Any Telescope shops left in London?

[Travelman]

Hello from Denmark

As I a visiting London next week, it strruck me that there is not any physical telescope shops left in London - Am I correct?

 Years ago I visited both Telescope House and The Widescreen Centre - but that was then...

 

Clear skies to everbody!

 

Torben

Copenhagen

[Carbon Brush]

Hi Torben.
I can't comment on the London situation. It is somewhere I have not had cause to visit for many years.
However, I have to ask. Are you travelling anywhere else in this wonderful country.
Members may point you to other astro shops.

[Highburymark]

2 hours ago, Travelman said:

Hello from Denmark

As I a visiting London next week, it strruck me that there is not any physical telescope shops left in London - Am I correct?

 Years ago I visited both Telescope House and The Widescreen Centre - but that was then...

 

Clear skies to everbody!

 

Torben

Copenhagen

Afraid not Torben. There are a few camera shops selling astronomy equipment - Microglobe for example - but nothing else. Widescreen was the last to have a store near Baker Street, but it must be at least 6-7 years since it left.

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi @Travelman

As per @Highburymark said. Mainly Microglobe is the only independent that I am aware of. Otherwise it’s national outlets like LCE [London Camera Exchange]. Bear in mind they do have very limited stock of astronomy related equipment as they mainly specialise in photography and video equipment.

Because of the high charges for leases, rents and other running costs, etc., is the main reason many have closed moved elsewhere. I don’t wish to start a political debate, but the Congestion Charge, LEZ & ULEZ may also have had a knock-on effect too.

[Travelman]

That sounds about right....I remember visiting them in Baker Street in what must have been 2012 or 2013.

Might visit Microglobe, seems to be an interesting shop

 

Thanks!

 

Torben

 

 

[Travelman]

19 minutes ago, RT65CB-SWL said:

Hi @Travelman

As per @Highburymark said. Mainly Microglobe is the only independent that I am aware of. Otherwise it’s national outlets like LCE [London Camera Exchange]. Bear in mind they do have very limited stock of astronomy related equipment as they mainly specialise in photography and video equipment.

Because of the high charges for leases, rents and other running costs, etc., is the main reason many have closed moved elsewhere. I don’t wish to start a political debate, but the Congestion Charge, LEZ & ULEZ may also have had a knock-on effect too.

Hi RT65CB-SWL

Propably it is the sum of things...and ad to that the way we all (or at least many of us) are now shopping, hasn´t helped.

In Copehagen you now find more and more empty shops on the high streets (actually anywhere)

 

 

[RT65CB-SWL]

10 minutes ago, Travelman said:

Hi RT65CB-SWL

Propably it is the sum of things...and ad to that the way we all (or at least many of us) are now shopping, hasn´t helped.

In Copehagen you now find more and more empty shops on the high streets (actually anywhere)

 

 

Same here in England and the rest of GB/UK as well!

[StevieDvd]

16 hours ago, Travelman said:

That sounds about right....I remember visiting them in Baker Street in what must have been 2012 or 2013.

Might visit Microglobe, seems to be an interesting shop

 

Thanks!

 

Torben

 

 

Watch their prices though - they seem to be quite over-priced on their Ebay site. Get a guide price from FLO (or Widescreen, RVO etc)  to compare if you see something you want to take home.

[Deadlake]

I think the wide screen centre was the last large Astro shop in London, however they moved out some years ago. No point being in London given internet orders being most of the market.

 

Edited August 18 by Deadlake

[Travelman]

True!

[lunator]

If you have time, a visit to Greenwich would be worthwhile 😀

Cheers

Ian

[Travelman]

Hi Ian

Although I am in London on business, I accidently avoided any meetings all day Wednesday, in order to visit Greenwich Observatory, Cutty Sark & the Maritime Museum (if still energy left!)

At Greenwich, I plan to grab a show at the Planetarium.... would be interesting to see how that compare the Zeiss VI TD (TD=Tilted Dome) that the planetarium in Copenhagen had before it went all digital. Therefore, also interesting to see if the digital Planetarium in Greenwich compares to the one in Copenhagen now.

I worked as a "Planetarium Operator" from the they it opened in Copenhagen and for approx 3 years. Great job !

 

Torben

[Deadlake]

Astrograph is also in London, however internet only. 

[Gfamily]

I think it's a mixed message, High Streets aren't the place for specialist shops any more, as the threat of high rents doesn't allow for storage of a sufficiently wide range of stock. 

However, I do think that in UK we are fortunate to have a decent number of specialist astronomy dealers serving us, not only online, but also supporting various astronomy shows and exhibitions across the calendar.

 

Edited August 20 by Gfamily

[Gonariu]

On 8/17/2024 at 8:27 PM, Travelman said:

Propably it is the sum of things...and ad to that the way we all (or at least many of us) are now shopping, hasn´t helped.

Indeed. In my hometown (Cagliari, in southern Sardinia) there was an optical shop that was a point of reference for Sardinian amateur astronomers; for about eight years it has only sold glasses and contact lenses because, as the owner told me, online competition was very strong. This has also spread to other things, many shops in Cagliari have closed down and been replaced by restaurants, pizzerias, etc. for the same reason.

Edited August 20 by Gonariu

[Travelman]

On 17/08/2024 at 15:32, Highburymark said:

Afraid not Torben. There are a few camera shops selling astronomy equipment - Microglobe for example - but nothing else. Widescreen was the last to have a store near Baker Street, but it must be at least 6-7 years since it left.

I attempted to visit Microglobe, but there are no longer on the address 3 Galen Place.....but I still had a wonderful stay, Greenwich Observatory and brilliant presentation at the planetarium there (Although I would argue that a classic Zeiss projector would always produce a sharper star field (but obviously with any kind of "zoom function")

[Travelman]

On 20/08/2024 at 18:27, Gonariu said:

Indeed. In my hometown (Cagliari, in southern Sardinia) there was an optical shop that was a point of reference for Sardinian amateur astronomers; for about eight years it has only sold glasses and contact lenses because, as the owner told me, online competition was very strong. This has also spread to other things, many shops in Cagliari have closed down and been replaced by restaurants, pizzerias, etc. for the same reason.

I guess that is a worldwide problem and effect of the the advance of internet shopping.

 

Best regads

 

Torben Ask

Copenhagen

[Eliah]

How about Harrison Telescopes in Dartford?.. Click here for their website.

[Eliah]

Seems they're an 'online' dealer too... Sorry

[Stephenstargazer]

RVO still run a real shop in Kiverton Park, Rotherham. Quite close to M1. https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/

Open daily, and good people to talk to, but of necessity only a fraction of total stock displayed. There may be others around the country? Let us know  if there is one near you!

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/

[Travelman]

Great - I will put that on my list!

[Stephenstargazer]

19 hours ago, Travelman said:

Great - I will put that on my list!

Nearer to Denmark than London too! Possibly not so easy for travel but we have trains (occasionally) 😁

[Astronomist]

Not too far from london is Tring astronomy centre, definitely worth a visit if you can get there as they have a spectacular array of astro gear on display!

[Highburymark]

1 hour ago, Astronomist said:

Not too far from london is Tring astronomy centre, definitely worth a visit if you can get there as they have a spectacular array of astro gear on display!

I’ve never been, but an online video suggests Tring is, by some margin, the best surviving UK store where you can actually see telescopes. Good for them, and long may they survive.

[CraigT82]

Tring Astro definitely worth a visit, used to work in Hemel so went there a few times to have a look around the showroom and chat to the owners. Highly recommend it if in the area. Tring is a very nice villlage too.