Traditional Old-School Christmas Gifts for Children

Toys that never go out of fashion – Traditional gift ideas for children

Gifts worth giving (or keeping) for those nostalgic memories, or making new ones. Junior takes a look at the most traditional of British Christmas toys that are still as stylish today as they ever were. From dolls houses to train sets and teddy bears.

A Traditional Teddy

Extending a legacy that dates back to 1906, when Harrods first started selling teddy bears, the annual Christmas Bear has become a much-coveted collectable for families around the world. For 2021, Angus steps forward and takes his style influence from Scottish heritage, both his cosy sweater and hat feature Argyle patterning, creating a charming, cosy bear to wow children, parents (and collectors) alike. >> Christmas Bear 2021 Angus, from £30 Harrods

** Available in a range of sizes and prices, from 302cm (£30), 50cm (£120), 90 cm (£450) and 180cm (£1,950)

The Electric Train Set

An all time classic and a staple of bedrooms and loft rooms for years, the Hornby train set is another British great. Although considered a classic toy brand, Hornby as a company hasn’t stood still and have brought out new, contemporary train sets including Virgin’s Pendolino and the Eurostar. So, whether it’s quintessential Victorian countryside for Grandad, or a high-speed futuristic cityscape for the kids, the Hornby set more than deserves its place on our list of classics. And, for any generation, the most famous train set in the world is that of the The Flying Scotsman. >> The Flying Scotsman Train Set, £199 Hornby

The Giant Dolls House

The look on a child’s face when they see their first dolls house is priceless. As their little minds compute the perfectly presented miniature world, you can already see their imagination firing up. Whether it’s a family heirloom, a simple dolls house or something in between, there is something captivating about entering a tiny world. A Victorian, or Georgian style house is the ultimate in timeless style and for something really special this one fits the bill! >> Grosvenor Hall Kit, from £879.99, The Dolls Emporium

Traditional Paddington Bear

Paddington is part and parcel of childhood. He’s been so ingrained in our British notion of childhood for over 60 years that no-one truly knows whether or not he was real anymore! This large bear (35cm high) will stand guard over bedrooms (or in collector’s cupboards). He’s a timeless fellow, famous for turning up in London train stations long before Harry Potter took hold of Kings Cross! >> Paddington Bear Collectors Piece (rom the Steiff limited edition teddy bears range), £325, Steiff

The Silver Cross Doll Pram

Silver Cross is an icon – in the true sense of the word. Loved the world over it was brought back into style thanks to the Duchess of Cambridge and her superb ability to team classic with contemporary when she stepped out with her balmoral pram. The doll’s pram is – as with all Silver Cross prams – beautifully traditional, elegant and luxurious (and still hand-crafted and with its C-Spring suspension). It comes in a high gloss white finish with beautiful hand-painted fine line detail, chrome spoked wheels and a fully adjustable hood. >> Silver Cross Oberon Doll’s Pram, £400, Silver Cross

The Wooden Train Set

The forerunner to the full loft room electric train set, the humble wooden push-along is another to stand the test of time; Brio actually has its origins in the late 1800s. Today, it’s crafted using FSC sourced European beech wood and high-quality plastics. There are plenty of styles, types and sets to choose from, but our favourite has to be the whole Brio city. Start as you mean to go on, we say! >> Railway World Deluxe Set (33052), £220 Brio

The Winnie-The-Pooh Story Collection

We’ll go so far here as to say that any child who hasn’t had the pleasure of at least one Winnie the Pooh, or Christopher Robin story in their lifetime has been robbed of an amazingly funny and loveable experience. When returning to the books as an adult with your own children, you forget how funny and full of wise life advice Winnie and his friends are. The full collection is still, in the tech-enabled world we live in, the ultimate book collection for kids. >> Winnie-The-Pooh Deluxe Complete Collection, £100, Waterstones

The Victorian Rocking Horse

British nursery rooms of a certain style were never without a traditional rocking horse at the turn of the century. Generations later, the rocking horse is still a classic toy for a child’s nursery, or playroom. While antique rocking horses from manufacturers F.H. Ayres or Lines are of a high monetary value, they’re not ideal for playing on. We’d choose a replica such as the Rivelin Rocking Horse by Ringinglow , which is a more user friendly, fun horse styled on the traditional Victorian style. They also supply them to Hamleys, John Lewis and Harrods. >> Rivelin No. 2 Premium Rocking Horse, £1995, Ringinglow Rocking Horse Company