Hi everyone!
I am hoping to join my boyfriend in London for just under a year. We are both into board games, but beyond that, my boyfriend doesn’t have the same craving for “nerd shit” like myself. I enjoy playing D&D, going to medieval / fantasy themed restaurants and bars, and have been to a couple of renaissance fairs, anime conventions, the Bridgerton ball, and a Regency-themed dance. I’m a bit older now (almost 30) so I haven’t gone as often as I’d like, but I enjoy it all the same.
I like to dress up, but I usually keep to myself and am not very involved. Perhaps with being in new waters, it’s time to change!
What are your favourite “casual nerd” (no tournaments, e-sports, or anything where the community is quite rigid and stiff) spots and events? Bonus points if it’s WPOC friendly!
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I saw a huge comic convention at Kensington Olympia once, and people had gone all out for it with the dressing up. I lived near there so saw them all walking past. A lot of pubs have board games, like the rest of the country does too – and there’s a bunch of board game centric places to eat and drink too https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/where-to-play-board-games-in-london
You might be better off asking in the London specific sub Reddit !
There are comic-cons at Olympia in March, July and and November, run by Showmasters (called the London Comic-Con). I personally prefer them over MCM as the crowd is a bit older at Olympia.
On top of everything you’ve been recommended above (MCM, Hyper Japan, Forbidden Planet etc)
I have a strong recommend for Rolldark Game Masters: they’re a pay-to-play TTRPG service GMing and every GM is a trained actor. Of course all the GMs are different in skill and ability, as are the 8 week campaigns they run, but I have played every Tuesday for 3 1/2 years (live, and then online after COVID hit), and honestly the GMs whose campaigns I haved joined have been brilliant!
So, yeah, if you happen to be Looking For Group and don’t mind splurging a bit of cash, then go for it. Otherwise there’s a million board game cafes dotted across town, and even board-game nights in pubs where you can make acquaintances.
Tons of board game cafes, bars and local gaming stores for board games and d&d. If you don’t mind travelling up to Birmingham, UK Games Expo is a fab convention coming up in June. Lots of LARPing groups in London too
Definitely see if you have a local Geek Retreat! Nerd cafes at their finest! I can’t say enough good things about my local one tbh
Board game cafés can be a great place to hang with fellow nerds, and if you can muster up the courage to talk to a stranger (not being sarcastic here, I find that to be challenging!) then most are friendly and happy to teach you how to play a new game. Can be a great way to break the ice, and thus make some friends who are into the same stuff as you.
Here are some:
– https://www.draughtslondon.com/
– https://loading.bar/articles/whats-going-on
– https://www.escapebars.uk/
– https://www.badmooncafe.co.uk/
[Fantasy Forest](https://fantasyforest.co.uk/) is an inclusive nerd festival. Sci fi is welcome too.