, and playing outside, I say!

  3. These dolls look creepy indeed I don’t know why but the one from the second photo reminds me of a situation when I was woken up by a child’s voice in the middle of the night and was absolutely unable to identify it, I started to think I have a ghost in my house but it later on turned out to be a really old toy. Why it decided to speak to me that night I have still no idea.

    But I am getting off topic. I wanted to say that I had this discussion about how childhood looks nowadays with my friends not so long ago and we came to the same conclusions. We are not old at all and the world has changed dramatically since we were children. I live opposite my old elementary school’s playground where we used to play on each day during our summer holiday. For many years now it has been completely empty unless there is a PE lesson. But I think it concerns also us adults – we have moved our lives to the internet and even while seeing with our friends how many of us constantly check the phone and social media? Or rather who doesn’t.

    1. You have a really old toy that talks to you Ola?! I need to know more!!

      A playground without children playing and shouting seems so sad. Partly, I wonder if this is due to health and safety… schools have become so obsessed with rules and regulations at the detriment of enjoyment. But I guess we are a product of our age.

      I agree with you about how it concerns us adults too. A reason the internet was invented was to encourage social interaction but we misuse in a terrible way.

      1. Maybe not literally ‘talking to me’ but it was an old mascot that speaks with a child’s voice when squeezed. I made a little investigation and most probably there must have been some sort of short circut caused by a wet tea bag in the bin (I threw the mascot away a few days earlier). I feel I had to make it clear as after reading my comment once more I sound like a lunatic even to myself. So, no my old toys do not talk to me 😉

  4. I used to work just around the corner from this museum and for years I wanted to visit it but never did. I wish I had – but at least now thanks to this blog post I finally know what it’s like! That doll with the cut up face gives me the creeps.

    1. The doll with the cracked face gives me the creeps too. It looks amazing, but not something I’d want staring at me from my bedroom shelf! Eerie!

  5. The dolls are quite creepy but very cool!
    Most of my life I grew up with technology for entertainment, but I do remember the days when I played with toys/dolls. Brings back fond memories.

    Great blog btw 🙂

    1. Hi Tiffany! Glad to read this post made you feel nostalgic! Thanks for the compliment re: blog, I’ve just checked out yours – you’ve got some great travel posts from London and Copenhagen. Two cities I love!

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