Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Phoebe Barton

Most popular Christmas toys each year from 1970 to 2000 and how much they cost

Creating your Christmas wish list to give to Santa was one of the most thrilling parts of the festive season as a child.

Over the years there have been many different must-have toys that Liverpool children hoped would be sat under their tree on Christmas morning. Some have remained iconic, with Star Wars figures, the Rubik’s Cube and Nintendos still being popular today.

MusicMagpie compiled a list in 2018 of the most popular toys given as Christmas presents and how much they cost from 1970 onwards. The ECHO has collated some of the must-have toys that appear on this list from each year between 1970 and 2000.

READ MORE: Liverpool's 'stylish' lost department store 'loved' for its 'huge' train set and 'basement restaurant'

We’ve also added how much each toy costs online right now. As some of the toys are no longer available, we’ve included the prices of how much original items are selling for on eBay where applicable.

1970

Nerfball - £1.25, now £13

Sindy - £3.99, now £79.99

Risk Board Game - £1.73, now £26.99

1971

Space Hopper - £2.25, now £15.50

Mastermind Board Game - £1.64, now £28.99

Weebles - £4.99, now £23.99

Etch a sketch - 99p, now £44.95

A young boy and girl with a selection of children's toys for Christmas in 1980 including a Scalextric set (Mirrorpix)

1972

Skateboard - £3.62, now from £13

Uno - £1.01, now £6.99

Easy Bake Oven - £3.99, now £41

1973

Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle - £3.71, now £48

Shrinky Drinks - 40p, now from £23

Walkie Talkie Sets - £4.98, now from £17

Baby Alive - £10.88, now from £17

1974

Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots - £3.46, now £29.99

Dungeons & Dragons - £3.69, now £19.99 for the starter set

Magic 8 Ball - 77p, now £17.99

Twister - £1.35, now from £10.50

A selection of children's toys and games from Christmas 1979 including Etch A Sketch, a Meccano Construction Set, Simon Says and a Scalextric set (Mirrorpix)

1975

Pet Rock - £1.75, now from £3.50

Pong - £43.85, now from £19.99 for a mini version

Portable Cassette Player Recorder - £12.40, now from £29.99

Monopoly - £1.89, now from £20

1976

Cher Doll - £3.39, now from £174

Magna Doodle - £10.59, now from £10

Pogo Stick - £2.92, now from £24.99

1977

Atari 2600 - £105.70, now from £59.99

Star Wars Figures - £1.44, now from £15

Stretch Armstrong - £9.58, now £16.99

The Batmobile - £20.71, now £22.99

A girl playing on the Atari 2600 in 1980 (Mirrorpix)

1978

Hungry Hippos - £3.94, now £13.99

Speak & Spell - £31.54, now £35

Simon Says - £31.84, now £16.60

Connect Four - £2.64, now from £9.99

1979

Strawberry Shortcake - £4.75, now £19.99

Millenium Falcon - £80.24, now from £36.99

Sony Walkman - £81.67, no longer available

Meccano Construction Set - £10.34, now from £9.99

1980

Rubik’s Cube - 91p, now £10

Mattel Handheld Electronic Game - £23.25, now from £32

LEGO Train Set - £40, now from £128

Mr Frosty - £10.50, now from £19.99

Sony Walkman with headphones (Mirrorpix)

1981

Star Wars AT-AT - £28.75, now from £46

He-Man Castle Grayskull - £29.99, now £222.99

Lite Brite - £14.99, now £14.99

1982

GI Joe Figures - £1.17, now from £10.99

BMX Bike - £45, now from £130

Glo Worm - £4.99, now from £16.44

Two boys playing with their Star Wars toys in 1983 including the Millennium Falcon and AT-AT (Mirrorpix)

