A Geek’s Guide to London

The SearchLove London conference is just around the corner, bringing together SEOs from around the world and speakers such as SEOMoz’s Rand Fishkin. If you’re lucky enough to have a ticket and fancy doing some tech-related sightseeing, here are 10 geeky things to check out in the capital. 

iPilot Flight Simulator

Gamerbase In the basement of HMV in Trocadero, Gamerbase is a playground for computer game fans with some of the most technologically advanced gaming computers in the world. There’s a huge library of games to choose from, and you can pay by the hour or even get a day pass. 

The Wellcome Collection Geeks will be fascinated by this relatively new addition to London’s museum scene. It explores the connection between medicine, science and art, and at the moment there’s an exhibition about the ways technology can enhance the human body. 

iPilot Flight Simulator Plane-spotters will be thrilled by this super-realistic flight simulator in Shepherds Bush – a machine which is used to train real pilots. There’s also an instructor on hand to help you fly to 500 real airports.  

Google Campus Due to the number of tech start-ups in the area, Old Street has now been dubbed Silicon Roundabout and Google have moved in with their Google Campus workspace for start-ups. Head to their cafe for a chance to use their ultra-fast broadband and to network with other webtrepreneurs. 

The Shard London’s newest futuristic skyscraper is a massive technical achievement and also the tallest building in Europe. Watch the sun reflect beautifully off its glass windows and contemplate a Blade Runner-esque future. 

Inamo Restaurant Be sure to get a bite to eat at London’s most hi-tech Japanese restaurant. Menus are beamed onto tables by projectors, letting you order your food by touch-screen. Geeks will also enjoy digitally changing the table design and watching the chef cook via webcam. 

The Zetter Hotel There are many awesome hotels in London, but few that are truly as state-of-the-art as The Zetter. This is the place to stay for an abundance of hi-tech gadgetry, including free room Wi-Fi, iPod docks and flat-screen TVs. 

Street Art by Invader If you enjoy Space Invaders, keep your eyes peeled for street artist Invader’s cheeky, colourful alien mosaics dotted around the city. Lots of them are tiny and rather hard to locate, but here’s a big one on Brick Lane to get you started:

IMAX Cinema You might think that a spaceship has landed on Waterloo roundabout, but in fact it’s the BFI’s spectacular IMAX cinema – which has the largest screen in Britain. Technophiles can immerse themselves in 3D spectaculars, and luckily it shows a range of films, not just Hollywood blockbusters.    

Science Museum Probably still London’s premier geek location, the Science Museum has been wowing kids and adults for years with five floors of hands-on scientific exhibits. The rockets, spacesuits and other lunar paraphernalia are particularly wow-inducing.