My London Retro Gaming Trip

My London Retro Gaming Shop Adventure

First off — apologies for the photo quality! On my way to London, I had the misfortune of breaking my main phone. I had to make do with a backup Android tablet, so the pictures aren’t quite as sharp as I’d like.

After doing a bit of research, I found that several retro gaming stores in London have unfortunately closed down. But I was lucky enough to track down a few that are still up and running — and worth visiting!

X Electrical – King Street, London

X Electrical was the first stop on my retro game hunt. This second-hand shop deals in buying, selling, and part-exchanging electrical goods, hi-fis, and game consoles.

The owner mentioned that they’ve been selling retro games for over 24 years, long before “retro gaming” was even a trend! Their console and game selection was solid, and while I didn’t get to chat with the team as much as I would’ve liked (they were quite busy), I did manage to pick up a third-party SNES controller.

I definitely recommend this spot to gamers in the area — they stock a decent range of systems, including imports and rare classics.

CEX Stores in London

I also stopped by a few CEX stores across London. Unfortunately, I wasn’t too impressed. Compared to the CEX locations near me, these branches felt small and a bit run down. Not a highlight of the trip, but still worth a quick browse if you’re nearby.

Forbidden Planet – Shaftesbury Avenue

Later in the day, I made a cheeky stop at the Forbidden Planet store on Shaftesbury Avenue. With two floors full of comic books, collectibles, and nerdy merchandise, this place is a paradise for fans of geek culture.

It’s not a retro game store, but it’s definitely worth visiting if you’re into pop culture, comics, or sci-fi memorabilia.

Surprise Encounter – Nintendo Switch Premiere Event

While making my way through Hammersmith, I stumbled upon what appeared to be the location of a premiere event for the new Nintendo Switch. I tried to pop in for more details, but the venue was temporarily closed. A shame — it looked like a fun event!

Retro Game Base – London’s Hidden Gem

The real highlight of my trip was visiting Retro Game Base, the retro gaming shop I’d been most excited about.

Due to a train strike affecting the Streatham area, I had trouble navigating the underground system — but I didn’t let that stop me, even with closing time fast approaching.

When I arrived, the first thing that caught my eye was a Nintendo 64 with a CD add-on — something I’d never seen before. The store owner explained it was a third-party device designed to run N64 ROMs from CD-Rs. Nintendo even took legal action in the U.S. to block its sale, but a small number of units made it legally into the UK.

The shop also had development kits, including a transparent, Halo-style original Xbox, and several other fascinating pieces of hardware.

In-Store Experience

Retro Game Base features a permanent setup for testing and trying games, which is great for getting hands-on with the merchandise. While some of the systems showed signs of wear, they worked perfectly fine.

Behind the counter, the owner had a workbench where he performs custom console mods and repairs in full view — an awesome insight into the craft of game preservation and modification.

All in all, this was one of the best retro gaming experiences I’ve ever had. The owner was incredibly knowledgeable and welcoming, and he personally took the time to educate me about various items in stock.

Whether you’re new to retro gaming or a seasoned collector, this shop is a must-visit. They carry modded consoles, imported titles, and even boxed and sealed classics.

I just wish I had a better camera to capture more of the experience!

For more information, check out their website:
👉 https://www.retrogamebase.co.uk/

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