Swing by Golfbaren indoor minigolf and speakeasy in Stockholm, Sweden

A look at the Swing by Golfbaren indoor minigolf and speakeasy in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Swing by Golfbaren indoor minigolf and speakeasy in Stockholm, Sweden was the 800th course we visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Find out more.

Check out the Swing by Golfbaren website for more information.

TT Putting Crazy Golf course in Ramsey on the Isle of Man

Looking back at our visit to the TT Putting Crazy Golf course at Mooragh Park in Ramsey on the Isle of Man.

The 18-hole TT-themed Crazy Golf course at Mooragh Park became the 827th visited and 487th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour during our summer holiday on the Isle of Man in 2018.

Videos of the course.

Photos of the course.

Hole 1

Hole 1

Hole 2

Hole 2

Hole 3

Hole 3

Hole 4

Hole 4

Hole 5

Hole 5

Hole 6

Hole 6

Hole 7

Hole 7

Hole 8

Hole 8

Hole 9

Hole 9

Hole 10

Hole 10

Hole 11

Hole 11

Hole 12

Hole 12

Hole 13

Hole 13

Hole 14

Hole 14

Hole 15

Hole 15

Hole 16

Hole 16

Hole 17

Hole 17

Hole 18

Hole 18

Skyline Mini Golf at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis

The Skyline Mini Golf course is returning to the rooftop of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA this month.

The 10-hole Skyline Mini Golf course tees-off on the 21st May.

The minigolf season at the Walker Art Center runs until the 5th October.

As big fans of minigolf, and curators of the Crazy Golf Museum, it's always interesting seeing minigolf/museum crossovers.

Check out the Walker Art Center website for more information.

Our friends Tom and Robin from A Couple of Putts have been involved with the Walker Art Center and the various incarnations of the minigolf course there for a number of years and sent us a copy of the 2018 edition scorecard for our collection.

A Walker Art Centre artist-designed Mini Golf scorecard from A Couple of Putts, 2018

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

A look back at a visit to play the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

The recent run of sunny summer weather has got me thinking back to our visit to a very sunny Cleethorpes back in 2018.

I've played a lot of minigolf courses on my travels and my favourite type is the classic Arnold Palmer Putting Course.

There aren't too many examples left in the UK, but the majority of those still out there are in very playable condition. They are superb fun and a real test of putting skill.

I highly recommend giving them a play the next chance you get to have a game of miniature golf.

One of my all-time favourite courses is the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. I played it a lot on our last trip to the seaside resort.

Holes 1-9

I'm looking forward to returning!

Holes 10-18

The end of Toys R Us in the UK

The last of the original Toys R Us stores in the UK closed on the 24th April 2018.

Toys R Us on the Western Esplanade in Southampton

My first job while at university in the year 2000 was as one of Geoffrey's helpers at the Luton Toys R Us store where I worked on the video game and electronics section.

It's been very interesting to find that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK and we've visited a number of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

A sign at Toys R Us at St James Retail Park in Northampton

A sign at Toys R Us in Reading

Toys R Us at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich

Toys R Us at Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees

Toys R Us at The Leisure Plaza in Milton Keynes

A sign at Toys R Us at Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke

Former Toys R Us locations we've visited on our travels:

• Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke
• Central Retail Park in Manchester
• Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich
• Deepdale shopping centre in Preston
• Festival retail park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
• Gateway retail park in Reading
• Gemini Retail Park in Warrington
• Interchange Retail Park at Copdock Mill, Ipswich
• St James Retail Park in Northampton
• Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees
• The Leisure Plaza in Milton Keynes
• Western Esplanade in Southampton
• Wolverhampton Road in Oldbury
• Wyvern Retail Park in Derby

Toys R Us at the Wyvern Retail Park in Derby

This was the sign at the Toys R Us shop unit at Gateway retail park in Reading, Berkshire in September 2022. It looked to be in great condition and most of the signage and branding was still on display

A new beginning...

Toys R Us returned to the UK shopping scene in 2022 with an online presence and in 2023 with concessions opening inside some WH Smith shops. There are currently 85 Toys R Us stores open nationwide. Check out the Toys R Us website for more information.

Toys R Us at the Trafford Centre in Manchester

Toys R Us in the USA

You can also find Toys R Us concessions in Macy's stores in the USA. As well as some other spots.

Emily has visited those in Chicago and Fort Worth, and spotted a sign for one at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Toys R Us Sign at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, March 2024

Lost Toys R Us Stores

My book about Lost Toys R Us Stores is available to buy from Amazon.

There were once 105 Toys R Us stores in the UK. The business ceased trading in 2018 and all of the shops closed.

It is still possible to find some traces of the old Toys R Us brand on some retail parks and shopping centres around the UK.

The book takes a look at some of those abandoned stores between 2019 and 2021.

Buy Lost Toys R Us Stores on Amazon.