This is the same as my other review for the Solihull branch. Good store, with a variety of toys and…read morehelpful staff. The difference between this branch and Solihull is the size. This is much bigger and therefore does stock more toys. Has same offers as the other branch in. The reason children prefer this branch is the crawl through tunnel at the entrance, which goes behind the tills down turns into a slide! Great for kids but when its busy its difficult to keep your eye on them!

My daughter had some money for Christmas and was keen to spend it, so I took her into Birmingham…read moreCity Centre to The Entertainer. We've been in here loads of times as she loves the selection of toys and games, she's a Barbie and Bratz fanatic so loves the fact that The Entertainer has a good range of these to choose from. I love how well the shop is laid out because it is so straight forward and the same type of toys are all grouped together, this means we can easily bypass the parts of the shop which my daughter isn't interested in (Action Men) and go straight to the girly toys. Once she's spent a while browsing the dolls and teddies we always have a look around the arts and crafts section which is excellent. They sell such child friendly items as paint-by-numbers sets, paint your own statues and things like that. These are always extremely reasonably priced and very often on BOGOF offer, last week my daughter bought two good quality paint-by-numbers sets which cost just £3 each and when she got to the till the lady told her she could choose another two completely free! The Entertainer always seems to have a sale on and the prices on sale items are drastically reduced, a tenner off a £25 item and offers like that which can cut your shopping bill big time. Here you can also buy items such as toy cars, train sets and other traditional toys which is a bonus as these days even toys seem geared towards technology and it's lovely to find a shop where I can buy a good old fashioned 'brum-brum' for my nephew. The staff in The Entertainer are always excellent and obviously chosen for their rapport with children. I've never had a problem with anyone in here and love the way that my daughter can go and ask for advice without being made to feel like she is a nuisance or, worse, 'just a kid'. I always get the feeling that staff in here want the children to be as happy as their parents and this makes for a very nice shopping experience.

Nostalgia and Comics has been in Birmingham longer than I can remember. Even the Batman Returns and…read moreT:2 massive posters have been there since release. On my visit today it was bursting to the seems with Star Trek, Doctor Who and Lego merchandise with tee's, Models, Comics, Books Mugs and Posters. Its always had a mezzanine balcony and currently this is home to Back Issues. I felt guilty for not buying anything and just having a look around.

Great comic store, located next to the Beetham Tower/Radisson Blu. It's fairly large store with…read moreupstairs section. You don't have to be comic lover to visit, they do sell posters, collectibles, action figures and more items. I come here often to get me some Superman issues and maybe look around for some collectibles or cool stuff.

If you are a BIG kid like me you will love this store!…read more Lots of nostalgic games that I remember from being a kid are here - kerplunk, operation, frustration the list goes on! The array and range of games they have here is unbelievable. Lots of games and puzzles for all ages, and baby accessories such as cots. They also have electric bikes and cars, Wendy houses and bikes. The only downside is that if you go here at the weekend, you can queue for a little while and this can take even longer if there are cranky kids in front! If you can't find the game you want I will be amazed!

The largest toy shop near to me. They sell everything you can think of from the babies r us range,…read morebikes, musical instruments, DVDs, ipods, cameras, games consoles the list is endless. The only problems I have ever had are when I have returned an item after Christmas and the queue is out of the door! The staff are great though and I feel sorry for them when they are that busy. Also recently found out they do a stock take around March (i think) so if you have ever wondered why they don't have much stock just after Christmas it is something to do with that and not ordering new stuff until after the stock take - was explained to me by a member of staff last year but I'm sure it was along the lines of that!!

Sadly there isn't a category for trading card swapsies as this is the main business of Game HQ…read more They do stock a decent range of action figures from Star Wars, movie action figures, general Sci-fi toy geek affair that you can find a couple of gems in but it's the retro console games that they stock that interest me. With a range of stuff from Sega's master system to SNES you might just find that one game you were after as a kid. I always love passing through here when someone is making a trade or looking for a particular game card. I am definitely a geek but not of the trading card variety and hearing someone reel off the one's they collect and characters they are looking for is always fascinating to me. It's a whole other language. Amazing. There are a few tables for people to sit and get their game on and having mates hanging around to watch isn't a problem. This shop has a great atmosphere and friendly helpful staff.

