London trip

[boone]

Heya lads.

Heading to London in less then a month, was wondering if any of you guys have any markets, retro stores and other computery places to recommend? I love browsing through vintage computing and console stuff, and have never been to London before

 

[fitzsteve]

r0jaws came down to London recently but I don't think he found any retr0 stores

I can tell you about the must see sights and a few good places to eat and drink but we really just have the usual Game Station/Game stores here.

There are Markets, Petty Coat Lane for example but its mostly leather jackets, mobile phones and hand bags lol.

Anyway there's lots to see and do in this great city, I'm sure you'll have an awesome time.

Steve.

 

[r0jaws]

As Steve mentioned I was there a couple of weeks back and kept my eye open for any sort of retro goodness.
Petticoat lane is a market in the sense that it is all clothes and mobile phone cases. We went on the off chance that there maybe a flea market but was disappointed.
Camden Market (North of the water) maybe worth a look, but it is more art/ antiques/ flea market.
Forbidden planet is worth a look if you like your comic/ sci-fi, but the Trocadero centre (which used to be a bit if a gaming haven), is pretty disappointing although there is some Manga style Japanese collectable shops and some 3D experiences.
Soho has some interesting shops (as well as the obvious), but you'll have to have a good look about to find them.
TBH I was expecting more from the big smoke, but then my search was not exhaustive as I did have my understanding wife in trail, and we were there to look for other things too.
If you find anywhere, let us know.

 

[boone]

(Un)fortunately I'll be having the missus with me aswell, so there probably won't be an extensive search from my side either heh. But if I come across some hidden backstreet store I'll holler

 

[tokyoracer]

London streets are pretty upmarket and there is just no call for it (unless you go to the streets that are probably still on fire and even then there probably isn't the market for it).

 

[alexh]

Computer Exchange on Rathbone place is the only retroplace left and that has gone down hill so much. Nothing before PS2 really.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rat...code_result&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ8gEwAQ

 

[BrooksterMax]

I have always wanted to visit here

http://www.ravengames.co.uk/

But I don't anything about it - fitzsteve this seems near you - do you know it?

 

[fitzsteve]

I have always wanted to visit here

http://www.ravengames.co.uk/

But I don't anything about it - fitzsteve this seems near you - do you know it?

Wow, never heard of that place but I'll be dropping in there some time

 

[BrooksterMax]

I have always wanted to visit here

http://www.ravengames.co.uk/

But I don't anything about it - fitzsteve this seems near you - do you know it?

Wow, never heard of that place but I'll be dropping in there some time

Look forward to hearing what it is like - I found them years ago because they sold a Supergun which I wanted for my Neo Geo MVS. However I got a Supergun cheaper from a French company.

There must be lots of retro stores in London - population 8 million! There must be some retro-nutters there! I usually find in cities you have to go to the outskirts and smaller streets in suburbs to find such shops.

In Norwich, Magdalen street well away from the city centre has lots of retro goodness with DVD shops/music shops/cash converters etc. etc.

 

[Harrison]

That place does look interesting. They even do repairs.

There used to be a secondhand electronics store just down the road from the British Museum but that was a few years ago, so I don't know if it is still there. Used to be an Aladdin cave of cool vintage hardware.

If you decided to venture outside of London and head for the south coast, there is a great secondhand store in Brighton down the lanes. It is run like one big second hand store, but each small section within is actually different traders. There are usually loads of different consoles, games, retro and vintage stuff in there. Loads of Gamecubes last time I went, starting at £2. And I spotted Gamegears, Megadrives, SNES and a fair few other systems, and loads of games. I must admit I was more interested in looking through the extensive vintage Star Wars figures and stuff than in the retro gaming stuff though. Sadly I never remember the name of it. There is an artists gallery upstairs if anyone else knows where I mean.

 

[SpodSpod]

I have always wanted to visit here

http://www.ravengames.co.uk/

But I don't anything about it - fitzsteve this seems near you - do you know it?

I'm not fitzsteve, but I've been there many times in the past when I lived down the road. Nice shop and staff, but a bit pricey - although a great selection of pc engine stuff (or did have). Raven always used to get a mention in magazines (thanks to Raven Games for supplying the import copy...) such as CVG (IIRC). They have been heavily into the import scene for donkeys years.

The shop is actually tiny though, but worth dropping in if you're in the area. Haven't been there for three years+ though. In fact the last time I remember going there they had a Soul Edge cab - so it could be longer than I thought!

 

[r0jaws]

.... there is a great secondhand store in Brighton down the lanes. It is run like one big second hand store, but each small section within is actually different traders. There are usually loads of different consoles, games, retro and vintage stuff in there. Loads of Gamecubes last time I went, starting at £2. And I spotted Gamegears, Megadrives, SNES and a fair few other systems, and loads of games. I must admit I was more interested in looking through the extensive vintage Star Wars figures and stuff than in the retro gaming stuff though. Sadly I never remember the name of it. There is an artists gallery upstairs if anyone else knows where I mean.

I do know where you mean, I've been there a couple of times myself. There are quite a few good nick nack and junk shops in that area that have a surprising variety of gear. Well worth a rummage if you're in the area.