London's best spots for Sci-Fi fans

Pants on the outside please...

You think of Sci-Fi fans and you think of speccy dweebs running around conventions in capes with some sort of plastic weapon that makes an annoying noise.

Well, that's damn right, that's exactly who we are!

You don't need to go to a galaxy far, far away to get your sci-fi kicks - there are plenty right here in London.

From shops to attractions and cinemas, we've picked out our favourite spots to get our Sci-Fi freak on.

The Shard image
The Shard
32 London Bridge Street SE1 2TH
London Bridge 0.21 miles
Landmarks
Opening Times
Photos

Whether you think The Shard is a symbol of the destruction of London’s heritage or a leap into an affluent, high-tech future, there’s no doubt its construction is a feat of engineering. The tallest building in western Europe is energy-efficient thanks to a glass façade that lets in natural heat and light; it has double decker lifts and car parking spaces that disappear into the ground. Will we all live in vertical cities one day?

Tower Gateway Docklands Light Railway Station image
Tower Gateway Docklands Light Railway Station
Minories E1 8AT
Tower Gateway 0.07 miles
DLR Stations

A train with no driver? Really? Ok, you probably already knew that the DLR is automated, but we still feel the elation of a child when we manage to nab a seat at the front and pretend we’re steering the train over the Thames. Plus the further down the DLR line you get, the more apocalyptic the scenery.

Science Museum image
Science Museum
Exhibition Road, South Kensington SW7 2DD
South Kensington 0.25 miles
Museums
Photos

Anyone with an interest in space, creepy-crawlies, medicine and technology will find heaps of interesting stuff at the Science Museum. Watch 3D films at their very own IMAX cinema, and they even have an RAF jet simulator so you can pretend you’re manoeuvring acrobatics in the skies.

Forbidden Planet image
Forbidden Planet
179 Shaftesbury Avenue WC2H 8JR
Comics Bookshops
Opening Times
Photos

Many know this legendary store as a comic book shop, but it also stocks signed books, posters, T-shirts and toys from franchises like Star Wars and Dr Who. Collectors will find shiny Clone Troopers and Avengers action figures here.

BFI London IMAX Cinema image
BFI London IMAX Cinema
1 Charlie Chaplin Walk SE1 8XR
Waterloo 0.13 miles
Cinemas

For some the only way to watch science fiction movies is in 3D. The BFI IMAX in Waterloo has the largest screen in Britain with a whopping 20 metres high by 26 metres wide. A word of advice: don’t sit too near the front or you’ll end up with neck-ache.

The Cinema Store image
The Cinema Store
Upper St. Martin's Lane WC2H 9NY
Leicester Square 0.08 miles
Collectors Items & Memorabilia
Opening Times

This fantastic book shop sells memorabilia, autographs, hard-to-find DVDs and books, focusing on horror, sci-fi and action movies. Basically, it has everything for the hardcore fan.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter image
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter
Aerodrome Way, Leavesden, Watford, Hertfordshire WD25 7LS
Watford Junction 2.28 miles
Visitor Attractions
Photos

Harry Potter fans are in luck as the studios where all eight films were made are open to the public. Guided tours show you the original sets, models of Hogwarts Castle and the fantastic animatronics used for the goblins and other magical creatures.

Royal Observatory Greenwich image
Royal Observatory Greenwich
Blackheath Avenue, Greenwich SE10 8XJ
Maze Hill 0.40 miles
Visitor Attractions
Photos

The planetarium, the Greenwich Meridian Line and a huge telescope with a 28 inch lens are all here for your perusal. But before you start looking for the stars, take some time to admire the architecture – the dome that houses the telescope has been compared to both an onion and the Taj Mahal.

ScifiCollector image
ScifiCollector
79 Strand WC2R 0DE
Embankment 0.19 miles
Collectors Items & Memorabilia
Opening Times

For limited edition collectables and unusual items like stamp covers, games and even bedding, head to Scificollector on the Strand. It’s the perfect shop for the serious collector willing to spend a little more.