While I absolutely love all iconic London landmarks – the Big Ben, Saint Paul’s, Tower Bridge, etc., there are many hidden gems and nerdy things to do in London if you’re a geek like me!
Table of Contents
Where to Stay in London
Budget accommodation in London
Barmy Badger Backpackers, Booking.com rating: 8.3, Price per night: 83 EUR
22 York Street, Booking.com rating: 8.1, Price per night: 99 EUR
Affordable accommodation in London closer to the city center
Curzon Street by Mansley, Booking.com rating: 8.7, Price per night: 343 EUR
Karma Sanctum Soho Hotel, Booking.com rating: 8.3, Price per night: 291 EUR
1. Harry Potter platform 9 3/4
London for nerds can’t be complete unless you visit the famous Harry Potter platform 😛 You can find this iconic place at King’s Cross station. Surprise, it’s between platforms 9 and 10 😀 But don’t rush in after the travel card readers – the “platform” and sign is courtesy of the nearby totally nerdy Harry Potter shop. They can even take your photo if you are patient enough to wait in line.
If you’re a true Harry Potter nerd, you can check out this full post about your London tour to the Warner Bros Studio – how to spend a whole day being part of the Harry Potter universe! This will definitely be on top of your nerdy things to see in London <3
2. Speedy’s Cafe
Okay, I’ll admit it. I am a HUGE Sherlock fan! Well who isn’t, really? 😛 I absolutely loved Steven Moffat’s Sherlock representation, starring Benedict Cumberbach. Speedy’s cafe is located near Euston underground station in London, and it was featured in the very first episode of Moffat’s Sherlock Holmes. They offer an amazing English breakfast and great coffee. The cafe is pretty small, so try to only bring one friend with you. There is also a bit memorabilia inside, it’s well worth a nerdy visit!
3. The Sherlock Holmes Museum
This stunning museum is the actual house 221B on Baker street! You can see the bedroom of Sherlock, as well as the famous living room <3 I would classify this as more of an experience than a museum – there is a guided tour and the staff is so incredibly nice and knowledgeable, an absolute delight. I don’t think I’ve had I love nerdy London! Go in the shop first to buy tickets and then proceed to the queue. Unlimited photos are allowed (yay!), but no touching of the items, as most of them are authentic items from the Victorian age, so between 100 and 200 years old. The house is also protected by the government, being so iconic.
4. The TARDIS
Located right outside of Earl’s Court underground station, the TARDIS is right there, waiting for you to go steal it and go on an adventure! Though it’s unlikely you’ll see the Doctor around, you should totally visit this nerdy London sight! The first time I went to see it, there was even a line of people waiting to take a photo with the TARDIS. How cool is that? Definitely proof that this is one of the best nerdy things to see in London.
5. The Who Shop
Are you are a true Whovian? Unleash your inner nerd and go to The Who Shop! Every time I go there (yes, I’m guilty of visiting a few times), I just want to buy the whole store and take it home in a truck. True, it’s on the other end of London if you’ve just been to Earl’s Court to see the TARDIS, but there you’ll meet other friendly whovians and soo much Doctor Who memorabilia. Best of all – they even have a museum! You’ll see cybermen, full-size Daleks, an incredibly scary weeping angel and some original costumes used in The Doctor Who series (even the Ood and Van Gogh!). Just ask the staff for the TARDIS key and explore around. The staff at The Who Shop are just as nerdy as me and incredibly nice, they even offer to take photos of you with the Dalek. Please remember to not touch anything, my dear nerd, (or the Daleks WILL exterminate you) and bring a proper camera, as phone cameras are not allowed inside the museum.
After you’ve seen the TARDIS and The Who Shop, you would be even more ready to take 2.5-hour Doctor Who walking tour! You will see things like the headquarters of the Great Intelligence from The Bells of Saint John and the transmitter for the Nestene Consciousness’ signal in the 2005 episode Rose!
6. Science Museum
One of my very favorite museums in London and a great attraction for nerds like me <3 The museum offers lots of different things, but my favorite part was definitely space. Too bad they didn’t have the Millennium Falcon, though 😀
7. Forbidden planet
This store is the stuff every nerd’s dreams are made of. Nope, not kidding. To be honest, I was expecting a lot less, but this store has so many items, you’ll be overwhelmed with joy – Marvel, DC, from Supernatural to Assassin’s Creed and even Rick and Morty. As a nerdy woman, this is definitely my kind of shopping experience, not shopping malls and luxury dresses. If I ever win the lottery, this would be the first place I’d visit 😀 And indeed this is a great store to visit if you’re planning on going to…
…Comic con! (Bonus!)
