20 BEST Nerdy Things to Do in London from a Local

1. Go on a Bookstore Tour

There are incredible bookstores in London that aren’t Waterstones (okay, Waterstones is great, too, especially the massive Piccadilly store). Shop independent at the Southbank Centre Book Market, cozy and Instagram-worthy Daunt Books, and beautiful (tech-free) literary hub Libreria.

Daunt Books

Hatchard’s is one of the most iconic bookstores in London and has been since 1797. You can even visit the smallest bookstore in London – Words on the Water – which floats on a canal boat near King’s Cross.

There are so many incredible bookstores to choose from, you can add to your library while wandering beautiful London neighborhoods and seeing epic London landmarks.

2. Solve the Best London Escape Rooms

In a huge city like London, you have a lot of escape rooms to choose from. They range from a terribly cobbled-together arrangement of locked boxes, to fully immersive experiences with great actors and puzzles. Do your research before you book so you’re not disappointed with a less-than-great room.

We’ve done most of the quality London escape rooms, and our favorites are: ClueQuest Origenes, Clue Quest Revenge of the Sheep, and Escape Plan: Battle for Britain. You can’t go wrong with these three!

3. Find Your Way Through the Crystal Maze

Crystal Maze is based on a 90s game show, and it’s like one very detailed, giant, immersive escape room. It’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever done in London!

Work your way through four adventure zones with your team, solving puzzles both physical and mental along the way. The sets are incredible – it really feels like you are in the middle of an Indiana Jones movie. I won’t give anything else away but suffice to say it’s an adventure you’ll never forget.

My most important tip is this: bring your own team of up to 8 players. If you don’t, you may get stuck with a group of strangers, and it’s best to play with people you know well who have different strengths. If you’re highly competitive, it’s best to create your own group.

4. Pick Up a New Game at the Orc’s Nest

Pick up a new game at the Orc’s Nest, one of the nerdiest shops in London dedicated to games, games, games. They have everything from popular Settlers of Catan to more obscure and just-released editions of epic table play.

The staff are experts at all things board games, and the shop also hosts several clubs where you can make friends and play your favorites.

5. Shop for Manga and Merch at Forbidden Planet

This place is a nerd and geek heaven. The Covent Garden megastore carries oodles of toys, books, games, merch, clothing, collectibles, manga, and more. It’s the largest comic book and pop culture store in the UK.
 

Covent Garden

You can easily spend two hours here browsing the neverending selection of graphic novels, action figures, collectibles, and merchandise from all corners of fandom. If you’re looking for a unique London souvenir, you can’t go wrong with Forbidden Planet.

6. Experience the Magic of Magic Circle

One of the best things to do in London for nerds? A magic show, of course!

One of the oldest magic societies in the world, the Magic Circle counts some pretty famous names in its membership (including the King!). Based in a historic building in Euston with mind-bending spiral staircases, going to an event here is unforgettable.

Check the schedule for regular magic shows, events, and talks by world-famous magicians.

The building itself is worth visiting for its grand maze of rooms and historic magic artifacts like Houdini’s straight jacket.

7. Hunt for Blue (or Green!) Plaques

London is full of hidden history, but the Blue Plaque scheme brings this history back to life. Buildings, where a famous person lived or worked, are marked with a blue (sometimes green) plaque. Historic places where significant things happened (like where the first flying bomb of WWII fell) are also marked.

I love exploring these on my London walks – it’s so amazing to see the past come alive. If you’re interested in a particular person or place, they probably have a plaque you can look up.

8. Test Your Knowledge with a Pub Quiz

Pub quizzes are serious business in London and the UK, and chances are your local pub has a quiz night (usually Thursdays).

It works like this: you and your team pay an entry fee to the quiz host and grab a table. Sometimes the pub will have a minimum order, but don’t worry – you can order food and soft drinks if you don’t drink booze!

The quiz begins and phones are strictly banned. The winning team wins money (sums vary), and sometimes 2nd and 3rd place get prizes, too.

Many teams are regulars and full-up weekly, so bring your own team if you want the best chance at winning.

My biggest tip? Try to have a UK native on your team as the Premier League and UK-specific trivia is really tricky for non-natives!

9. Take a (Nerdy) Guided Walking Tour

London tour guides are experts in their fields, and how better to explore your interests than with a guided walk? You can find guided walks for everything from Harry Potter to Parliament.

Some of my favorites are:

• The Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour: See the locations from the BBC show, plus all the places that inspired Conan Doyle with the original books.
• The Beatles Walking Tour: see all the iconic locations of the ‘Fab 4’ in London.
• Churchill War Rooms Guided Walk: go behind the scenes at Churchill’s iconic bunker where he directed Allied forces during WWII.
• After Hours Tower of London Tour: go behind the scenes with a Beefeater at closing time at the incredible Tower of London.

10. Explore Hidden London

Nerdy stuff to do in London for transport geeks? Go on a Hidden London Tour.

