Top Christmas toys for 2023 chosen by kids

The top Christmas toys for 2023 including Hot Wheels, Barbie, Playmobil, LEGO and more

A collage of the best Christmas toys
(Image credit: Future)
Recent updates

We've updated this article by price-checking all the toys featured, amending prices where necessary, removing items that were out of stock, and replacing them with alternative toy recommendations. 

If you're looking for the top Christmas toys so you can buy a winner of a pressie for your child, nieces, nephews or friends' kids, then you've come to the right place. 

We've analysed the retailer trends to bring you a definitive list of the top Christmas toys for 2023, to take the hassle out of your Christmas shopping and help you avoid overspending on something that may find itself in the regifting pile before New Year's Eve.

This is supported by child development expert Dr. Amanda Gummer, who says: "I talk to a lot of parents, and time and again I hear that parents panic at the last minute and over-spend in haste when choosing what to buy from the top Christmas toys."

To avoid falling into that trap, check out this list of the toys worth your money this festive season, as chosen by shopping expert and parenting specialist, Heidi Scrimgeour.

Top Christmas toys 2023: at-a-glance

  1. Mattel Barbie The Movie Doll -  £45.99, Amazon 
  2. Playmobil Space Mars Mission Station - £43.89, Amazon 
  3. DOG-E 1691 MINTiD Robotic Dog - £59.99, Amazon
  4. Little Live Pets Cutie Cuts Lil Snippers - £19.83, Amazon
  5. Hot Wheels T-Rex Chomp Down Track Set  - £37.19, Amazon 
  6. Melissa & Doug Jet Pilot Interactive Dashboard - £105.24, Amazon
  7. LEGO Gabby's Dollhouse Toy Playset - £69.99, Lego
  8. ZURU Smashers Dino Island T-Rex Battles - £39.86, Amazon
  9. Xootz Kids Bubble Go Foldable Scooter - £39.91, Amazon
  10. LEGO Star Wars Ahsoka Tano's T-6 Jedi Shuttle Set - £64.99, LEGO
  11. Cookeez Makery Oven - £32.99, Amazon
  12. Magic Mixies Pixlings - £12.99 Amazon 
  13. Hapello Toy Air Fryer - £14, Asda
  14. Jabadabado Wooden Market Stall - £117, Kidly 
  15. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Delivery Van - £39.99, The Entertainer
  16. boppi Mideer My Large Floor Puzzle Jigsaw - £8.99, Amazon
  17. Sesame Street 53426 Elmo Slide Plush - £60, Argos
  18. Squishmallows 12" Bevin the Pink and Blue Cotton Candy Plush - £15.29, Amazon
  19. L.O.L. Surprise Magic Flyers Flutter Star Doll - £31.44, John Lewis
  20. Furby - £54.99, Amazon
  21. LEGO Monster Jam™ Megalodon™ - £11.99, Amazon

Top Christmas toys 2023

In a hurry to get this year's most popular toys crossed off your shopping list? Here's our pick of the top toys for Christmas 2023:

How to choose the best Christmas toy for a child

  1. Avoid five-minute wonders
  2. Focus on value for money and how often it will be played with over volume of gifts
  3. Choose something that can be played with individually or with friends or siblings

"It’s tempting to get caught up in the ‘what’s trending’ when it comes to selecting the best toys for Christmas," Dr. Gummer says. "I always recommend taking a step back from the ‘hottest’ or most popular toy and have a look around if you want something that isn’t going to have them bored after an hour of play. Taking some time to make the right decision will also be better value for money, whilst if you make a smart choice, will keep your little one entertained for a longer period of time."

So avoid five-minute wonders and focus less on making sure kids have lots of presents to unwrap on Christmas day, and more on what will be value for money and what will be played with now (and later!). 

"Purchasing (within your predetermined budget) a careful selection of other toys and games can provide a range of play choices that will suit different situations and promote different skills," Dr. Gummer adds. " If you’re planning to buy a selection, then ensure you have games and toys which can be played individually as well as toys which can be played with friends, other siblings or a wider family group - getting different generations together for play at Christmas is a wonderful way of creating memories and it’s what your child will remember about the festive season as they head back to school."

Afterall, "belly laughs over a board game win with Granny are such that money can’t buy," Dr. Gummer adds.

What are the best Christmas toys to buy?

