A local’s guide to the best nerdy places in London, from giant comic book stores and secret anime restaurants to immersive wizarding afternoon teas!
It’s no secret I love crafting quirky, highly-themed itineraries for you guys to discover the city from every possible angle.
In the past, I’ve shared a beautifully quiet bookish itinerary in London and even taken you through my favorite spots for a decadent chocolate itinerary, but today, we are going to dive into something completely different.
If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with history, old cobbled streets, and discovering the most peaceful secret gardens in the city.
But sometimes, you just want to let your inner child out to play, embrace the pop-culture madness, and dive headfirst into your favorite fictional worlds.
I have had this nerdy London itinerary in the works for quite some time, and it is finally here!
Nerdy Places in London: 7 Quirky Spots for Geeks
London is incredibly famous for its elegant, historic landmarks, but it is also an absolute playground for geeks, otakus, and movie lovers.
Whether you want to hunt for rare manga, step onto the set of a magical film, or sip a potion in a hidden basement, the city has you covered.
If you are a huge cinema fan, you might also want to pair today’s adventure with my movie itinerary to really maximize your pop culture experience in the capital.
For now, grab your wands and sonic screwdrivers, because we are off to discover the best nerdy places in London!
Nerdy Places in London: Forbidden Planet, Shaftesbury Avenue
If you’re going to start your nerdy day out in London anywhere, make it Forbidden Planet.
Located right on Shaftesbury Avenue in Covent Garden, this megastore is an absolute institution and a must-visit for anyone remotely interested in pop culture.
I warn you right now: the sheer volume of merchandise inside is mind-blowing ; it’s the kind of place where you could easily spend hours (and way too much money) just browsing.
What’s really interesting is their massive Doctor Who section : they have everything from the numbered Diamond collection postcards featuring New Series doctors, to t-shirts featuring the Meep, Donna Noble, and classic monsters like the Mara and the K1 Robot.
They also boast an incredible selection of Star Wars, Star Trek, and Lord of the Rings books, alongside huge racks of graphic novels that frequently go on sale.
Nerdy Places in London: Gosh! Comics, Soho
After the intense sensory overload of the megastore, let’s take a short walk deeper into Soho to Berwick Street, where you will find Gosh! Comics.
This is one of my favorite independent comic book shops in London, offering a much more curated, indie, and intimate vibe.
Gosh! Comics is fantastic because they are so deeply involved with their community. They frequently host artist signings and amazing events like Free Comic Book Day, where they hand out blind bags of free comics with your purchases.
They even host kids’ drawing workshops with legendary creators from the Beano and 2000AD.
If you are a local or staying in the city for a while, they also host a fantastic monthly comic reading group called “Reads” on Wednesday evenings.
The shop actually closes its doors to the general public to welcome the group in for a friendly discussion over a chosen graphic novel, exactly the kind of welcoming, local spot you want to support.
Nerdy Places in London: The House of Minalima, Soho
While we are still wandering around the vibrant streets of Soho, we absolutely have to stop at The House of Minalima on Wardour Street.
If you love the magical world of JK Rowling, this is unequivocally the most beautiful Harry Potter shop London has to offer.
Minalima is the creative brainchild of Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, the two brilliant artists who met on the set of The Chamber of Secrets and designed all the graphic props for the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.
Their four-story townhouse is part boutique, part gallery, and part creative studio, set inside a building that actually used to be a luthier’s workshop.
The first-floor gallery is intentionally kept with subdued lighting to create an incredibly immersive, mysterious atmosphere that allows you to marvel at the artwork.
As you wander between the floors, keep your eyes peeled, because you will actually spot genuine movie props on loan from Warner Bros. Studios scattered among the displays.
It’s open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it is the perfect spot to pick up a replica wand, a quirky poster, or a gorgeously illustrated notebook.
Nerdy Places in London: Platform 9 3/4, King’s Cross
Of course, no wizarding tour of London would be complete without visiting the legendary Platform 9 3/4.
Located in King’s Cross Station, near platforms 9 and 10, you’ll find a luggage cart half-way embedded into a brick wall, creating the perfect photo op.
Here is a great insider tip: the photo spot is completely free to visit and take your own photos, and it is open 24/7 as long as the station is open.
However, I highly recommend visiting between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.. During these hours, the staff provide house scarves for you to borrow, and they actually have a “magic maker” behind the scenes who will do a countdown and throw the scarf perfectly in the air so it looks like you are flying through the barrier.
Yes, you might have to wait in line for about 20 minutes, but everyone is so caught up in the magic and the staff make it so fun that the wait flies by.
Plus, there is an adorable shop right next to the cart where you can buy the professional photo they take of you, or just load up on mugs, wands, and stuffed animals.
Nerdy Places in London: Earl’s Court Police Box (Tardis)
Let’s switch fandoms for a second ; if you grew up hiding behind the sofa from Daleks, you definitely need to make a quick trip to visit the Earl’s Court Police Box.
Right in London, sitting perfectly unbothered, is a life-sized blue police public call box, an exact replica of the Doctor’s Tardis.
Finding a piece of sci-fi history just blending into everyday London life is one of the most unusual sights in the city, and it makes for a fantastic, quick photo spot before we head back to the center for some food.
Nerdy Places in London: Cutter and Squidge Potion Room, Soho
Walking around the city hunting down movie locations works up a serious appetite.
For this itinerary, we are heading to 20 Brewer Street in Soho to visit Cutter & Squidge. While the ground floor looks like a lovely cake shop, the magic truly happens down in the basement.
They have completely transformed the lower level into a wizarding school classroom for their immersive Potion Room Afternoon Tea.
When you arrive, you hang up your coat and slip into a black wizard’s gown before taking your seat at a wooden school desk lined with test tubes, chemistry beakers, a pestle and mortar, and a mini cauldron.
The afternoon tea itself is fantastic and all-natural; they serve cheese ploughman’s and roast dinner sandwiches, miniature Yorkshire puddings with roast beef, and warm rock cakes with clotted cream and jam.
Nerdy Places in London: Uzumaki Anime Cafe, Central London
Finally, to cap off this incredibly nerdy day, we are heading to Uzumaki London, an immersive anime-themed Japanese restaurant right in Central London.
If you have ever binged episodes of Naruto and physically couldn’t function until you got your hands on a massive, steaming bowl of ramen, this is your spot.
The goal of Uzumaki is to bring the iconic food from your favorite animes to life, serving up delicious ramen, Japanese sides, and bubble tea.
The walls are completely splashed with vibrant anime art, making the whole place feel alive, creative, and incredibly unique. The staff is famously kind and welcoming ; servers are known to go out of their way to make visitors feel special, even giving out surprise little desserts.
Nerdy Places in London: 7 Quirky Spots for Geeks
There you have it, a completely different side of the city to explore!
Whether you were looking for rare comics or just wanted to sip bubble tea in an anime wonderland, I hope you found some amazing new additions for your bucket list.
London is packed with hidden gems, and I truly believe that the best way to experience the city is to mix the classic, posh history with these super fun, offbeat adventures!