Stockholm Toy Museum

About the museum

The collection was built up by the von Schinkel family over more than sixty years and is the largest privately owned collection of toys and comics in Northern Europe. It was first shown at Tidö slott (Tidö Castle) outside Västerås, where Tidö leksaksmuseum opened on 17 June 1974 and was inaugurated by King Carl XVI Gustaf. The museum later moved to the castle's stone stable, which was extended with new settings.

In 2016 the owner decided to make the collection more accessible and move it to Stockholm. Since 2017 it has been displayed in Bergrummet on Skeppsholmen, a facility that was blasted out of the rock in the 1940s as a shelter for the military and later used as a torpedo workshop and communications centre. Before the toy museum, the premises housed exhibitions for Världskulturmuseerna (the Museums of World Culture).

The museum occupies around 2,500 square metres of the tunnels and has kept the raw rock walls as a contrast to the playful settings. The oldest toys are dolls from the 15th century, and the collection also includes doll's houses, pedal cars, tin figures, spaceships and a section with toys that once belonged to royalty. The collection comprises around 40,000 objects, most of them toys and comics.

Highlights

• Around 40,000 toys and comic-related objects in the rock chambers on Skeppsholmen
• Dolls from the 15th century and a section with toys that once belonged to royalty
• Doll's houses, pedal cars, tin figures, spaceships, Barbie and Tintin's vehicles
• Play areas where visitors can, among other things, make pancakes in Bamses farmors kök (Bamse's grandmother's kitchen)
• Café and shop in the museum

Permanent exhibitions

• Leksakssamlingen – Historical and modern toys in the tunnels of the rock chambers, from dolls from the 15th century to doll's houses, pedal cars and toys that once belonged to royalty.
• Seriedelen – Section on comics, which forms part of the museum's collection of toys and comics.

Founded

2017

Operated by

Familjeupplevelser i Bergrummet AB

Admission & discounts

School groups pay SEK 80 per pupil, and one teacher per five pupils enters free. The prices are those that applied before the refurbishment.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The whole museum is on one level with no stairs or high thresholds, so it is accessible by wheelchair, pushchair or rollator. Outside the entrance the surface is gravel; if needed, visitors can phone and staff will come out. A wheelchair can be borrowed at the entrance, and there are benches along the toy section. In a few places visitors may touch toys, but most objects are behind glass.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum suits all ages; according to the museum, children aged between 3 and 10 particularly enjoy it. There are several play areas, including hobby horse jumping and pinball. Children's birthday parties cost SEK 279–289 per child and require at least 12 children.

Getting there & parking

From the car park at the Östasiatiska museet the shortest route is via a staircase. For drop-offs by car, taxi or special transport service (färdtjänst), the address is Svensksundsvägen 5.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Museum café with fika, simple lunches and drinks, and a shop selling toys and books.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 250 guests.

The premises in the Bergrummet can be hired for parties, weddings, book launches, concerts and conferences; space for around 200 seated or 250 standing guests. Enquiries to event@toymuseum.se.

Plan your visit