Urban Street Golf at Gravity Social in Northampton (October 2023)

A revisit to Gravity Social in Northampton.

On my recent trip to Northampton it was sad to find that Gravity Social at Sol Central had closed down.

The venue was home to an indoor Urban Street Golf course.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The 9-hole Urban Street Golf course at Gravity Social in Northampton was the 1,019th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels back in April 2023.

A look at the Urban Street Golf course at Gravity Social.

Check out this blog post for more photos of what the course looked like then.

Urban Street Golf at Gravity Social in Northampton (April 2023)

Lost minigolf courses - Crazy Golf on Exeter Road in Bournemouth, Dorset

There's an abandoned minigolf course on Bournemouth's Exeter Road.

A look at the derelict minigolf course on Exeter Road in Bournemouth, Dorset.

We found a minigolf course in Bournemouth on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in June 2009 and when we revisited in July 2013 it was still there. On Emily's recent trips to the seaside town in December 2024 and this month she found it was still in place, but in a derelict state, with many of the holes lost.

The former 18-hole course is on Exeter Road and next to the café/restaurant.

The course is very similar in design to the busy course that can be found over the road in the Lower Gardens and the championship course in the Boscombe Chine Gardens, though in an entirely unplayable state.

Abandoned Crazy Golf in Victoria Park, Glasgow

A look back at a derelict minigolf course at Victoria Park in Glasgow, Scotland.

We visited Glasgow back in May 2009 and one of the courses we found there was this abandoned 18-hole outdoor Crazy Golf course in Victoria Park.

Even 16 years on it's still one of the strangest courses we've seen on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The course was in a distinctive amphitheatre layout and is laid out in a fair bit of space.

Looking for further information about the course doesn't reveal too much more information. It was built in the 1970's but has been derelict since the 1980's!

The approach to the course area

A view from the back of the course

We wonder if any readers have memories of the course being open, and perhaps playing it?

Lost Minigolf Courses - Moroccan Adventure Golf course at Pleasureland in Southport

A look at the old Moroccan Adventure Golf course at Pleasureland in Southport in 2009.

We visited Southport for the first time back in September 2009. It was the last Friday of the summer season but Pleasureland had closed down so we weren't able to play the Moroccan-themed Adventure Golf layout.

It's one of my favourite lost minigolf courses as it had a theme we hadn't seen before and haven't seen since.

  

Pleasureland Southport has undergone several changes in the years since we visited, and is now known as Adventure Coast Southport.

Adventure Coast Southport is home to a Viking-themed Adventure Golf course.

We haven't been to Southport for a few years, so the Viking Golf at Adventure Coast Southport will be a new one to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

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.