Where to donate toys in London

In London you can donate used toys to charity shops such as Oxfam and Barnardo's, to a baby bank such as Little Village for under-fives, or directly to a local family through a free sharing app. Christmas toy appeals and children's hospitals usually accept new toys only, so used toys need one of the other routes. Whichever you choose, the toy should be clean, complete and safe.

This guide compares the main options and what each one says it accepts. Policies change, so check the organisation's own page before you take a bag across town. We last checked the pages linked below on 12 November 2026.

Check the toy before you choose where it goes

Every route below turns away broken, dirty or incomplete toys. Spending ten minutes on this first saves a wasted trip.

• Count the pieces. Oxfam's guidance on donating toys says it cannot take board games or puzzles with missing pieces.
• Clean it. Oxfam asks donors to wash soft toys before donating them unless they are brand new.
• Check it still works. Put in fresh batteries if needed, or say clearly that it needs them.
• Check for recalls. Search the toy's name on the government's product safety alerts and recalls list. Never pass on a recalled toy.

Read age warnings and check for loose or damaged parts, accessible batteries and other defects. Small pieces can be appropriate for older children but unsafe for younger ones, so keep any age guidance and instructions with the toy. The Business Companion guide to toys explains safety marks, warnings and second-hand toys. A missing mark on the toy itself is not enough to establish its history; if you cannot establish that it is safe, do not donate it.

Option 1: give it directly to a London family

A family nearby can often use a toy the same week, and nothing goes through a warehouse or a shop rail. On YoungPlanet, giving and receiving are free. You add a photo and a short description, and a local family asks for it in the app. Then you agree a collection time.

London families share through YoungPlanet. You can see what neighbours are offering on the free stuff in London page, or list a toy to give away. Our guide to writing a useful second-hand toy listing covers what to include.

This route suits complete everyday toys, games, puzzles, ride-ons and anything bulky that a shop may not have room for. It does not suit a broken or recalled toy, which should not be passed on anywhere.

Option 2: a charity shop

Charity shops sell donated toys to raise money for their cause. Call or visit your local branch first, because space and policies differ between shops.

• Oxfam lists toys and games among the things it can sell. It will not take anything broken, dirty, incomplete or unsafe.
• Barnardo's accepts toys and games but not damaged or faulty items. It also refuses car seats, booster seats, cot mattresses and baby bouncers. You can order free postal donation bags online.
• British Heart Foundation shops take toys along with clothes and books. Its free collection service is for furniture, electricals and homewares, so take bags of toys to a shop yourself.

Option 3: a baby bank, for under-fives

Baby banks pass essentials to local families who need them, often through a professional referral. Some accept toys alongside clothes and equipment.

In London, Little Village accepts good-quality clothes, toys, prams, cots and other essentials for children from newborn to pre-school. It also runs a collection service for bigger items such as buggies and beds. Read its current donation guidance before you go, because baby banks can only take what they have space to store.

To find another baby bank, search the Baby Bank Alliance map. It lists more than 400 across the UK. Contact each one directly to ask which items it needs at the moment.

Where to drop off donations in London

Little Village lists donation points in several London areas. These are useful starting points for suitable toys and baby items; check its current locations, donation guidance and opening times before setting off.

Donation sessions and storage needs change. Do not leave bags outside a closed centre. If these points are too far away, use the Baby Bank Alliance map above or contact a charity shop in your own area first.

Option 4: Christmas toy appeals take new toys

Many London appeals run from November to mid-December. Most ask for new, unwrapped gifts, so they are a way to buy a present for a child rather than to pass on used toys.

• The Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal collects through local churches and centres. Not every centre takes part, and each sets its own deadline. It cannot take used or second-hand items.
• Some councils support local appeals. In 2025, for example, Haringey and Hackney councils distributed gifts from the Winter Toy Appeal, which collected new toys at libraries. Check your council's website to see what is running this year.

Option 5: children's hospitals take new toys only

It is natural to think of a hospital ward, but hospitals are strict about infection control. Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, for example, only accepts gifts that are brand new, unwrapped and in their original packaging. It cannot accept used toys, and it arranges drop-offs at its charity office rather than at the hospital. Other hospitals may differ, so ask their charity team first.

Compare the options

Scroll the table sideways on a small screen to compare all columns.

What to do with toys nobody can use

Broken toys, puzzles with missing pieces and recalled items should not be donated. Take plastic toys without batteries to your council's recycling centre and check how it wants them sorted. Toys with batteries or wiring count as electricals, so use a small electricals recycling point and remove the batteries first.

For a bigger clear-out, our guide to decluttering toys before Christmas helps you decide what to keep, store or pass on. If you also have outgrown clothes, see how to give away children's things.