The Croydon Walnut Fair Reimagined with Toys!

A soft brown velvet elephant on wheels with a big red ribbon and a model horse with painted saddle and reins sit looking at each other. Both are vintage and well loved.

Opening weekend 5 & 6 October. Exhibition open every Saturday 12 October to 9 November 2024. 11-4pm. Free

​Unit 49 Whitgift Centre Croydon, (map)

The wonderful Walnut Fair returns to Croydon this autumn for the first time in over 150 years, reimagined with toys!

Held for hundreds of years on the nearby Fair Fields (now the site of the Fairfield Halls), visitors flocked to see travelling theatres and shows, to shop, to dance, to meet the parades of animals, and have a jolly good time. Pollock’s Toy Museum is bringing the fair back with an exhibition and celebration of the fair and it’s fun for all the family!

Engaging Entertainments!

  • Wonder at Wombwell’s Menagerie of toy animals, tame and wild!
  • Marvel at mechanical music for just one Victorian penny!
  • Try your hand at Bagatelle!
  • Gasp as Teddy Bear Acrobats ride reckless rocking horses!
  • Peer into period peepshows!
  • Discover gilded gingerbread!
  • See Mr Green’s stunning lifelike waxwork dolls!
  • Have your fortune told by a fish!
  • Be AMAZED at a genuine 4000 year old mouse!
  • Learned Spelling Pigs!
  • The World in walnut shells!
  • Hear live and recorded history and stories from Croydon Fair!
  • Buy souvenir fairings from Pollock’s Toy Stall!

Popular performances at the museum for opening weekend!

  • Revel in the melodrama and pantomime of Richardson’s Famous Theatrical Booth with performances at 12 noon and 2pm on Saturday 5 October (and Saturday 9th October.)
  • The Gentleman Juggler will entertain and astonish at 11.30, 1,30 and 2.40 on Saturday 5 October
  • Carole Roberts, President of the Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society will be giving a talk about the history of the Walnut Fair at 2pm on Sunday 6 October

No booking required for these free events but space is limited.

Plus follow a trail of fun around Croydon with the Croydon Harvest taking over The Queen’s Gardens, Croydon Clocktower and Surrey Street Market on the 5 and 6 October.

Nut Allergy Warning

This exhibition includes items made of walnuts. Workshops and handling sessions will include touching walnut shells. During this exhibition (5 October – 9 November) you should not visit Pollock’s Toy Museum Croydon pop-up if you have nut allergies.

This exhibition has been made possible with research from Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society and the support of Croydon Council.