WHO Shop

Back from holiday and have decided to do another of my London Doctor Who locations posts later this week. I did one of these before but it was nearly 10 years ago, and the quality of my phone's camera is an awful lot better as well.

In the meantime, a quick word about the WHO Shop which is to be found in East London - Barking Road, Upton Park, to be exact. I used to visit the old shop opposite East Ham tube station, but haven't been to this location before.

As you can see, there are some costumes amongst the merchandise in the windows, but within is a compact but fascinating museum of props and costumes from the series itself - along with some replica items such as their Weeping Angel. Unfortunately, for various reasons, no photography is allowed in this area, though you can get a picture at its TARDIS entrance, or beside a bronze Dalek just within the shop entrance.

Amongst the costume items on display we have Mark Eden's Marco Polo outfit (also used by Julian Glover's King Richard), and the chainmail coat worn by the automaton knight in third episode of The Keys of Marinus.

Items cover the classic and Nu-Who eras as well as spin-offs. We have Monarch's robes from Four to Doomsday, a Time Lord from The Deadly Assassin, C Baker and Pertwee costumes from the Ultimate Adventure stage play, Torchwood outfits, Hyperion III and Varosian guards, and loads more. 

Smaller props include guns, masks (Ood, Sea Devil), a Hand of Fear and Krynoid seed pod. There are two Daleks and the Special Weapons version, and two Cybermen - plus a quartet of their helmets from the Troughton years.

Next time I think I'll take a note pad to record what's there, because there really is so much stuff crammed in.

Highly recommended, but essential to book in advance. It's only open Thurs - Sat for limited hours, cost £5 pp cash.

As for the shop itself, it stocks everything you'd expect, and not just all the recent stuff. Lots books, magazines, figures / figurines, T-shirts etc.

Well worth a visit.