Build A Bear Workshop

This is a great place to take kids to get them a special treat. The shop sells various different soft toys, including traditional teddies, bunnies, monkeys and cats, as well as slightly more unusual ones like dragons (these are usually limited edition). All of the toys are empty (unstuffed) when you choose them, and the child can then watch as the toy is filled to their request (really squashy, really firm, etc). The staff put a little satin heart in each toy as they fill it, which I thought was a really cute touch. You can also choose a voice for the toy, or even record one of your own, which could be really good if the child is going away from home. You can buy clothes and accessories for the toys, which are colour coded so that you can tell easily which toys they will fit, but be warned that buying these will raise the cost of the bear to double or more the price of the toy alone. The Mall Bristol branch is a fairly large one, which means that you are more likely to find the toy you want, and the staff are trained to fill and stitch them efficiently, whilst being really nice to children.