# Any geek/gadget shops in London? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 29, 2009, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-geek-gadget-shops-in-london/504658 "2009-07-29T11:57:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zerc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/82dd89/32.png) [@Zerc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zerc)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-geek-gadget-shops-in-london/504658/1 "2009-07-29T11:57:37Z")
I will be spending a week in London in two weeks time and while I am there I want to use the opportunity to do some shopping. Does anybody know of any shops in central London that sell geek toys and electronic gadgets? Something like [http://www.thinkgeek.com](http://www.thinkgeek.com) but a physical shop. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-geek-gadget-shops-in-london/504658/2 "2009-07-29T12:31:40Z")
Forbidden Planet comes to mind, although that’s more sci-fi books/movies than gadgets. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-geek-gadget-shops-in-london/504658/3 "2009-07-29T13:15:08Z")
There’s a chain called The Gadget Shop in malls across the land ([http://www.astrojax.co.uk/gadget.htm](http://www.astrojax.co.uk/gadget.htm)). Although strangely their own website doesn’t seem to mention bricks & mortar stores. Maybe they’ve gone online-only? Their stuff is a bit downmarket of Thinkgeek, judging from your link. ---
**Author:** ![Zerc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/82dd89/32.png) [@Zerc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zerc)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-geek-gadget-shops-in-london/504658/4 "2009-07-29T14:05:14Z")
The Gadget Shop may be useful, some of the stuff they have appears to be identical to what’s offered by ThinkGeek. I see there’s one by Covent Garden, I’ll have a look when I’m there. Strangely enough there’s a shop called The Gadget Shop here in South Africa but they’re pretty small and don’t have much of a selection. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-geek-gadget-shops-in-london/504658/5 "2009-07-29T14:53:09Z")
Try the museum shops at the [Science Museum](http://www.sciencemuseumstore.com/)and the [Museum of Natural History](http://www.nhmshop.co.uk/). Awesome! Both museums are right next to each other and admission is free. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-geek-gadget-shops-in-london/504658/6 "2009-07-29T23:55:35Z")
[Playlounge](http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/area/central/shopping-central/playlounge) on Carnaby Street is (I think) exactly the sort of thing you’re after, but don’t expect it to be cheap. Oh and the [Apple Store](http://www.qype.co.uk/place/42854-Apple-Store-London) is on Regent Street, just nearby. Second the Science Museum recommendation also, there’s some great stuff in there. And the museum’s pretty good, too. 🙂 There are some great design shops between Covent Garden and Leicester Square - [Magma](http://www.urbanpath.com/london/books/magma.htm) is an example, although that’s more books than anything else. Has a selection of nifty t-shirts and vinyl toys though; not quite what you describe, but in a similar sort of vein. Forbidden Planet is right near there as well. Just north of there are a lot of electronics shops on Tottenham Court Road, which is at the east end of Oxford Street. They’re more for consumer electronics than geek type gadgets though, and while the occasional thing is cheap, it’s not exactly a bargain-hunter’s paradise. Don’t take this as a recommendation to go to Oxford Street, either, it’s absolutely horrific. Avoid like the plague, unless “being jostled” is your idea of fun times. Agreed also with **Ximeanan** , Gadget Shops are more towards the end of cheap presenty tat. They have the occasional nifty thing, but mostly just stuff for flustered aunts to buy as Christmas presents. Anyway, enjoy. Hopefully it’ll have stopped bucketing with rain by the time you arrive. ---
**Author:** ![Zerc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/82dd89/32.png) [@Zerc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zerc)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-geek-gadget-shops-in-london/504658/7 "2009-07-30T06:37:59Z")
Thanks for the info. I am a bit concerned about the rain but at least it looks like there are occasional sunny spells.