FORBIDDEN PLANET
71-75 New Oxford St
Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Rd

The oldest and best known of all the shops, Forbidden Planet dates back to the late seventies. It lost a lot of it's charm when it's two dusty, dark shops were merged together in it's present larger, chain storesque building.

On the plus side it is the biggest of all the shops and can, unlike some of it's branches in other cities, be relied upon to get just about everything available as it comes out. The shop is divided into two parts with comics, magazines, toys, and models on the ground floor and film and TV merchandise in the basement. At the moment it has the most comprehensive X Files selection anywhere as well as fairly complete set of Doctor Who and Star Trek books and videos. It is the best place to go for most new releases, although it's selection of out-of-time merchandise is pretty non-exsistent.

The shop arranges frequent signing sessions, recently boasting Linda Thorson, a plethora of Doctor Who companions and Leonard Nimoy himself. Terry Pratchet is due to be paying a visit in the near future.

COMIC SHOWCASE
New Compton St
Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Rd

Although this shop does stock some of the new film and TV releases it does not stock anywhere near the range of Forbidden Planet and is probably more useful if, as the name suggests, you are more interested in comics. It's not really worth a visit as Forbidden Planet is less than five minutes walk away.

THE VINTAGE MAGAZINE SHOP
Brewer Street
Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus

This one concentrates primarily on posters and back issues of magazines. The ground floor boasts a wider selection of posters and post cards than you will find anywhere. The selection covers just about everything you can think of accept for The X Files. This is apparently because Fox has been very retiscent about lisencing any prints or posters from the series. The only ones I have seen are set of four very impressive shots that were on sale in Forbidden Planet and some very manky looking efforts in The Who Shop.

The basement is truly bizarre. It has back issues from magazines ranging from Penthouse to Radio Times. They have a selection of magazines related to Cult TV, including DWM, Starburst, and TV Zone. Be warned though, they are pricey. The basement also has some original film posters that were so expensive I daren't touch them.

EPIC
4 Marlborough Court (off Carnaby St)
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Epic has recently been advertising itself as a science fiction shop. It is not really what it is claiming to be. It is more like a branch of the Reject Shop with a basement full of comics and nothing Cult TV related, fun to visit though.

WHO BOOKS
Nearest tube: Chalfront and Latimer

This is miles out of your way if your visiting Central London and is near virtually the last tube station at the western end of the Metropolitan Line. If you feel inclined to give it a visit it is above the village chip shop and the entrance is in a car park around the back. On my last visit they stocked mostly Doctor Who related merchandise, although they have recently merged with another company so this may have changed.

Most of their prices are cheap compared to the Central London shops and I honestly keep expecting them to go bust. The shop occasionally organises signings, quite often with Colin Baker who apparently lives close-by.

THE WHO SHOP
4 Station Parade, East Ham
Nearest tube: East Ham

Another Doctor Who shop, this time towards the eastern end of the District Line. It also stocks a few odds and ends associated with other series, but not many. The shop is a real treasure trove. Last time I went they had original scripts from season 22, a selection of costumes from the series and even a William Hartnell give-a-show projector amongst other things.

The Who Shop also seems to be alone in being able to get the releases of Doctor Who books and magazines as much as a month earlier than the other shops and the staff seem to know everything there is to know about forthcoming releases. They also have some trinkets you will have trouble getting else where, including mouse mats, playing cards, and book marks.

Signings are organised fairly regularly. Recent events include Roberta Tovey, Jessica Carney, and Mark Strickson. However their habit of organising these events on a Sunday is a bit annoying as nearly everything else in London is shut.