Back of the net

An Alan Partridge mural at the Castle Quarter shopping & entertainment centre in Norwich.

Toys R Us at TGJones in Norwich

There's a Toys R Us at TGJones in Norwich city centre.

You can find a Toys R Us concession at TGJones in Norwich, Norfolk. It differs to many of the other new Toys R Us shops I've seen since the return of the brand by having a shopfront of its own next door to the TGJones (formerly WHSmith) that it is housed within.

The end of WHSmith, and the start of TGJones.

The start of July 2025 marked the end of WHSmith on the British high street after 233 years. Following the sale of the business to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital earlier this year WHSmith shops have been undergoing a rebrand to the new name of TGJones.

WHSmith on the high street, and travel stores.

There were around 500 high street WHSmith shops, and another 580 travel stores in the UK. The WHSmith shops at railway stations, service stations and airports etc. are not affected by the rebrand as they were not part of the sale.

Toys R Us at TGJones and WHSmith.

As well being inside the rebranded TGJones shops, the relaunched Toys R Us brand can be found in sections of some travel hub WHSmith stores.

Toys R Us at Hobbycraft.

You can also find Toys R Us concessions at Hobbycraft stores.

Toys R Us in 2026.

Toys R Us returned to the UK shopping scene with an online presence in 2022 and with concessions opening inside some WH Smith shops in 2023. There are currently 146 Toys R Us stores open nationwide.

Working at Toys R Us.

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

The old Toys R Us.

At its peak there were 105 Toys R Us stores in the UK. 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 several of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

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

Find out more.

Visit the Toys R Us and TGJones websites for more information.

Links:

• Toys R Us
• TGJones

Related blog posts:

• Toys R Us
• TGJones
• Retail
• The end of Toys R Us in the UK

Eaton Park Crazy Golf in Norwich

A look back at our visit to the Eaton Park Crazy Golf course in Norwich, Norfolk in May 2017.

The 18-hole Crazy Golf course was the 432nd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The layout was the 734th visited overall and the 707th we'd been to in the UK.

Holes 1-9

Holes 10-18

It's one of my all-time favourite courses and a course I could have stayed to play on all day long.

Visit the Eaton Park Crazy Golf course website for more information.

Jurassic Putt Crazy Golf at Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure in Lenwade, Norwich

A look at the Jurassic Putt Crazy Golf course at Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure in Lenwade, Norfolk.

My brother Christopher and his family recently revisited the Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure Park in Lenwade, Norwich and while there played the Jurassic Putt Crazy Golf course.

Check out the Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure website for more information.

The combined total of courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is now at 1,110 since September 2006!

Toys R Us at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich

A look at the site of the former Toys R Us store at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich, Norfolk in June 2024.

The location of the former Toys R Us store at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich

While the last of the original Toys R Us stores in the UK closed on the 24th April 2018 the brand returned to the UK in 2022 with an online presence, and further expanded in 2023 with the opening of nine concessions inside WH Smith.

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.

We first visited the old Norwich Toys R Us store in August 2021, and returned in April 2022. On our visit last month the site was part way through being turned into a new Home Bargains store.

The location of the former Toys R Us store at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich

The location of the former Toys R Us store at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich

The location of the former Toys R Us store at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich

The location of the former Toys R Us store at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich

The location of the former Toys R Us store at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich

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

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 traces of the brand on some retail parks and shopping centres around the UK.

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

Buy Lost Toys R Us Stores on Amazon.

Putt Putt Social Crazy Golf Tournaments in Norwich, Gloucester, Telford and Bedford

Putt Putt Social indoor minigolf centres in Norwich, Gloucester, Telford and Bedford will be holding Crazy Golf tournaments at the venues on Friday 17th May.

The event format will see teams compete for the prizes.

Visit the Putt Putt Social website for more information.

Crazy Golf Tournament at Putt Putt Social in Norwich

A Crazy Golf tournament is being held at Putt Putt Social in Norwich on Friday 17th May.

My brother Christopher spotted this advert for the event while in Norwich this week

The team event will be contested at the indoor Crazy Golf venue inside the Castle Quarter shopping and entertainment centre in Norwich.

A look at the course from one of Christopher's visits on his leg of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Visit the Putt Putt Social website for more information.

A look at the course from one of Christopher's visits on his leg of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Putt Putt Social Crazy Golf Tournament in Norwich

A Crazy Golf tournament is being held at Putt Putt Social in Norwich on Friday 17th May.

The team event will be contested at the indoor Crazy Golf venue.

Visit the Putt Putt Social website for more information.

Toys R Us at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich

A look at the Toys R Us store at Cathedral Retail Park in Norwich, Norfolk in April 2022.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018.

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.

We first visited the old Norwich store in August 2021.

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

The former store in Norwich is now being turned into a Home Bargains.

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

Cherry Blossom at Putt Putt Noodle

There's always Sakura at Putt Putt Noodle.

Cherry Blossom at Putt Putt Noodle

Cherry Blossom at Putt Putt Noodle Mini Golf at the Castle Quarter shopping and entertainment centre in Norwich, Norfolk.

Cherry Blossom at Putt Putt Noodle

These snaps were by my brother Christopher - a charter member of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Together we've visited a combined 1,090 courses since September 2006.

Putt Putt Noodle Mini Golf in Norwich

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich

We swung by Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich, Norfolk on our trip to the city at the end of the year.

My brother, and charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, has played there a couple of times and we're looking forward to a round there with him in the future.

Those katakana characters on the left of the logo translate as 'Lucky'

As well as the Norwich location there are Putt Putt Noodle courses in Bedford, Poole and Telford. Check out the Putt Putt Noodle website for more information.

Crazy Golf at Mulligans Norwich

There's a Crazy Golf course at Mulligans in Norwich, Norfolk.

Crazy Golf at Mulligans Norwich (December 2023)

We swung by Mulligans in Norwich at the end of last year while staying in the city. The indoor course was very busy!

Crazy Golf at Mulligans Norwich (December 2023)

You can find Mr Mulligan's minigolf courses in Basildon, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cheltenham, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Romford, Sidcup, Stevenage, Tonbridge, Woking, and Worcester.

We played the Mulligans courses at the indoor location in Milton Keynes on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour last October.

Visit the Mr Mulligan's website for more information.

Putt Putt Noodle Minigolf in Norwich

A look at the Putt Putt Noodle indoor minigolf venue at the Castle Quarter in Norwich, Norfolk.

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

My brother and charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour recently replayed Putt Putt Noodle minigolf in Norwich. He first played there in May last year.

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, September 2023

Visit the Putt Putt Noodle website for more information.

Those katakana characters on the left of the logo translate as 'Lucky'