Toys R Us UK closed all 105 stores in 6 weeks — 3,000 jobs lost when parent collapsed

Toys "R" Us opened its first UK stores in September 1985 in Woking, Wood Green and Basildon, expanding to over 105 stores at its peak. For decades it was Britain's dominant toy retailer, a destination for Christmas shopping that competitors could not match on range or scale.

By December 2017 the UK business was in trouble. It announced a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to close at least 26 stores, citing mounting financial pressure from competition, online rivals and the debt burden inherited from its US parent. The US parent, Toys "R" Us Inc., was itself struggling under $5 billion in debt from a 2005 leveraged buyout by KKR, Bain Capital and Vornado.

On 28 February 2018, Toys "R" Us UK entered administration after amassing £15 million in unpaid taxes and failing to find a buyer. By 2 March all stores began liquidation sales. On 14 March it was confirmed every store would close within six weeks. Trading ceased on 24 April 2018. All 105 stores closed and 3,000 employees lost their jobs.

The brand was later acquired by WHP Global in 2021 and returned to the UK as concessions inside WHSmith, but the standalone chain that dominated British toy retailing for 32 years was gone forever.