I collect old school games and controls but i do most of this online, and for any collector…read moreshopping only is never ideal. Having a local run shop run by people with the same interests is a great addition to Birmingham. Though this is mainly a trading card shop, they sell toys and other nerdy memorabilia and it really sets to mood to reflect on what sort of entertainment you grew up with. I've seen the odd game played here with different types of trading card, never sure whats going on but the kids seemed to love it. A bit too intense for me.

Puzzles, fluffy toys, bouncy balls and board games; this is surely any kid's dream shop,…read moreencapsulated from a time when every toy store would've been buzzing with children. Sadly, Louise's is always very quiet on the occasions that I've gone in, which is a real shame because there's so many unusual gifts for young'ns of all ages. There's also a stock of more geeky games such as 'Maths Magic' and science-type solar system building kits, which would be perfect for the clever kids to sink their teeth into. In fact, there's a very large section of educational games - that you just don't usually see in a lot of shops nowadays - they're definitely worth a look! As well as a toy shop, Louise's doubles up as a greetings cards shop, so adults can have a mooch around and buy some unusual and quirky cards, while their children are let loose to explore the depths of the toy sections. I've purchased some unique animal cards from here before (including cute hamster ones) which have been sent out to many of my friends on their birthdays. These selections of cards aren't usually found in most chain card shops, so it's a real treat to find something different.

This is a really unique and wonderful children's toy shop. It is full of lovely toys and also has a…read morenice selection of cards for all occasions too. This makes is perfect for buying something for your children, or indeed for someone else's children, especially if you are like me and have no idea where to start with toys and children's stuff! In here it seems like they have something for every child, from cuddle toys to interesting games. It is definitely worth a visit if you are after some children's stuff. The staff have always been friendly and welcoming when I have been in too, but it has been fairly quiet when I have been in and I'm not sure whether this is because I have visited during the week rather than at the weekend, which I assume would be busy. Overall, it is a lovely toy store.

It's a great store very welcoming and secure. Merchandise…read moreis of good quality and staff are really nice and friendly. They will help you with anything you may need and/or want. I really like going there after school.

Tokyo toys is a great store for all anime lovers they have a great stock of manga and wall scrolls…read morethey have a great staff that always stride to make sure you have a great experience so make sure you visit if you in town it will be the shop of a lifetime

Game Smart is a great shop that fills a huge gap in the market at the Yew Tree, in which Choices…read moreonly ever came close to filling a few years back. Make the most if it, and support places like this; There are few and far between! There's a great selection of Playstation 1 and 2 games sold in store, which you're unlikely see anywhere else nowadays. I remember regrettably trading in my Rayman game as a youngster, and only last year did I want it back. So I searched every store and internet shop, until I found it online. Guess what? Game Smart has a copy of Rayman sitting right on the shelf! If you want it, I suggest you get there quick! The premises is surprisingly big inside, and sells a great range of PC, Dreamcast and Megadrive games too. I love browsing through all the shelves, and remembering my childhood games. Lemmings, Toejam & Earl, Street Fighter;They're all here, and they're all under £10! I know that every games collector will be in their oil tot when discovering this shop (I most certainly was!) But if you aren't into games, the other half of the store sells DVDs and CDs, so there's literally something for everybody.

Oooooo! The sign on the High St, the chalkboard outside, the sign, the window display, there's is…read morelots to entice you into this shop. Once inside there is a treasure trove of homewares, games, cards, sweets, bags and clothes which will remind you of your own personal yesteryears. Whether you grew up in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s or whether you are growing up right now, there is something in here for all ages, tastes and budgets. Some examples are stackable Tetris lights, Dangermouse wallets, Superman mugs, repro 2nd World War paperwork, and a bounty of sugary treats. Everything in here is wonderfully displayed and you could find yourself reasons to walk out with more than you went in there for.

