We've selected five toys from each of these lists to give you a taste of what's on offer for kids this year.
Plus, we've scoured the marketplace to find you the cheaper alternatives to consider if you're shopping on a budget.
John Lewis Wooden Deluxe Play Kitchen
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For the ultimate play kitchen, this set from John Lewis contains everything from a microwave to a fridge freezer.
It also comes with 24 play accessories including pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, salt and pepper shakers – and even a miniature olive oil bottle.
Currently out of stock at .Are there cheaper alternatives?
You won't get all the bells and whistles of the John Lewis Deluxe kitchen set, but Ikea has a small range of cheaper play kitchens, including:
Lego Santa's Sleigh Set
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Lego is a go-to gift for many at Christmas, and this Santa set adds a truly festive touch. It can be played with as a toy, or sat on a window sill as festive decor.
John Lewis calls it 'a charming project to complete over the festive season,' and adults may it love just as much as kids.
Are there cheaper alternatives?
This Lego set is typically around £40 at most retailers, but if you want a cheaper and smaller festive option, see some of our suggestions below:
Bonnie Bear
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Expected to be available from John Lewis later in the month, this cuddly bear has found itself on the retailer's top toys for 2024 list.
According to John Lewis, this bear will be available for around £33. However, the original manufacturer Aurora World has the same bear listed for around £10 less.
Available from (£22.99).Are there cheaper alternatives?
A simple teddy bear shouldn't too be hard to come by for under around £15. See alternative options from Ikea and Smyths Toys:
We asked the parents, aunties and uncles of Which? to pick theHexbug Wall Crawler Gecko
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For any creepy crawly-obsessed little ones, a wall-climbing robotic gecko is sure to make their Christmas – and get a scream out of anyone who doesn't like crawly creatures! It features on John Lewis's Top Toys list this year.
It's remote controllable and has LED eyes to help it stand out in the dark.
Are there cheaper alternatives?
They might not all have the ability to crawl up walls, but there are other Hexbugs available with slightly lower price tags:
Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset
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This Play-Doh ice cream maker playset lets kids create colourful, pretend soft-serve ice cream and decorate it with make-believe sprinkles and pretend pretzels.
It includes 284g (10oz) of Play-Doh modelling compound, featuring a few dual-colour tubs to make the perfect swirl of ice cream, plus tools such as a toy spoon and knife and an ice cream cone and cup to 'serve' their creations in.
Are there cheaper alternatives?
Play-Doh has plenty of pretend cookery sets and food makers, and the ice cream maker set above is actually among the cheapest available.
For more Play-Doh kitchenware sets, we've picked out a few alternatives of a similar price or cheaper below:
The Stitch Crack Me Up Plush
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Featuring on the Hamleys Top Toys list this year is the Stitch 'Crack Me Up' Plush doll.
It sits at 11-inches tall and plays the familiar sound of this beloved Disney character giggling when shaken. According to Hamleys: 'Stitch laughs out loud, and then shimmies and shakes when he’s placed down on a surface.'
Are there cheaper alternatives?
Giggling character toys are nothing new, and those who grew up watching Sesame Street will remember the popularity of the Tickle Me Elmo doll. It's a slightly cheaper option:
Hamleys Alessandra Fur White Bonnet Baby Doll
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Hamleys says that the Alessandra Fur White Bonnet Baby Doll 'has a soft touch body and limbs and a lifelike weight' so that 'it feels like you are holding a real baby'.
She comes set with a romper, fleece, dummy, family book and Certificate of Authenticity.
Are there cheaper alternatives?
There are most definitely cheaper alternatives to this £120 baby doll if you're less concerned with realism and additional items:
Hasbro Drop Trivia Family Game
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This fast-action trivia game can be played head-to-head with two players or in teams.
Players are provided with a list of answers they must sort into the correct order using pucks to score points. After four rounds, the team with the most points wins.
Available from (£24.99).Are there cheaper alternatives?
If you're a fan of card games with less equipment involved, see a few options below:
Or, if you're a sucker for the classics with trivia or coin-dropping elements:
Disney Princess Moana Singing Doll
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Ideal for young Moana fanatics, this musical doll plays the song 'We're Back' from the sequel film and lets kids sing along and play at the touch of a button. It's likely to be popular ahead of the film's UK release in November.
She has bendable arms and legs, and comes with her trusty paddle and true-to-movie outfit and accessories.
Are there cheaper alternatives?
If the singing aspect isn't as important to you (or you just want a quieter household!), you can get the cheaper Moana fashion doll which is purely for dress-up or imaginative play:
And for more budget-friendly Disney Princess dolls:
The Monster Rotary XL Electric Blaster
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Hamleys has put this heavy-duty blaster on its Top Toys list for Christmas 2024 – it can hold up to 30 foam bullets at once, with a shooting range of 15 metres.
Are there cheaper alternatives?
Popular toy blaster brand Nerf has a large catalogue of cheaper options, a few of which we've listed below:
What are all the John Lewis and Hamleys Top Toys for Christmas 2024?
Each year, John Lewis and Hamleys compile lists of the toys they expect to be popular for Christmas.
We pulled together the selection of products on this page by taking five each from these brands' Top Toy 2024 lists. You can view the full lists on the retailers' websites:
More Christmas gift ideas from Which?
Still on the hunt for more present inspiration? Head to one of our handy gift guides:
Get our expert tips for making smarter consumer choices. undefinedsource https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/trending-toys-and-where-to-find-them-cheapest-abtng5w466TT