It has always been my dream to visit the San Diego Comic Con <3 Being so far away, though, I’ll absolutely settle for the MCM London Comic Con. I totally missed it this year, but I AM going in May 2018 year for sure. And I WILL be prepared, outfit and all. I can’t even imagine how absolutely amazing this nerdy London event is. Oh wait, I can!! 😛 Check out this video by my friend and fellow blogger Curious Pavel:
Now that you’ve seen the best nerdy things to see and do in London, how about going on a hunt for London’s most curious phone booths? 🙂
Or if you’re in the mood for a trip around London’s main attractions, check out London itinerary in 4 days by Minute by Minute Traveller! <3
30 comments
Great list! I absolutely love the Science museum. Never been to the Sherlock Museum though, thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Mattea! I really enjoyed Sherlock Museum, I think you would too 🙂
I never knew there was a Sherlock Holmes museum how cool I will definitely be visiting:)
Haha it’s not very well known indeed! The queue is not huge usually, but they do accept only a certain amount of people at a time 🙂
Great list and I have to admit to adding a couple of places to my list after reading it!
specially i would like to visit The Sherlock Holmes Museum
I am so glad you’ve enjoyed my list! There is so much to explore around London, a few days is never enough <3 I think it's super cool that the Sherlock Holmes museum is actually on 221B on Baker street, it makes it so authentic! 🙂
Oooh I visit london often and haven’t been to any of these!! Thanks for sharing. Will take hubby to the Harry Potter platform.
Hehe yes, you’d need to look specifically for these in order to find them (apart from Comic Con). And he will love the platform for sure!! Such a great experience 🙂
Getting a pic at the 9 and 3/4th is a bucket list thing for me 🙂
I didn’t know there’s a Sherlock museum, must add it to my list!
Haha I didn’t even knew the “platform” existed before my last visit to London! 😀 But I was soo pleasantly surprised 🙂
The Sherlock cafe and Museum look amazing! I wish I knew about those when I was traveling to London. Well, maybe next time.
Hehe there is always more to explore of London!! 😝💜
London is a stunning city. I have visited the more common sights in London, so it’s great to see so many great alternatives to the usual suspects on London itineraries ! The Sherlock cafe, the Forbidden planet and the Who Shop are on my bucket list now. It gives me an excuse for a return visit 🙂
Hehe there’s always an excuse to revisit London! Glad to be able to give you a few nerdy excuses, these are always the best 😛
Wow never knew about these places until now. I would love to visit Sherlock Holmes museum 🙂 whenever I am in London 🙂
Hehe it’s amazing, you will surely love it! ☺️💜
I would have loved to have seen platform 9 and 3/4. I missed it when I visited London last year. Now I know.
Hehe glad to help out 🙂 You will also love the nearby Harry Potter shop! And I’m sure you’ll get to go to London again 🙂
Love this. My man would be over the moon if we took pics outside the Tardis.
Hahaha I was absolutely over the moon, so I understand 😀 I’ve been to see the TARDIS twice and the first time there were lots of Whovians around it, it was so great!
Such a cool list!! I’ll have to add some of these to my list when I get to Europe! My son would love the Tardis!!
Aww your son is super cool, then! The TARIDS was so amazing <3 But don't miss the Who Shop either, I loved the memorabilia inside so much!
This is a fun list! I would definitely check out the Science Museum and Platform 9 3/5. Thanks for the ideas.
Thank you, Karlie! Glad you’ve enjoyed it 🙂 Science Museum was amazing, but bear in mind you’d need at least few hours for it hehe 🙂
Haha what a great list! Who knew this would all be in one city. Sadly I missed them all last time I was in London 🙁
Thank you so much, so glad you like it! It’s a pity you’ve missed these, BUT now you have a few excuses to go back 😛 <3
London is simply astonishing an picturesque and your post brought back wonderful memories, Rosie! From these all, I’ve only visited the Sherlock Holmes museum. So, I have 6 more reasons to go back to London as soon as possible. 😉
Haha aww thank you so much for your wonderful words, Agness!! I’m so so glad you’ve enjoyed this post. But don’t miss the Forbidden Planet, sooooo many geeky stuff there that you can bring home with you <3
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