10 Best Anime Shops in London: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey, are you an anime lover who has just shifted to Oxford Street London?

Then, you’re in luck because this place with vibrant anime culture has much to offer you! Living here you will come across the best anime shops in London whose books and other merchandise will pump up your fantasy for anime characters and stories to a different level.

Moreover, the thriving anime community along with the anime shop London Oxford Street will give you every opportunity to connect and explore all the cherished anime treasures of all times.

You will find the rarest collection of anime books and toys in this city including that of Manga that are rarely found in other places of the world except Japan.

Feeling excited to acquire knowledge about the top ten anime stores in London? Then, keep reading and you will be successful in your quest to choose the best of them. 

Anime Shop Essentials

Anime shops are usually evaluated based on the overall experience they provide to their customers. So, our criteria for choosing the best anime shops in London include –

• The shop’s authenticity.
• The knowledge of the staff and their behaviour.
• The shop’s internal atmosphere.
• The location and accessibilities of the shop (including transportation facilities near the shops).
• The variety of the products of the shop and their exclusivity.
• The quality of the products in the shop.
• Customer reviews.

10 Best Anime Shops In London – Our Picks

1. Japan Craft

Situated on the Chalk Farm Road of The Stables Market in London, United Kingdom, this anime store has to offer you nearly everything related to the anime world.

Yes, you will see the shop fully stocked with enjoyable comic books, accessories, bags, toys, board games, Manga anime publications, posters, video games, key chains, anime models, etc.

While searching for your favourite item or reading a comic book over here, you can also enjoy some snacks and drinks in the store.

In case you are unable to visit this store physically, the store gives you the option to get access to their objects digitally, through online shopping.

The starting price of the items in this store is 10 pounds and it goes beyond 500 plus pounds for expensive items.

2. Gosh! Comics

Here’s another of the best anime shops in London that is situated at 1 Berwick St in the United Kingdom. Though small in size, this store has to offer you much!

The Premium anime comics and the Manga series they provide to their customers make them visit this store time and again.

Sometimes, lucky customers get signed Manga comics from this store as well.

The shop has been running in London for nearly 33 years without fail and they are a huge favourite among the customers not only for anime but also for other small press releases, limited edition publishing, prints, graphic novels, kid’s books, games, etc.

The starting price of the shop’s items is 2 pounds and it extends beyond 200 pounds, depending upon how expensive the objects are. The online platform is also open for interested buyers of this shop. 

3. Forbidden Planet

Situated on Shaftesbury Avenue in London, this anime store can be described by anime enthusiasts as their dream come true shop.

This is because the shop keeps within it a massive collection of comics, Manga series, and graphic novels that are interesting enough to satiate the readers’ innermost desires, no matter how many times they read them.

In this shop, you will also get different sizes of anime toys and collectables.

The Manga events for anime enthusiasts that they organize are also very interesting for global anime lovers.

The anime enthusiasts take part in these events with pleasure and celebrate them over different plates of Cuisine, served to them by the staff of the shop.

This anime shop is one of the top-reviewed anime shops with almost 16000 plus ratings and reviews on Google. 

4. TokyoToys Anime And Manga Store

Residing near the main road of Marechal Niel Parade in Sidcup and searching for the best anime shops in London? Then, the TokyoToys Anime And Manga Store is your ultimate destination.

Yes, this famous anime store that has three branches in the UK (in Glasgow, Birmingham, and Sidcup), will always be there for your service from Monday to Sunday (12 pm to 7 pm).

Whether you need a limited edition of Manga comics, sturdy figurines, trading card games, plush toys, or powerful video games, the store will happily cater to you with all. The store also remains open online 24/7.

Also, the store is 5 times the pride holder of the NEO Magazine Readers Award (For Being Best Retailer And Best Merchandiser).

5. Mega City Comics

Situated in Camden Town, this store has offered its service for many years to its customers via mail orders.

Also, the shop delivers orders physically to the customers and via comic marts as well.

Honoured with the King Of Camden Award (For providing excellent services in local retailing), this shop is a passion for all the anime enthusiasts of the world.

You will get all kinds of anime items here including comic books. 

6. Raygun Comics

Residing in Richmond Park and looking for the best anime shops in London nearby? Then, count Raygun comics in.

Whether you want any heart-melting anime series like Naruto, Dragon Ball, Attack on Totan, etc, or go for any Manga edition, Raygun comics have it all.

Access the items of this store physically or via email or website, the service that they will give you will be an A-grade one. 

7. Foyles

It’s an impressive anime bookstore that has been running its business since 1903 and never looked backwards.

The longest shelves of this anime shop have fetched it the title of Guinness Book of World Records. The shop comes in a six-storeyed building with the facility of a cafe as well. 

8. Japan Center

Love everything about Japan including the Mangas? Then, Japan Center is waiting for you with its whole heart.

Yes, it’s one of the best anime shops in London where you will get everything related to Japan – food, accessories, anime, Manga, cocktails, collectables, Christmas gifts, etc. 

