A charming and environmentally-friendly Christmas initiative is popping up in Bath this December, the Elves Swapshop!

From 26th November 2021, the St John’s Foundation building at 5 Old Bond Street will be transformed into a magical elves workshop. A team of Share and Repair volunteers have been fully trained up and will be on hand to refurbish old and broken toys in the run-up to Christmas.  

The aim is to extend the lifespan of tired toys and help them avoid landfill, as well as turning them into brilliant gifts for lucky local children. The team will make sure that everything is refurbished to a high standard, so that its safe, clean and all ready for a new home. 

Old toys wanted!

Children from Bath and beyond are invited to visit the fabulous Elf-O-Matic toy upcycler in the heart of the city, and bring their old toys to receive the upcycling treatment. 

Everyone who brings in a toy will get to see the ‘reuse, repurpose, recycle’ process in action, and they’ll even get to take home a revamped toy of their own. 

Little ones will get to pop their toy in the machine, start it up and watch the Elf-O-Matic whir into action. The toy-giver will be rewarded with a special golden token, which they can exchange for a gift from the elves’ workshop before they leave. The machine may seem like it’s doing all the work, but toys will actually be carefully repaired by a dedicated team of Share and Repair volunteers behind the scenes. 

The elves will be on hand in the workshop for a meet and greet, and children can also post their Christmas wishes into a special Santa post box. If they include a stamped addressed envelope, they’ll even get a special greeting back from Father Christmas himself!

How to visit the Elves Swapshop

This is a fabulous Christmas activity for families in Bath, especially since it has such a great message about sustainability. If your kids would love to visit the Elves Swapshop this December, you can drop in on a Saturday between 10am and 6pm. 

But to swerve the crowds and avoid disappointment on busy days, you can also pre-book tickets here. Sessions will be available from 2pm to 6pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays until 19th December 2021. 

Each ticket buys you entry to a fascinating workshop demo and a fun singalong with the elves. These cost £3 per child, or you can buy a family ticket for a maximum of three children for a total of £5. 

Old Bond Street is just a 10-minute walk from Bath Spa train station if you’re visiting from outside the city.

Fancy staying nearby? Our beautiful Milsom Retreat apartment is just a short stroll from the Elves Swapshop, and sleeps up to four people. It even comes with its own parking space. Or you can check out the rest of our fabulous Bath city centre apartments, perfect for a festive weekend in the city.