1983

Care Bears - £16.75, now from £12.99

Cabbage Patch Kids Doll - £14.91, now from £39.99

GI Joe APC - £5.96, now £85

My Little Pony - £3.55, now from £7.99

1984

Optimus Prime - £16.87, now from £17.99

Pound Puppies - £6.99, now £8.99

A-Team Van - £42, now £39.99

1985

Teddy Ruxpin - £57.99, now from £24.99

Pillow People - £8.99, now from £49.99

Trivial Pursuit - £8.99, now from £20

A girl with her Cabbage Patch Kids Dolls in December 1983 (Mirrorpix)

1986

Lazer Tag - £34, now from £24.99

LEGO Airport - £24.96, now from £69.99

My Pet Monster - £19.96, now from £38

Power Wheels Jeep - £112.32, now from £174

1987

Sylvanian Families - £6.97, now from £14.99

Koosh Ball - £3, now £23.98

Pogo Ball - £4.11, now from £12

1988

Ghostbusters Proton Pack - £19.99, now £25.99

NES Action Set - £94.76, now from £70

Airless Hockey - £50.54, now from £38

Playskool Kitchen - £50.54, now £43.99

A young girl with a selection of children's toys for Christmas in 1984 including My Little Pony, Barbie, a Care Bear and Trivial Pursuit (Mirrorpix)

1989

Batmobile - £9.99, now £22.99

Polly Pocket - £5.50, now from £11.99

Talking Alf - £27.99, no longer available

1990

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Figures - £3.99, now from £7.99

Mouse Trap - £12.25, now £18

Sega Mega Drive - £189.99, now £299.99

Mr Frosty Ice Crunchie Machine - £10.75, now from £19.99

1991

Nintendo Game Boy - £69.99, now from £20

Super Soaker 50 - £9.99, now £18

Playmobil Victorian Dollhouse - £75, now £126

1992

WWF Action Figures - £4.99, now £19.99

Thunderbirds’ Tracy Island - £23.99, now from £35

The Littlest Pet Shop - £19.99, now from £7.95

Slap Bracelets - £1.99, now £1.25

Popular Christmas toys in 1992 including Sylvanian Families, SEGA Mega Drive and a Game Boy (Mirrorpix)

1993

Talkboy - £24.97, now from £41

Barbie Doll - £10.99, now from £10

Action Man - £9.99, now from £25.99

Dream Phone - £29.99, now £26.49

1994

Power Rangers Action Figures - £4.99, now from £10.99

Cabbage Patch Kids - £28.99, now from £39.99

Silly Putty - £1.50, now from £2.25

Dear Diary - £23.99, no longer available

1995

PlayStation - £287.75, now £119.99

POGs - £2.99, now from £6.99

Beanie Baby - £3.99, now £7.99

Sky Dancers - £7.99, now £20.99

A selection of popular toys at Christmas 1990 including Connect 4, Polly Pocket and Transformers (Mirrorpix)

1996

Tickle Me Elmo - £19.99, now £24.99

Buzz Lightyear - £23.99, now £29.99

Doodle Bear - £14.75, now £23.99

Space Jam Action Figures - £9.99, still £9.99

1997

Nintendo 64 - £150, now £94.99

Tamagotchi - £9.99, now £16.99

Teletubbies - £27.99, now from £11.99

1998

Furby - £24.99, now from £5

Bop It - £14.99, now from £12

Nintendo Game Boy Colour - £69.99, now from £21

ProYo - £4.75, no longer available

Buzz Lightyear toys at a Disney Store in December 1996 (Mirrorpix)

1999

Pokemon Red & Pokemon Blue - £19.99, now from £20 each

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Game - £23.99, now £12.99

Scalextric AFX Vertigo Set - £39.50, now £43

Nintendo Game Boy Camera - £39.50, now from £7.50

2000

Teksta Robot Dog - £38.74, now from £29.99

Micro Scooter - £90, now from £114

Amazing Ally - £37.37, now £44

Nokia 3310 - £150, now £69

Do you remember receiving any of the above toys? Let us know in the comments section below.

Join our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group here.

For more nostalgia stories, sign up to our Liverpool Echo newsletter here.

Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here.

Read next:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.