10 geeky things to do in London for £10 or under
31st January 2016Phew! January is over, spring is on its way and hopefully your wallet is feeling a bit healthier… but don’t blow all that lovely cash at once! Indulging your geek tendencies doesn’t have to cost a lot, as these 10 geeky things to do in London for £10 or under prove.
1. Experience an RAF Typhoon jet at the Science Museum
Picture credit: PROAirwolfhound on Flickr / Creative Commons
Fly through the landscape of North Wales and the Lake District (well, kind of) in the Science Museum’s latest permanent installation. Experience descending from 40,000 feet, formation flying and landing in this impressive Typhoon jet simulator.
Cost: £5
More information: Visit the Science Museum website here
2. Get lost in This Shop Rocks, Brick Lane
Picture credit: Charlotte Gunnell
Find a rainy afternoon, grab your wallet and while away the hours in this Aladdin’s cave of a shop in Brick Lane. Upstairs is a vast collection of second-hand china, prints, and everything else you never knew you wanted. Downstairs are piles and piles of books as far as the eye can see. Lovely!
Cost: As much as you want…
3. Take a tour of Benjamin Franklin’s House
Picture credit: Charlotte Gunnell
Benjamin Franklin lived in at this house near Trafalgar Square for a total 16 years. The building is now the only surviving Franklin residence and was opened to the public as Benjamin Franklin House exactly 300 years after Franklin was born.
As there was no furniture left behind and Franklin left no notes about what he kept here, the house is only accessible on an ‘historical experience’ with perfectly-timed projections and voice-overs that might get you a bit spooked (in a good way).
Cost: £8
More information: benjaminfranklinhouse.org
4. Get your thinking cap on at London Thinks
Picture credit: Alexander Baxevanis on Flickr
Any subject from physics to Doctor Who is on offer at Conway Hall’s nerdy night. Upcoming talks and discussions include The Theology and Ethics of Star Wars. Yes, that’s a real event. And you’re welcome.
Cost: £10
More information: Visit the Conway Hall website here
5. Buy a Cornetto from Shaun of the Dead’s corner shop
Picture credits: Universal Pictures / Google Maps
One day this cornerstone of British cinema will be turned into a Tesco, so while it lasts get on a train to Crouch End and pick up a Cornetto at Shaun’s local, where he starts to notice the zombie carnage spreading (it’s the one at 96 Weston Park, FYI).
Cost: The price of a Cornetto
More information: Find it on Google Maps here
6. Play doctor at The Old Operating Theatre
Picture credit: Peter Pelisek on Flickr
The oldest operating theatre in Europe, housed in the roof space of St Thomas’s Church in Southwark. The site was once home to St Thomas’s Hospital before being solely dedicated to the church, and this tiny part of British history was restored and opened as a museum in 1962.
Cost: £6.50
More information: thegarret.org.uk
7. Build a Lego robot at Drink, Shop, Do
Picture credit: Charlotte Gunnell
Do you like Lego? And robots? Who doesn’t? Get your fix at Drink Shop Do’s robot building competition.
Cost: Free when you buy a drink
More information: drinkshopdo.com
8. Take tea at Twinings
Picture credit: Charlotte Gunnell
The perfect combination of 300-year-old tea shop and tea museum opposite the law courts on The Strand. They sell beautiful tea blends, tea pots and other tea-related items, and they offer tastings too. Oh, and they sell coffee as well. But where’s the fun in that?
Cost: Free if you can resist buying something. Around £8 if you can’t.
More information: Visit the Twinings website here
9. Have a go at a cryptic crossword
We couldn’t do a list of geeky things to do without mentioning one of thinking bob‘s own events now, could we? Find out how the mysterious codes and seemingly-bizarre references in cryptic crosswords can help lead you to the answers…
Cost: £5
More information: Join us on 16th February as we crack the latest Cryptic Crossword!
10. Buy a drink at one of these geek-friendly bars…
Picture credit: Matt Biddulph on Flickr
Dry January is over, so treat yourself to a drink at one of London’s best nerdy bars and cafes here.
From gaming heavens to literary locals, there’s a watering hole to suit everyone in our beautiful city. Cheers to that!
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Written by:
Charlotte Gunnell
London blogger at APeaceOfLondon.com on a mission to find chilled-out, cultured and unusual corners of the city. Lover of Lego, loyal bobber and watcher of the odd historical drama.
Follow me on Twitter @apeaceoflondon