34 Posts
BoardGameGeek» Forums » Game Groups » Europe » England
Subject: Boardgame stores in London ? 
| Your Tags: | Add tags |
| Popular Tags: | [View All] |
-
Hi guys,
I'm visiting London next week, and was wondering if any of you local heroes could point me in the direction of some stores that sell boardgames... ?
Cheers,
Hans
http://boardgamemaniac.blogspot.com/
- [+] Dice rolls
-
If you can stand a small trip out of the centre then I would suggest Leisure games on Ballards lane in Finchley.
http://www.leisuregames.com/acatalog/ContactUs.html
which will give you a map.
In the centre of town Playin' games on Museum street used to be the best shop but went downhill badly a while ago when they had a complete change of staff/management. Stock levels were terrible. This may well have improved significantly since then.
-
- Last edited Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:55 pm (Total Number of Edits: 1)
- Posted Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:23 pm
- [+] Dice rolls
-
ProfT wrote:I would suggest Leisure games on Ballards land in Finchley.Just for our readers' benefit Prof T meant Ballards Lane (but the map would have showed it). Turn right when you've walked up the drive way from Finchley Central Station on the Northern Line, it's on the same side of the lane.
Every time I've gone there (not many, it takes me a while from where I live), they've let me come to BGG to check out games and stuff. They're really helpful guys and of course they play games.
- [+] Dice rolls
-
ProfT wrote:I would suggest Leisure games on Ballards land in Finchley.D'oh! Fat fingers strike again - edited.
- [+] Dice rolls
-
There is also Compendium in Greenwich
http://www.compendia.co.uk
They have quite a few more traditional games.
- [+] Dice rolls
- Soren Vejrum(vejrum)United Kingdom
Richmond
Surrey
London On Board - the largest semi-organised group of boardgaming dicks in the known universe.
London On Board - the largest semi-organised group of boardgaming dicks in the known universe.
-
You may also want to consider ordering online from www.boardgameguru.co.uk and pickup the games from a London On Board games meetup (www.meetup.com/LondonOnBoard/) where the owner of www.boardgameguru.co.uk, Paul Lister, is the current organiser.
- [+] Dice rolls
-
Dear friends,
I am visiting London next week for my first time.
Since my friends and Internet gave me enough information, where to go and what to see in London, I am also planing to visit some boardgame stores (and buy some games of course
) Can you please help me here? Please be so kind and give me name, location and easiest way to find them (from city center).
Thanks guys, greetings from Slovenia.
- [+] Dice rolls
- The orc's nest as mentioned in the first reply to the original post is AMAZING. They have a really nice collection of wargames, and a good collection of other games too.
-
- Last edited Tue Mar 2, 2010 9:52 am (Total Number of Edits: 1)
- Posted Tue Mar 2, 2010 9:51 am
- [+] Dice rolls
-
The three that are mentioned earlier Orc's Nest etc are pretty much in the centre. Orc's Nest is extremely close to Leicester Square tube station (their map is pretty good). You want to be heading out on the Charing Cross East exit of the tube station, turn right and Earlham Street is on your right. Look for the Palace Theatre and Marquis of Granby pub.
Museum Games is right near the British Museum - you won't need directions for that. Forbidden Planet is on Shaftesbury Avenue which is in between them. If you get a google map you will see it. It has a junction with Charing Cross Road (the road you go on when you exit Leicester Square tube station).
Leisure Games was described above. It is a tube journey to Finchley Central which is on the Northern Line (takes about 20-25 minutes) and a couple of minutes walk along a straight road.
- [+] Dice rolls
-
I find the Orcs nest to be expensive, and not very friendly unless you are into your mini's games.
Leisure games have a lot more games and friendly service.
Playin' games are probably the most expensive.
I would second www.boardgameguru.co.uk as a great place to buy games, and collect them from the London On Board meetup near St Pauls. (and you will save 20%+ on the above stores pricing)
-
- Last edited Tue Mar 2, 2010 10:06 am (Total Number of Edits: 2)
- Posted Tue Mar 2, 2010 10:03 am
- [+] Dice rolls
-
jond wrote:I find the Orcs nest to be expensive, and not very friendly unless you are into your mini's games.These are all true facts. Especially the unfriendliness of Orcs Nest.
Leisure games have a lot more games and friendly service.
Playin' games are probably the most expensive.
Forbidden Planet, on Shaftsbury has a decent selection of games too.
- [+] Dice rolls
-
Yet to get a simple hello, or good morning from anyone at Orc's Nest
- [+] Dice rolls
-
jond wrote:Yet to get a simple hello, or good morning from anyone at Orc's NestBack in the days before i sold boardgames i used to buy about one game a week from Orcs Nest. Not once did i get a 'Good Morning' or a 'Thank you' - but they would get up from painting a miniature to take my payment for a boardgame. The final straw was when i asked for advice about different editions of a game,'Dunno' the answer , my follow up request for news on a new release was met with the same answer. That was the last time i visited. Having related this story to other gamers i have been told they are nice guys once you get to know them.
