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Bookstores and Hobby Shops in London

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  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: istanbul/Turkey
Bookstores and Hobby Shops in London
Posted by kapudan_emir_effendi on Monday, February 5, 2007 9:44 AM

Hello everybody, I'm having a 4 day trip to London; going on the early morning of 7th and returning back on the evening of 10th. Finally I can make my pilgrimage to Portsmouth historic dockyard and to National Maritime Museum. Also, I'd like to use this opportunity to obtain some items in my wishlist. However, this time I'll go for books rather than kits. So I'd like to know some bookstores who are especially complete in Conway, Osprey and Squadron Signal books. If there is a decent hobby shop around the city center, this would be fine too. The last time, I had to go to one which was well outside London !

 

Cheers

Don't surrender the ship !
  • Member since
    December 2006
Posted by ducksoup on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 12:09 AM

Hi, As my best mate is a Londoner, and I'm a vintage sports car nut, I've been to London probably 20 times in the last 12 years, and I've never found a decent model shop in the city. Even the vaunted Harrods has virtually nothing, unless you want to spend $20,000 on a model Ferrari. Rents are too high. There is St. Martins Accessories, just up the street from Trafalger Square. I can't remember the name of the street, but if you head up between St Martins and the National Academy about three or four blocks almost in the direction of Covent Garden you'll find it on the left side. It's just a hole in the wall, very small, and sells mostly diecast and such, but some really cool car models. The last time I talked with Ralph, the owner (who, btw, races vintage Mustangs), he was thinking of moving out of town as well because of the high lease rates and taxes he was paying. As a bonus, another block or two will take you to a mews which houses one of the better used book stores in town.

While you're at the Maritime Museum you'll want to allow hours to go through the Victory. It's astounding! The other ships are interesting, but the Victory is incredible. Makes me want to build my Heller's copy each time I see her. There are several gift shops there which sell a few models and several books I've never seen elsewhere.

 Hope this helps, though probably not.

 Bob

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Boston
Posted by Wilbur Wright on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 12:38 PM
Beattie's....202 High Holborn, central London......... How could you miss it if you were looking for hobby shops?
  • Member since
    December 2006
Posted by ducksoup on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 9:58 PM
Jeez, thanks! I don't know how I missed it, other than I'm usually more interested in vintage car happenings while in England and the hobby shop thing is just a side issue.
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Belgium
Posted by DanCooper on Thursday, February 8, 2007 2:18 AM
Wait, I don't get it... London = mega-city, capital of the UK... UK = modelling central of Europe (just after Germany that is)... and only a handfull of modelshops ????????

On the bench : Revell's 1/125 RV Calypso

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Netherlands
Posted by Grem56 on Thursday, February 8, 2007 7:47 AM

London is a rather expensive place to live nowadays. Apparently there is a problem finding teachers and policemen because they can't afford to live in London on their salaries. Selling models isn't a goldmine and to run a shop you have overheads (big ones in London). I can quite understand the lack of modelshops in London. Just my 2 cents worth....SoapBox [soapbox]

Julian

 

 

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  • Member since
    February 2004
Posted by dhenning on Thursday, February 8, 2007 5:56 PM

The wife and I went to the UK last spring and made a trip to Portsmouth as well.   Make sure you book your tour of the Victory when you arrive.  Definately the best part of the museum, although the actual museums were great as well.   The Mary Rose preservation is remarkable as well.   All of the museum gift shops had excellent selections.

Also made it to Hannants by the RAF Museum very briefly (got there about 5-10 minutes before they closed).   Didn't really see what they had in terms of naval items, but they seemed to have everything else.  Check out there website to see what they have in stock.

Dave Henning

 

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Boston
Posted by Wilbur Wright on Thursday, February 8, 2007 8:17 PM

London is 30% more expensive to live in than Manhatten. It is crazy.

Beatties is a chain of maybe 40 stores all over the UK, so thats why they survive, and can have a store at that location.

 

They also specialize in die-cast models which is huge business in Europe.

They do also have many plastic kits and paints etc like a normal hobby shop.

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