The best comic book stores in London

Crisp and modern Japan House is a celebration of Japanese culture. The venue includes a restaurant, café, library, and shop. The shop sells a range of products, including a small selection of manga comics. This stylish venue offers carefully-curated products in a space somewhere between a shop and a gallery.

Forbidden Planet has long been a hotspot for geek culture. Come here and you can immerse yourself in comics, graphic novels, manga, sci-fi, anime, and fantasy. Signed comics and signing events are also available. The flagship megastore in Soho features multiple floors of merchandise, and there's another branch in South London as well.

In Soho, Gosh! Comics is a hotspot for graphic novels, comic books, and related merchandise, and has been for over 35 years. The window displays are eye-catching, with stacks of vibrant comic books on show. You’ll find old and new comics, limited editions, small press publications, and much more in this treasure trove.

Since 1967, Notting Hill Comic Exchange has been a go-to for buying and selling books and comic books in London. New stock comes in every day, so no two visits are ever the same. You'll lose yourself amongst tall shelves full of comic books, including independent releases and underground gems.

Krypton Komics has a long history of buying and selling comic books in northeast London. This comic book store is simple, with shelves full of graphic novels lining the walls. Both back issues and new releases are sold here, and there's a huge range of stock. New items are continually becoming available here.

There are a number of branches of Foyles, with the flagship store in Charing Cross Road spanning five floors with loads of light flooding in. The stock here covers a huge range of genres, including a section of comics, manga, and graphic novels. The flagship store has a café too.

In Camden, you'll find Japan Craft. This store is set in an arch and has shelves stacked with manga comic books, plus related merchandise. You'll find toys, figurines, and posters, as well as Japanese sweets and snacks. There's a sister shop nearby specialising in Japanese arts and crafts, too.

If you fondly remember the “Tintin” comics or want to introduce your kids to the adventures of the brave Belgian reporter, you'll love visiting The Tintin Shop. Behind the blue shopfront and on-theme window decals, this store specialises in all things Tintin, selling graphic novels, figurines, t-shirts, and a wide range of other merchandise. Framed Tintin art is on the walls too.

A Place in Space is a popular choice with comic fans in Croydon. This friendly and welcoming South London comic book store has a warm atmosphere and specialises in old and new American comics. Shelves here are stacked high with a wide range of titles, and you can organise subscriptions for your favourite new series.

Check out the wide range of comics and collectibles available at Piranha Comics. Posters fill the walls and the shelves are stacked with comic books. These welcoming London comic book stores aim to build a community with their customers. Comic book choices include DC, Marvel, manga, and rare publications, and you can set up subscriptions.

Overflowing with graphic novels and comic book paraphernalia, Raygun Comics is a go-to destination for comics fans in Richmond. It's a friendly and welcoming space with shelves full of comics, manga, and graphic novels, plus trading cards, games, toys, figurines, and more. There are also regular in-store events like giveaways and gaming tournaments.

Although it's primarily a museum, The Cartoon Museum has a gift shop that stocks a range of comics, plus other cartoon-related items. You can also visit the exhibition to view some of the thousands of comics in the museum's collection, and there are regular workshops and learning programmes for getting creative with comics and cartoons too.

The flagship Japan Centre store in Leicester Square is a must-visit for fans of Japanese food and culture. It's well-known for its authentic food court and grocery store, but it also sells Japanese lifestyle products, including books, magazines, and manga comics. You can pick up some of the most popular Japanese comics here, with weekly, monthly, and bi-monthly issues.

It's up to you whether it's the comics or the cakes that are the real heroes at this lively Hawley Wharf nook, but whatever your preference, you can get both here. This Camden comic book store offers homemade vegan and gluten-free cakes to go with its varied assortment of graphic novels, with a comprehensive range of pop culture memorabilia such as prints and music magazines available to pick up as well.

The flagship Waterstones bookstore in Piccadilly is the largest bookstore in all of Europe, with more than eight miles of bookshelves spread across eight floors. All that's to say there's more than enough room for comic books and graphic novels here too. In addition to classic graphic novels like “Maus” or “Watchmen” you can pick up Japanese manga as well as superhero comics, and there's a special selection of children's comic books as well.