“Choosing the right toy can be overwhelming, especially during the holiday season,” says Vese Aghoghovbia, founder of Philly and Friends . Obviously it's important to consider your child's preferences and their Christmas wish list if they have one, but do't forget to consider your goals for your child and your parenting style. "As a supporter of STEM education, I often opt for educational toys that provide learning opportunities," explains Vese.

"However, there are times when I simply want to see the joy on my child's face and give them something on their wish list that doesn't fall under the category of learning toys! It's also important to remember that children can be easily pleased. My son is usually thrilled with simple toys like Pop-its or Hot Wheels.”

To make the process easier of choosing what to buy from the top Christmas toys, Vese suggests categorising toys and picking those that best suit your little one's age and temperament. "Toys come in different types, including dolls and figurines, learning toys, craft kits, magnetic toys, pretend play toys, and digital toys," she adds. 

  • Dolls and figurines — "Ranging from soft dolls to action figures, these encourage imaginative play and help children learn nurturing skills and build empathy," Vese says. "They also offer a great opportunity to introduce diversity into children's toy collections."
  • Learning toys with educational aspects — "No matter how young, these are a priority for those who value STEM education," Vese adds.
  • Kids' craft kits — "Products such as baking and gardening kits are perfect for keeping children busy building, making, or growing."
  • Magnetic toys — "Products like Magna-Tiles and Smart Max create endless possibilities for experimenting with different surfaces and building structures while teaching children about the concept of building," Vese tells us.
  • Pretend play toys — "These are excellent for developing storytelling skills." 
  • Digital toys — like audio boxes are on the rise. According to Vese, they are a 'great way' to build listening skills in children.

What is the hottest toy for Christmas this year?

It takes a lot to make a toy a number-one best seller ahead of the festive season. As Dr. Gummer explains: "A great toy is one that sparks children’s interest and imagination, giving them an opportunity to develop skills and build confidence, as well as being just really good fun. A great toy combines high fun factor, with some developmental benefits whilst being easy to use."

And if there's one great product that's been stealing the hearts of little ones and is bound to be on just about everyone's Christmas list, it's toy company Mattel's much-loved Barbie doll. 

The movie, which brought the iconic toy to life, was released in July 2023 and made a record-breaking $155m (£120m) on its opening weekend. So it's fair to say Barbie fandom has reached new heights. Whether it's a Barbie doll, like the one we've featured in this guide, or a Dream Villa Pool Party Dollhouse (was £349.99 now £174.99 at Amazon) — forget dreaming of a white Christmas, as everyone's hoping for a pink one! 

What is the latest toy craze?

Why you can trust GoodTo. Our experienced Consumer Editor & parent reviewers spend hours testing products to help you make the best choice. Find out how we test and review products.

Each year, there's always another trending or popular toy release to look out for. While Barbie and all things pink have had their time to shine, we're now seeing new products share some of that spotlight. And that includes the likes of Squishmallows. These super soft and super squeezable collectible plush toys are trending right now and for good reason. They're the perfect-sized toy for both boys and girls aged three years and up, and they're ideal for taking on sleepovers, long journeys and playdates. 

How we chose the top Christmas toys

As well as being Deputy Editor of Goodto, I'm a mum of three and have been a parenting journalist since having my first baby 18 years ago - so I've got lots of experience testing and writing about all kinds of toys over many years. For this feature, I spent time researching new toy launches for 2023 before shortlisting the ones I think are going to be popular with kids this Christmas, and worth parents spending their hard-earned on. Finally, my 10-year-old daughter and her friends got to choose the toys included in this guide, based on the things they think kids are going to be asking Santa for this Christmas. We have first-hand experience with almost of the all the toys featured on this list, so we know for a fact that they're items that live up to the hype and which kids really rate. 

If you want to know more about how we chose the top Christmas toys, you can also read all about how we test the products featured in our buying guides and product reviews. 


If you're after something a bit more specific, but aren't quite sure what to buy,  have a look at our LEGO vs Playmobil feature or find out which is best: Yoto vs Tonie. If you've got a Nintendo Switch on your list to buy, we've also weighed up whether you should buy the Switch or the OLED.

Heidi Scrimgeour
Deputy Editor

As a parenting specialist for more than 15 years, Heidi has written for most national newspapers and for a wide range of consumer magazines, including Mother & Baby where she was the Shopping Editor for six years, looking after regular consumer features including buying guides and gift roundups.

With contributions from