Where to buy this year's top Christmas toys: Argos vs Smyths, The Entertainer, Hamleys, John Lewis and Amazon

Argos published its Top 20 Toys for Christmas 2026 on 1 September, and the lists are now turning into letters to Father Christmas. Before you buy, it's worth knowing that the same toy can cost different amounts in different shops, and that delivery charges, collection times and Christmas returns vary more than prices do.

We've compared Argos, Smyths Toys, The Entertainer, Hamleys, LEGO, John Lewis and Amazon on 22 October 2026. Argos, Smyths, The Entertainer, Hamleys and LEGO all blocked our automated checks, so we couldn't confirm their live prices. For those shops we've used their published lists and help pages, and we say where we've done that. Prices change quickly at this time of year, so check before you pay.

At a glance

• Cheapest on our two test toys: John Lewis and Amazon, both about £25 under the Argos list price for the LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade set.
• Strongest price promise: John Lewis, which refunds the difference if a named rival, including Argos, Smyths and The Entertainer, is cheaper within 7 days.
• Longest confirmed Christmas returns: Argos, until 31 January 2027 for things bought from 23 September.
• Fastest delivery: Argos Fast Track, with same-day delivery seven days a week.
• Lowest free-delivery threshold we found: The Entertainer, free over £39.99.

Price check: two toys from the Top 20

We picked two toys from Argos's list and compared the prices we could see.

• LEGO Super Mario Donkey Kong Arcade (72051): £150 in Argos's Top 20 list, and LEGO's own price is £149.99. On 22 October, John Lewis had it at £125 and Amazon at £124.99. On Amazon, check whether you're buying from Amazon itself or a marketplace seller before you pay. It's aimed at adults, so it's one for the grown-up Nintendo fan.
• Toniebox Lite: £60 in Argos's list, £59.99 on the tonies website, and £59.99 on Amazon, where it was sold by tonies UK and dispatched by Amazon. With the maker's own price this close, you're choosing on delivery and returns rather than price.

Price promises

• John Lewis checks its prices against 25 rivals, including Argos, Smyths, The Entertainer and Mamas & Papas. If you find the identical item cheaper within 7 days of ordering, you can claim the difference. Amazon only counts for electricals sold by Amazon itself, and electrical toys are excluded. Voucher prices, member-only prices, multi-buys, flash sales and marketplace sellers don't count. John Lewis also refunds the difference if its own price drops within 7 days.
• Smyths says its price promise covers pre-orders: if the price is lower when your order is dispatched or collected, you pay the lower price. You can't use it together with a money-off voucher. Its terms say it can't refund the difference if the price of an ordinary purchase drops later.
• Argos, The Entertainer, Hamleys, LEGO and Amazon: we didn't find a general price-match promise from any of them.

Delivery and collection

• Argos: Fast Track same-day and next-day delivery runs seven days a week, and orders placed by 5pm can arrive by 10pm the same day, subject to availability. Delivery is free on small items over £100. Click & Collect is free from more than 1,100 Argos stores, Sainsbury's stores and collection points.
• The Entertainer: free delivery on orders over £39.99, and free Click & Collect from its shops.
• Hamleys: free delivery on orders over £45.
• LEGO: free standard delivery on orders over £50.
• John Lewis: standard delivery is free over £50, otherwise £4.50, and takes 2 to 5 days. Next or named day delivery is £7.95, and Click & Collect is free on orders over £40.
• Smyths: we couldn't confirm its current delivery charges because its website blocked our checks.
• Amazon: delivery depends on the seller and whether you have Prime. Prime members get free delivery on eligible items.

Christmas returns

Christmas presents are often opened weeks after they're bought, so the returns window matters.

• Argos: items bought from 23 September to 25 December 2026 can be returned until 31 January 2027, its help pages say.
• John Lewis: gifts bought from 1 October to 24 December 2026 can be returned until 23 January 2027 if they're unwanted. Ask for a gift receipt so the person you're buying for can return it.
• LEGO: unopened sets can be returned within 35 days of delivery.
• Hamleys: 30-day returns on most items, though some products and promotions have their own rules.
• The Entertainer and Smyths: 28 days. Smyths says items must be unused, in their original packaging and with a receipt.
• Amazon: hadn't announced its 2026 Christmas returns window when we checked. Last year, most items bought from 1 November to 25 December could be returned until 31 January.

Where each wins and falls short

• John Lewis had the lowest price we could see on the Donkey Kong set, the most generous price promise, and long Christmas returns. Its toy range is smaller than a toy shop's, and delivery is £4.50 under £50.
• Argos wins on speed and on returns until the end of January, and its Top 20 list is a useful starting point. But its list prices weren't the cheapest on the two toys we checked, and small-item delivery is only free over £100.
• Amazon matched John Lewis on price, but some listings are from marketplace sellers, and its 2026 Christmas returns dates weren't out yet.
• The Entertainer has the lowest free-delivery threshold we found and plenty of shops for Click & Collect, but 28-day returns can run out before Christmas if you buy early.
• Smyths has a big range and a price promise on pre-orders, which is useful for new releases, but we couldn't check its prices or delivery charges.
• Hamleys has free delivery over £45 and 30-day returns, but we couldn't compare its prices.
• LEGO is the place for exclusives and Insiders points, but it was charging the full £149.99 for the Donkey Kong set.

Your questions answered

Can I return a toy I bought in a shop if it's just unwanted?

Only if the shop's own policy allows it. You have no legal right to return something you bought in a shop because you've changed your mind. For online orders, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 give you 14 days from delivery to cancel, then another 14 days to send it back. That applies across the UK.

What if a toy breaks after Christmas?

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a toy must be of satisfactory quality and last a reasonable time. You have 30 days from delivery to reject a faulty item for a full refund. After that, the shop can repair or replace it first. The Act covers the whole UK. Citizens Advice, Advice Direct Scotland and Consumerline in Northern Ireland can help if a shop won't put it right.

Can I use a price promise and a discount code together?

Usually not. John Lewis won't match a price that needs a voucher or a member-only code, and Smyths won't combine its pre-order price promise with a money-off voucher. Work out which saves more before you order.

Ways to save

Start with our Argos voucher codes, where Blue Light Card members can get 4% off Argos Shopping Cards, and our Smyths Toys voucher codes. The Entertainer has 5% off for Blue Light Card holders, teachers and carers. Hamleys was showing 10% off orders over £40. If you buy from LEGO, LEGO Insiders earns 8 points per £1, and LEGO has Insiders Weekend deals planned for 21 and 22 November. New My John Lewis members get a £5 e-gift card when they spend £50 at John Lewis. And if you don't have Prime, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial, or six months for students and 18 to 24-year-olds. Remember to cancel a trial you don't want before it ends.

Sources: Sainsbury's: Argos Top 20 Toys 2026, Argos returns, John Lewis: LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade, John Lewis price promise, John Lewis returns, Amazon: LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade, Amazon: Toniebox Lite, tonies: Toniebox Lite, LEGO: Donkey Kong Arcade, Smyths FAQs, Smyths returns, The Entertainer: ways to shop, Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, Consumer Rights Act 2015

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