London retro game shops

[Thebigman1106]

Hi guys,
I'm visiting London, the first week in December.

Is there any retro games shops in London that anyone recommends?

I'm particularly interested in nes, SNES, N64 n PS2. (Don't think we can class the PS3 as retro yet!)

Thanks

 

[Windjammer]

Not to my knowledge I'm afraid. Last ones I knew of (retro game base and the one just off Goodge Street) closed some years back...

I'd be happy to be told I'm wrong though!

Edit - You could trawl the many CeX stores for over priced NES, SNES and N64 games. They often stock loads of PS3 games if that's your bag.

 

[Thebigman1106]

Yeah, not keen on cex....last time I checked they wanted £50 for n64 majoas mask cart only.

Thanks for your reply , will stick to the Lego store!

 

[Windjammer]

It always amazes me there isn't one.

Although I would recommend here http://geocities.fourquartersbar.co.uk/welcome-peckham/ for a great bar-cade with a console room upstairs if you are determined to scratch your retro itch! When I went there they setup 10 player Saturn Bomberman for us!

 

[PopetherevXXVIII]

What is the UK scene like anyway? I have a buddy over there and he's not the best barometer of the whole of the UK retro scene.

I'm semi interested in getting a microcomputer and a crap ton of games as I understand nobody really collects for them.

 

[Windjammer]

There is definitely a growing trendy/hipster scene with barcades and retro gaming bars cropping up in bigger cities.

In terms of collecting the independent high street shops have been decimated by ebay/online etc. There are a few speciality stores around but they (in my experience) rarely compete with Ebay on prices. I generally have more luck trawling weekly markets, antique/collectable fairs or car boot sales. There are a number of larger conventions too but I've yet to attend one.

I've recently acquired a Spectrum and C64 but to be honest I have little to no nostalgia around the platforms; the loading times, sometimes amateurish code and clunky controls really kill my enjoyment. Although there are literally hundreds of tapes out there to find so could be fun for collecting.

 

[Jackhammer]

I Don't know of any retro shops in London, but for anyone local, there's a retro shop based in Bradford worth a look.