Collectibles Vie With Robot Tigers Atop List Of Must-Have Xmas Toys

The latest Nerf blaster, the original Stretch Armstrong action figure and the sequel to last year’s Hatchimals are the must-have toys this Christmas as British parents prepare to spend an average of £121 on each child.

Family games, collectibles and movie blockbuster characters also dominate the Toy Retailers Association (TRA) annual DreamToys list of predicted top sellers.

Lego’s £84.99 Star Wars BB-8 and the £69.99 Paw Patrol Sea Patroller make the list, as do the £49.99 high tech tag game Laser X and the £74.99 Hatchimals Surprise.

Star Wars: BB-8 from LEGO Company Ltd (Toy Retailers Association/PA)

The relatively inexpensive £9.99 collectible LOL Surprise dolls are predicted top stocking fillers, while the most expensive toy on the list is Hasbro’s £134.99 FurReal Roarin’ Tyler tiger featuring 100 sound and movement combinations.

This season’s must-have family game is the £17.99 Toilet Trouble, which sprays unfortunate players with water.

The list is decided by a panel of leading toy retailers in the UK including Argos, Boots, Selfridges, Smyths Toys, The Entertainer, TK Maxx and Toys R US.

Paw Patrol Sea Patroller from Spin Master Toys UK Ltd (Toy Retailers Association/PA)

Frederique Tutt, global industry analyst for the NPD Group’s toy division said: “The £3.5 billion-strong British toy market is holding on to its position as the largest market in Europe and the fourth biggest worldwide.

“This year, British kids aged up to 11 years will receive on average 11 toys for Christmas, worth collectively £121.

“All year, affordable collectibles have topped the best-seller lists, with seven out of the top 10 best-selling toys since the beginning of 2017 retailing for under £10.”

The 12 predicted top-selling toys this Christmas are: