Building a PC the old-fashioned way in London

August 31, 2009 5:25 AM

I'm looking for a good brick & mortar computer parts retailer in or around London.

I've recently arrived in the UK and I'm looking to build a new PC. The last couple of PCs I built from parts purchased online from NewEgg and Tiger Direct.

I've seen the UK equivalents of those (Scan and Aria and what not) but I'd really love to build a PC the way I did back in the old days - by going to a parts store and putting components in a shopping trolley.

When I lived in California I could do this at Fry's. Do we have any stores like this around London?

posted by CRM114 to Shopping (4 answers total)

Micro Anvika is pretty good, they sell bits but tend to be a tad overpriced. They have stores all over London, even one in Harrods.

But my recommendation would be YoYoTech, just off Tottenham Court road (itself a haven for tech shops). They aren't too pricey, and they're good with returns.
posted by hnnrs at 5:38 AM on August 31, 2009

Wow, YoYoTech looks great! Thanks hnnrs.
posted by CRM114 at 6:21 AM on August 31, 2009

Second on Yoyotech. Prolly the best independent brick and mortar I've been to in the area. Decent prices too.

Although I hate them, and the prices suck, PCWorld is also worth checking. You can check prices/availability online which is helpful.

There's one in Kensington high street near the big ole whole foods, and a few others around town.
posted by Lord_Pall at 8:11 AM on August 31, 2009

PC World really isn't worth checking. Maplins has some low quality bits and pieces, but I think you're best off ordering online TBH.
posted by Magnakai at 2:44 PM on August 31, 2009