Do you remember when you had to deny being a nerd, a swot of boffin at school? Well, the tables have turned. It’s now officially ‘cool’ to be a geek. And there’s no better place to unleash your inner nerd than London.
Whether you’re a bookworm, a fantasy-fiction fanatic or a sci-fi enthusiast, there’s a treat waiting for you to discover in London. The city has more museums and UNESCO sites than any other capital. Still unconvinced of London’s geek appeal? Let us change your mind.
You don’t have to be a geek to enjoy these top attractions, but it helps! Let’s take a look at some of our favourite geeky things to do in London.
The Royal Observatory
Many of us Brits believe that we invented time, and that’s not entirely incorrect. We didn’t create time itself, but we came up with Greenwich Mean Time. Want to stand on the border between the western and eastern hemispheres? Head over to the Royal Observatory.
You’ll have to walk up the hill in Greenwich Park to reach the Royal Observatory, but it’s well worth the hike. Inside, you can gaze at the stars and take a journey through space. You can also learn what latitude and longitude actually mean (does it get much geekier than that?)
The Harry Potter Studio Tour
Of all the nerdy creations that came from the UK, Harry Potter has to be one of the most famous. If you want to dive into J.K. Rowling’s world of witchcraft and wizardry, you need to try our Harry Potter Studio Tour.
The studios are just outside of London, but getting there using public transport is easy. You can explore real sets that are featured in the film, including the Forbidden Forest, Diagon Alley, and various rooms at Hogwarts. You can even quench your thirst with a pint of butterbeer.
If you’re a diehard ‘Potterhead,’ don’t forget to go to platform 9¾ at Kings Cross Station. Please don’t run full pelt at the wall, hoping to end up in a different world (you wouldn’t be the first to try).
Forbidden Planet
Forbidden Planet is London’s Mecca for comic book fans. It’s an enormous megastore that sells everything a nerd could ever want, from anime and manga to science fiction. Keep your eyes peeled for celebrity appearances and book signing events. Even if you don’t think you’re a nerd, you’ll find something that tickles your fancy in this hub of geek shopping.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum
As all Sherlockians know, 221 B Baker Street is the address of our favourite fictional private detective, Sherlock Holmes. In the real world, that address is the location of the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Here, you can read about Sherlock’s adventures, observe his lab and browse through Dr. Watson’s collection of books.
If you still haven’t had your fill of Sherlock, head next door to Speedy’s Café, which is featured in BBC’s Sherlock series. If you’re lucky, you might be able to sit at the same table as Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman did while filming.
The TARDIS
What list of geeky things to do in London would be complete without a mention of Dr Who? The blue police box outside of Earl’s Court Tube station is Dr. Who’s time machine, the TARDIS.
Even if you’re not a fellow Whovian, the police box is well worth seeing because it replicates the 1929 design. Unfortunately, you can’t go inside the TARDIS, but would you really want to risk getting lost in another dimension anyway?
To get the best out of London, take a close look at our London tours, as you’ll find the city’s most important locations on our top-class tours.
