The Toy Shop is a lovely little addition to the scenic Clydeside town of Helensburgh…read more I am aware I have given quite harsh reviews to other local businesses in the area but thankfully this place merits a good one. With four nieces and nephews under the age of two who all have more toys than they can handle, I know how difficult it is to find something they will love that they don't already have. But on my first visit to the Toy Shop, I immediately spotted a few things I could buy them. This isn't one of those bohemian toy shops that is more for adults than children. Definitely worth a visit if you have little ones.

Meticulously set up and beautifully presented, the Toy Shop is an integral part of the traditional…read morehigh street feel which resonates across West Clyde Street. Stocking a wide range of goodies for kids aged 0-12, it's not only young children who love this place, but also adults who recognise the rarity of an independently owned toy business in this day in age. In fact, how about adding a rocking horse for those over 6ft so we can have a shot as well?

This shop really brings me back to my childhood, it's got a retro appearance, with bright toy box…read morecolours and the windows chock full of toys and games. They specialise in traditional toys here, you are unlikely to find really complex electronic gadgets, just good old fashioned fun. There are loads of board games, lego, child's dolls, for some reason Warhammer, and a few things I had never seen before. It is a bit of a shambles as well, but in a cute independent shop way, you can get lost in amongst piles of toys and games. The people there are great as well and you can see that they enjoy selling toys to little kids, and bigger kids as well. I did see a few adults having a cheeky peek around and it was amusing realising that they were enjoying it more than the kids. Since the closure of Woolworths there are few toy stores around any more, and even fewer independent toy shops. Toys Galore is there to bring fun to people and in that respect it succeeds. A great place for gifts, either for children or for those who still claim to be 'young at heart'

They're not kidding. This place is overflowing with toys of all kinds - board games, dolls, action…read morefigures, that Warhammer stuff that the weird kid in school used to paint. And, given it's an independent store, it really isn't that expensive. Monopoly and Cluedo were £15. Now, I'm 22. And as a child I never had that many toys. My parents bought me books to turn me into the verbose, intolerant specimen I am today (I'm really very nice, and so are my parents but that doesn't work for reviewing purposes). I used to get so jealous of my classmates, with their cool toys. I did have loads of Lego, mind. Given this deprivation as a child you'd think I'd go wild in a place like this. You'd think I'd be sliding down the isles on my knees, crashing around with glee. Or at least, you know, be a bit excitable. Not so. It was dark and eerily quiet. It all felt a bit serious. It was everything a toy shop shouldn't have been. Mr Magorium wouldn't be impressed.

Hawkins Bazaar has recently opened in the Kingsgate centre and have to say already its one of my…read morefavourite shops it has a collection of odd and unique collection of toys gadgets and gifts. The go out of their way to source out of the ordinary products which appeal to all different age groups. The have products like space hoppers, flippin pets, wind up toys as well loads books, puzzles, science experiments, party bag loot games and a whole lot more think gadget shop but a whole lot better.

When I saw around the Phoenix that there was a Smyths opening I was intrigued as the only other one…read moreI'd seen was at the Glasgow Fort. Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to pop in and see what it was all about. Inside it looks like high rows (even for me at 6ft +) of toys, games, cuddly toys etc. There is a large range of Lego (sometimes in places you don't expect), Disney and film related goods (Star Wars, Minnions, etc) for all ages of kids, even board games. In comparison to the Glasgow Fort branch (which I believe is being revamped), this store appears to be a lot bigger (not that you could tell by the tiny store front) with a wider range of items, some of which I didn't expect including items for babies, bikes and 'ride on' cars etc for younger children. I also noticed some interesting items close to the tills (most of which were unmanned at the time) and some kids party items such as balloons, paper plates, wrapping paper, etc just behind. I'll definitely pop back when I need something for my wee nephew or my god daughter, when the usual shops don't have whatever if the latest craze.

House of Bruar was one of those unexpected road-trip delights. My spouse had been told we had to…read morestop, while our third travel companion and I were... let's say, skeptical. But we ended up pulling in for breakfast and a browse, and we walked out grinning. There's both a coffee bar and a sit-down cafe; we opted for the cafe, which was perfectly fine for a quick bite before wandering the shops. But the real fun was exploring the place itself. House of Bruar is part country store, part upscale gift shop, part museum of Things You Didn't Know You Needed. You can find everything from cashmere to kitchen tools, with price points ranging from impulse-buy to aspirational. We mostly window-shopped, but it was genuinely enjoyable - lots to look at, and beautifully presented. We did, however, make sure to raid the food section. They have an impressive selection of snacks, condiments, sweets, and treats, and picking out a handful of goodies to nibble on for the rest of our road trip was one of the highlights of the stop. In the end, the skeptic duo had to admit: this recommendation was a good one. If you're passing through, House of Bruar is well worth a visit - even if you just come for breakfast and a wander.

Fantastic place to stop for some upscale gourmet market finds, high end clothing shops and outdoor…read moremarket stands. The cakes are beautiful, a wide variety of gluten free options. They had just about every kind of cake and tart you can think of. Very fresh and delicious. Coffee bar, ice creams, fresh milk dispenser, fresh pressed orange juice. Beautiful setting in an all glass atrium. I tried the gluten free lemon and elderflower cake with a flat white. It was amazing. I would recommend stopping for brunch or lunch. There is a waterfall within walking distance that you should check out.

What an awesome toys store! I visited specifically for the purpose of buying monopoly. It's allowed…read moreback in my house now (I've been told I tend to throw a tantrum when I'm not winning, I dispute this). So, after a quick search online, Smyths Toys was suggested. I was easily able to locate purchase online (so I knew it was in stock) and made the drive over. I didn't realise this is a huge toy store! There's a massive selection of board games, toys for all ages, scooters, musical instruments and of course, console games. So I found monopoly, and ended up buying not only the original but also world edition. And whilst exploring the isles I also found aqua dragons which I HAD to add to my list (they sound so much more badass than sea monkeys!) I didn't notice at the time but there is also a toys R us nearby in the event you can't find what you're looking for (which I highly doubt, but still). Service was ok, the service desks are a bit hard to navigate but staff are friendly enough. Plus there seems to be some kind of sale on now. So if you're in need of board games, now is probably the time to stock up.

Even during covid they've managed to get loads of costumers and are still powering through.read more