This place is a total gem! Hidden in plain sight on York Road, you just HAVE to pop here should you…read moreever need a gift for that "hard to buy for" person in your life. Admittedly (again), I don't go to Kings Heath very often - but I'm going to make a point to pop in here next time I'm around. So, background... I had shimmied on down to Kings Heath last week to meet the lovely Ben C for lunch and a catch up. Once our delightful meeting was over (see review Veg Out http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/veg-out-cafe-birmingham), I had to grab some bits for my goodie bags for my Elite event the following week. Now, because I spoil my Elites rotten - I like to get them a little something that's not too expensive but is related to the event I am putting on for them to enjoy. I was totally stuck on what to get to go with a "beer and food pairing" event until I popped into "I Had One Of Those" (as recommended to me by Ben). Between rows and rows of sweetie jars and a huge choice of small and novelty gifts, you won't walk out of here empty handed. There are bits to match every budget with "party bag" style toys starting at 25p and great novelty Money boxes reaching around £10 - £15. They also had branded Marvel gear, some Thundercats things and loads of nostalgic memorabilia to delight even the most bah humbug of types. The staff were super helpful once I explained what I was looking for. After settling on some "pint pots" (sweeties in the shape of pints of beer), my measurement was weighed out and I was given some lovely paper bags to present the sweets in (to add to the retro charm). I have promised them I'll pop back in next time I'm in the area. If you're looking for a main gift, things for a party bag or just a token present - I can certainly recommend a visit to the treasure trove that is "I Had One Of Those".

Now, I am a lover of all things Comic booky, board gamey and generally a bit geektastic (if you…read moredidn't already know that). A trip to Forbidden Planet is a pretty rare occasion for me as I know my wallet will be angry at me every time I even begin to look at the dusty shelves filled with pretties... I popped in yesterday for the first time in a while. I got a £10 gift voucher for my birthday and desperately want a copy of "Takenoko" after playing it for the first time at SciFi Weekender in Wales (it's a board game where you have to grow bamboo - much more fun than it sounds). After the distributor telling me that Forbidden Planet could easily order this in for me, I hastily nipped down on my lunch to enquire about this. Now, service has always been mixed at this branch of Forbidden Planet. The staff are very informed about their products, but sometimes it can seem a little Elitist. The gent which served me yesterday was friendly and helpful, but seemed a little put out that I wanted to order something in and wasn't sure he could. Needless to say, I have given them my details - so will have to update the review later if it can be achieved and the transaction completed. The product range in this store is pretty vast. Stocking everything from themed boardgames (they stock "Adventuretime" Monopoly!) to Graphic Novels and various merch (again, a huge range featuring a selection from "Twilight" to "Minecraft"); you will normally find your particular kink catered too. We are lucky to have Nostalgia and Forbidden Planet in quite close proximity. If you can't find what you are looking for in one, you can always pop down and try the other! This place really is an "Aladdin's Cave" of geeky treasures.

From the moment I queued what seemed like a mile around the corner to meet Amber Benson aka Tara…read morefrom 'Buffy' (yes, this is how positively cool I am), I was in love with Forbidden Planet in Birmingham. A haven for all those grown-up boys and girls who still find pleasure in playing with toys and secretly wish they were superheroes, the store in Birmingham is a little out of the way from the main shopping drag - but that has kept its inherent charm intact. If you fancy checking out the latest comic book issues and memorabilia, this has always been the #1 destination in the city. It's not massive and it feels a bit like a cave in there thanks to the dingy light, but again this helps set the scene for what should be a bit of a secret geek den. The staff are always helpful and clued-in (a must for any place like this, where the customers are sure to come loaded with really specific questions) and, for a pretty small space, there's so much to see and wish you could afford to take home with you that you could spend a good hour in there just having a nose.

Tiger is a Danish chain with some very low cost unique goodies. Surprising variety packed into…read moresuch a small space. There's housewares, kitchen items, craft items and toys. Sort of remiscent of IKEAs marketplace. This particular store is clean, well-stocked, and a pleasure to browse around in. The store is laid out in such a way that the huge number of folks browsing isn't really obvious. It's hard to categorize this store as there isn't a US equivalent to compare it too. There's gadgets, art supplies, books.