There could not be a greater contrast with Leisure games in Finchley where the staff are friendly, knowledgeable and make the customer feel very welcome.
If you are visiting London the 20 Minutes journey on the Northern Line is worth it to visit Leisure Games - their range is five times as large as Orcs Nest and Playing Games combined. But most importantly you will be made to feel welcome.
- [+] Dice rolls
-
Very much another vote for Leisure Games. They're my default localish online store and were well worth a visit when I found myself in London for a couple of days. The trip north isn't that far
B>
- [+] Dice rolls
-
Umm, do nobody except me have a good exprience from Orcs Nest. They certanly was a lot nicer than any boardgame store I been too in Sweden. I never was to Leisure games though. (I was just in London for 3 or 4 days).
They where nice, happy, friendly, and helping with unrelated turism issues (;
(Although I did end up not going to Camden but giving up and useing money on some touristy travel card)
- [+] Dice rolls
-
Thanks guys for your help.
I visited all three stores in London (Orcs Nest, Forbidden Planet, Playin' Games) and to be honest with you, I was disapointed. Expensive games, and totaly boring offer of games...
- [+] Dice rolls
- Go to Paddington, get the fast train to Reading (about 30 mins)-exit station, cross over the road step into Eclectic Games and you will be in heaven.
- [+] Dice rolls
-
Frasergrant wrote:Go to Paddington, get the fast train to Reading (about 30 mins)-exit station, cross over the road step into Eclectic Games and you will be in heaven.Yes another vote for Eclectic Games. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff.
- [+] Dice rolls
-
piki wrote:Thanks guys for your help.Agreed - you should have visited Leisure Games - 15 minutes on the Northen line to Finchley.
I visited all three stores in London (Orcs Nest, Forbidden Planet, Playin' Games) and to be honest with you, I was disapointed. Expensive games, and totaly boring offer of games...
- [+] Dice rolls
-
I used to know the guys in Orc's Nest, they are Ok once you get to know them, but they are interested in MTG and Miniatures, not board games. They sell the Minatures and card games downstairs with all the board games on the upper level. On the plus side you are left to your own devices, you can spend hours checking out the games. They are Huddersfield Town supporters - its not a happy life.
To find Orcs Nest go up Charing Cross Road (with all the big bookshoops) until you ge to Les Misérables at the Queens Theatre on the junction with Shaftesbury Avenue. Orc's Nest is in the little street almost opposite Les Mis, slightly to the right, there are usually some market stalls line up on the street outside selling clothes, etc...
Here's a map...
http://www.orcsnest.com/shop.htm
Phil
-
- Last edited Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:26 am (Total Number of Edits: 1)
- Posted Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:25 am
- [+] Dice rolls
-
I was on a business trip a few weeks ago to London, and with the current state of the exchange rate on the GBP, I figured I would help with my share of bringing the economy back in UK by spending money (I'm a hero, I know...)
So, I thought I'd buy some boardgames with me on the way back home.
I was working out at Old Street, so I headed out of work a little early one day to take the northern line up to Leisure Games. It was a bit out of the way, but it had some really nice and friendly people there. I was looking for some sleeves for Pandemic, and some Agricola wooden markers and was decided on bringing a few other games with me back home.
I got all the help I needed, they went and fetched cards from the back to make sure I had the right size of sleeves and said when they would expect restocking of the item they were sold out of.
I think the trip time there caused me to even stay a few minutes after closing, but I never felt like they rushed me out of the store to get closed.
On the Friday, I was to head back, and finished a bit early again (not intentional this time), so I had about an hour to kill before heading out to Heathrow and decided to look into Orc's Nest on the way there.
The lady there was fairly nice, but didn't at all seem interested in answering questions more than saying that she didn't know and she was not into board games.
The sortiment is not bad in either place, but Leisure had a bigger stock of items, especially accessories.
All in all it was a good trip, and I got to go to one of the London On Board meetups as well ( http://www.meetup.com/LondonOnBoard/ ).
- [+] Dice rolls
-
I would support the comments about Leisure Games. Board games in UK generally are expensive and getting more so - although Gameslore online tend to be one of the cheaper sources.
When i've been to the Leisure Games they're always had a good stock, friendly and helpful attitude and they tend to know about the games they sell, plus they have a website.
Playin'Games had a good stock, but no website and tended to be more expensive. Orcs Nest never bothered with - poor choice and not that friendly atmosphere.
- [+] Dice rolls
- If you are willing to travel a bit there is a fantastic FLGS in Cambridge! (forgot the name) absolutely worth the trip
- [+] Dice rolls
-
PasiMax wrote:If you are willing to travel a bit there is a fantastic FLGS in Cambridge! (forgot the name) absolutely worth the tripI hear there is also an interesting store in Glasgow. Bern has a nifty one, also.
B>
- [+] Dice rolls
-
Just an update in the interests of fairness:
the girl behind the counter at Orcs Nest smiled and wished me a good morning last week
- [+] Dice rolls