Lincolnshire toy fair and reuse shop offers families a different way to choose Christmas gifts
Lincolnshire families preparing for Christmas can look beyond the usual toy shop for gifts that are useful, affordable and already loved.
With a collectors' fair approaching in Lincoln and a county council reuse shop selling games and toys, Kidora, the UK parent-to-parent marketplace for baby and children's items, is encouraging parents to think about age, condition and value rather than assuming every present needs to be brand new.
The Toy Collectors Fair returns to Lincolnshire Showground's EXO Centre on Sunday, October 25, from 10am until 2pm, with another date scheduled for Sunday, December 6. Organisers advertise more than 150 tables covering interests from Corgi vehicles and Hornby models to science-fiction and film collectables.
Admission is £3.50 for adults aged 16 and over, while accompanied children aged up to 15 can enter free. The event is a collectors' fair, not specifically a sale of children's play equipment. Some products may be intended for adult collectors or contain small parts, so parents should follow the item's age guidance rather than treating every model as a suitable toy for a young child.
For everyday second-hand bargains, Lincolnshire County Council runs its Reuse Shop at Tattershall Household Waste Recycling Centre on Kirkby Lane, Tattershall Thorpe. The council says the shop sells a changing selection of preloved goods that can include toys, games, bicycles and household items.
The shop opens from 9am to 3.30pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. It accepts card payments rather than cash, and cannot reserve stock. That makes it somewhere to browse, not somewhere to rely on finding a specific Christmas present. Revenue from sales funds the shop, helping keep usable goods out of the waste stream.
For families with younger children, the county also runs a free Lending Library through children's centres, with resources such as sensory play kits, story packs and soft-play equipment. Eligible parents and carers of children from birth to five can request up to three items for a two-week loan, subject to availability. Trying different kinds of play before buying can help a family understand what genuinely interests their child.
Together, these options highlight three different approaches: discovering collectables, giving existing possessions another home and borrowing resources before deciding what to own. The schemes and events are independent of Kidora.
For parents who want to search from home between local events, Kidora offers listings from UK families for children's toys, books, clothing and nursery essentials. These may include complete preloved playsets, bundles of storybooks or unused unwanted gifts. Occasionally families list items for free with local collection. Availability, item condition and collection or supported delivery methods depend on each individual listing; no particular toy is guaranteed in Lincolnshire.
When buying preloved, ask about missing pieces, wear, batteries and age suitability, advises Kidora, adding you should check product recalls, and take particular care with baby safety equipment where its history is unknown. Compare the total price, including delivery and buyer-protection charges where applicable, rather than the advertised item price alone.
Kidora was founded by Karolina Gudes, a mum-of-two, and charges sellers no seller fees. For buyers, the principle is simple: a carefully chosen second-hand item can be a welcome Christmas gift if it is safe, wanted and right for the child receiving it.
Visit Kidora: https://kidora.uk