9. Japan House

Here’s another anime shop that’s also related to Japan and its culture. Visit this shop to get the best Japanese anime merchandise, books, artefacts, and cuisines.

This shop also organizes anime exhibitions and events from time to time.

The shop also gives you a free library service where you can sit and read their anime books without paying for the entry charge. 

10. Ecstatic Anime

Last but not least, Ecstatic Anime can be counted among the best anime shops in London that have overcome the boundary of time.

This shop sells different kinds of anime merchandise, figurines, food, drinks, cosplay attires, anime weapons, caps, and whatnot!

You can also visit their website and do online shopping from their site if you wish. 

How To Get An Awesome Anime Shopping Experience? 

Any anime enthusiast can get an awesome anime shopping experience from the best anime shop on London Oxford Street provided they follow some specific shopping strategies.

• They should first set a budget for their shopping.
• Then, they should identify the must-have items they need to shop for them, without exceeding their budget. 
• They should look out for the items that are giving huge discounts. Sometimes, special events lead the shops to give sales and promotions offers that the customers must use to their advantage in buying the anime items they want.  
• They must look out for cheaper options for the goods or items they want. However, they must never compromise with the quality of the anime items for that. 
• They must set their priorities on buying the items that are exclusive and are limited in edition. 
• They must not buy an anime item from a shop without checking the price for the same at another shop. 
• They can get more discounts and offers by joining the loyalty programs of any anime shop or signing a membership form for that shop. 

Building A Personalized Anime Collection By Exploring The Best Anime Shops In London

You can establish your personalized anime collection by pursuing the following strategies-

• Go through various anime series and their characters to understand what’s your personal preference. 
• Identify if your heart is more inclined toward limited anime editions or, if you like the opposite more. If you see that you are feeling more interested in absorbing creativity, unique packaging, and additional volume of the limited anime editions, then you need to collect limited anime items and books for yourself. However, if your heart melts with the extensive range of standard anime releases, then, probably you must focus on buying them instead of the limited editions. 
• Before making your personalized anime collection, ask the anime experts or communities, what their recommendations are to you. 
• Don’t only get stuck to traditional anime items. You have a lot to explore ranging from manga and art books to light novels and anime soundtrack CDs. 
• Keep your personalized items organized either by genre or any other method of sorting. 
• Lastly, tracking and cataloguing your collected anime items is also necessary.

Best Anime Shops In London – Online Versus Offline (Their Upsides And Downsides)

While staying in London, it’s possible to get access to both online and offline anime stores according to your wish. However, both online and offline anime stores have their advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to know them before going to buy your favourite anime items from your favourite shop. 

Upsides Of Offline Anime Stores

• You will be able to touch the anime objects with your hands and check their quality and sturdiness before purchasing them. 
• You can take the chosen objects instantly to your home after paying for them in the anime shop. 
• You will get the opportunity of social interaction in the anime stores with like-minded people who are also anime enthusiasts just like you. Also, you will get mature recommendations from them before you purchase your favourite items. 

Downsides Of Offline Anime Stores

• You may have to travel a long distance to get access to the shop if your house is far away from it. 
• The business hours of the store may not match with your timings. 
• In offline stores, you only have to choose from a limited collection of products present there. However, with an online store, the collection remains limitless. 

Upsides Of Online Anime Stores

• You will get a wide range of choices for purchase. 
• You can buy your favourite item conveniently sitting at home without confronting any time barrier. This is because the best anime shop in London Oxford Street which sells its items online provides 24/7 service to its customers. 
• Online shopping sometimes brings you discounts on your purchases. 
• Online shopping can give you various digital products along with downloadable content, bonus content, electronic books, etc. 

Downsides of Online Anime Stores

• The availability of a wide range of choices in online shopping mode may sometimes land you into confusion as to which one to choose among them. 
• You cannot inspect the anime items through your hands before purchasing them. 
• You cannot get the recently bought anime item in your hands instantly. It takes some time to get the items to your address (even the shipping may get delayed) and you have to wait patiently for that. 
• The product that you get in your hands may be a damaged one. 
• Your transaction may fail if your net pack suddenly expires. So, in online anime shopping, you must have a strong net connection.

Whether you should choose online or offline anime shopping, depends totally on your own shopping choice, budget, timings, and convenience. Go for the one that meets your needs best. 

​Conclusion

So, as you have got to know about the best anime shops in London, what’s your plan for today evening? Are you contemplating visiting one of the above shops in person or are feeling too lazy to walk to those stores? If the latter is your case, then online shops are eagerly waiting to receive your order for your favourite anime items.

But, wait! Don’t just place any order randomly without doing enough investigation. Also, be sure that the online anime site you have entered is authentic.

To keep the anime culture progressing with pride and build a remarkable collection of personalized anime items at your place, you must choose each of the anime items with utter care. Thanks for tolerating us for so long! Happy Shopping!