Inside the London tube

Explore the underground that no one else gets to see, and learn the secrets of our massive tube system. You’ll see abandoned stations, hidden tunnels, and go behind the scenes at iconic tube stations.

11. Go on a Comic Book & Manga Store Tour

Nerdy places in London? Comic bookstores and Manga shops are some of the best.

For traditional comics, Try Mega City Comics in Camden Town, which sells new releases and back issues. Or get your fix at Gosh! Comics in Soho, which has everything from manga to mainstream comics and graphic novels.

For the best manga London has to offer, go to Japan Craft Mega Anime & Manga Store in Camden Town. This is by far one of the best manga shops in London, except for Forbidden Planet, which gets its own entry on this list!

12. Go on an Immersive Theatre Walk

There are tons of immersive theatres in London for every interest. My favorite is Herstorical Tours, which run theatrical history walks through the streets of London.

You’ll learn the feminist history of the Capital, how women shaped crime and punishment, hear incredible stories of witchcraft and persecution, and so much more.

No one else in London gives history tours that focus on the feminist perspective, which is part of what makes Herstorical Tours so cool and unique. Plus, they’re super affordable, and end with a pint at a pub!

13. Take Yourself on a Marvel Filming Locations Tour

The obvious filming location tour in London is the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour. But what you may not know is that London was used in several Avengers and other MCU films.

Moon Knight was mostly filmed in London and includes some iconic locations like the British Museum, but there’s a plethora of other MCU shooting locations in the capital you can visit, too!

14. Discover Historic Artefacts at a Free Museum

The best museums in London are totally free, and there’s so much for us history nerds to enjoy. From the iconic British Museum to the extensive Natural History galleries, you could visit only museums in London and never run out of incredible things to see.
 

Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall

My favorites are:

• The Egyptian Rooms at the British Museum.
• Part of Alan Turing’s original Colossus at the Science Museum (which helped crack the German Enigma in WWII).
• The Secret War gallery at the Imperial War Museum, which showcases real artefacts from covert intelligence operations throughout British history.
• Darwin’s Dodo skeleton at the Natural History Museum.

15. Find a Niche Museum

Interested in dark history, music, psychiatry, engineering, or…basically anything else? There’s a niche museum in London for you.
 

The Old Operating Theatre

London has an endless supply of quirky, unusual, and unique museums, and chances are if you’re interested in a certain subject, there’s a museum dedicated to it here. If you’re looking for something different and off the beaten path, there are really great non-touristy museums everywhere.

My personal favorites are:

• The Old Operating Theatre
• The Freud Museum
• The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities
• The Jack the Ripper Museum
• Royal Academy of Music Museum

16. Pick up Pokemon at a Park

London is a great place to play Pokemon Go. The best places we’ve found are parks and cemeteries – anywhere where there is a bit of open space.

Pokemon Go graves

Take the opportunity to wander London’s incredible Regent’s Park, Hyde Park, or any of the “Magnificent Seven” Cemeteries. I’ve had some of my best gameplay in graveyards, which always have a good amount of gyms and Pokestops.

Make your way to any “notable” graves: there is usually a surprise waiting for you there.

17. Time Travel With Dr. Who

So many iconic episodes of Dr. Who were filmed in London, and you can see them either on a self-guided tour or with a tour guide.

Don’t forget to visit the Tardis right outside Earl’s Court tube station for a great photo op.

18. Stand in Two Hemispheres at Once

View from the Royal Observatory Greenwich

Make your way to beautiful Greenwich across the Thames, and you can stand in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres at once! The Prime Meridian runs right through Greenwich near the Royal Observatory. Straddle the line and take an epic photo.

While you’re there, don’t forget to explore the Royal Museums Greenwich collection which includes the Royal Observatory, The Cutty Sark, The National Maritime Museum, and Queen’s House.

19. Geek Out at the British Library

The British Library isn’t just a library – it’s also a free museum. The Treasures of the British Library gallery contains artefacts of huge literary significance.

See Jane Austen’s desk, original manuscripts from literary greats like Shakespeare and the Brontë sisters, DaVinci’s notebooks, original religious texts, and so much more.

20. Find Movie Magic at BFI Southbank

Film nerds will find nirvana at the BFI Southbank. Attend screenings of classic and cult movies, engage in discussions, and explore the extensive film archive—a cinephile’s dream come true.

They also show current releases and have epic film premieres, so if you just want to catch the latest MCU film, you can do that here, too!

Final Thought on the Geeky Things to Do in London

London is a playground for nerds, where the realms of fantasy, science, history, and culture all converge. Whatever you’re into, you can find incredible places here that will satisfy every interest.

I love living here because there is something for everyone, and my whole family can find new and different things to do that they love.

I hope you’ve found your next adventure here, and can add some of these to your London to-do list. Enjoy nerding out in London!

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