I thought general discussion the best place for this, as it's not so much about transport but rather the shop - and how it has changed since my last visit last summer.
I am not sure exactly what TfL has decided to do with the shop. It's more open than before, and brighter, but seems to have less things for sale that might appeal to tourists - and more than I assume is aimed at enthusiasts.
Now if the latter works, so be it, but I couldn't help but notice that even on a Saturday, nobody was at the counter buying anything.
My son wanted another single tube train carriage to attach to the one that we bought a year or so ago, but they didn't have any. Nor could I see the Brio-like trains for each of the lines. Have all these things been discontinued?
Upstairs they had models, at a price. Like the S-Stock carriages for around £60 or something, and £340 for a 4-coach set (complete with optional lighting).
They did have the usual 'pocket money' stuff they had before, which has London Transport Museum stamped on (water bottle, pens, keyrings etc). Yet this is a lot of the same tat you can buy at any museum gift shop, just with a logo put on it and very little to do with whatever the museum is about, although I thought the ducks were quite funny (mind the quack).
Inside the new kids play area are some nice tongue-in-cheek gags like Thames nippers, but nobody seems to have thought to sell models of any of this in the shop. Unless I was missing something and there's another part of the shop I am not aware of (and I checked both floors).
Seems like a lot of missed opportunities, but if you want books, posters or mugs with your initial on it in New Johnston then knock yourself out!
For the first time ever, we came away without buying anything (although the wife quite liked the tube train cushion!).
I am not sure exactly what TfL has decided to do with the shop. It's more open than before, and brighter, but seems to have less things for sale that might appeal to tourists - and more than I assume is aimed at enthusiasts.
Now if the latter works, so be it, but I couldn't help but notice that even on a Saturday, nobody was at the counter buying anything.
My son wanted another single tube train carriage to attach to the one that we bought a year or so ago, but they didn't have any. Nor could I see the Brio-like trains for each of the lines. Have all these things been discontinued?
Upstairs they had models, at a price. Like the S-Stock carriages for around £60 or something, and £340 for a 4-coach set (complete with optional lighting).
They did have the usual 'pocket money' stuff they had before, which has London Transport Museum stamped on (water bottle, pens, keyrings etc). Yet this is a lot of the same tat you can buy at any museum gift shop, just with a logo put on it and very little to do with whatever the museum is about, although I thought the ducks were quite funny (mind the quack).
Inside the new kids play area are some nice tongue-in-cheek gags like Thames nippers, but nobody seems to have thought to sell models of any of this in the shop. Unless I was missing something and there's another part of the shop I am not aware of (and I checked both floors).
Seems like a lot of missed opportunities, but if you want books, posters or mugs with your initial on it in New Johnston then knock yourself out!
For the first time ever, we came away without buying anything (although the wife quite liked the tube train cushion!).
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