Forbidden Planet

I HAD to stop here during my last trip to Cardiff! It’s a pretty nice shopping option in the area (says the nerd). They’re admittedly a small place (so don’t come in with a lot of bags from other stores, it’ll make maneuvering difficult), but there are two levels so that helps to ensure they can get as much as possible into the place.
The lower level is almost all comics while the upper level has some toys, including POP figures and «Doctor Who» merch. Also mixed into the two floors are graphic novels, film/​tv/​comic memorabilia, DVDs, bags, posters, action figures… you want it, you may have a shot at finding it or something similar while you’re here. I actually had to make it a point NOT to look at the things available too closely while browsing, because the last thing I wanted to do was fall in love with things I couldn’t fit into my suitcase at the end of my trip!
While I personally mostly ducked in to browse and had no problems selecting small merchandise I could take with me right off the shelves, I actually overheard staff taking to individuals who has issues with the website. So I got the impression they were more than happy to help customers with things and weren’t just there to sit until someone came up to the register (which I have seen in some stores, unfortunately). I admittedly wish the place was kept a little tidier, but really: I’ve seen worse-​looking retail places.
Definitely take the time to stop on in if you’re in the area and you have some change to spend — and definitely avoid if you don’t have the change to spend. ;)

I love the Forbidden Planet in London, so I figured why not check out the one in Cardiff as I walked by on the street.
This is nerd mecca, although smaller than the flagship store (obviously). It’s still got two floors of all the geekery you could want: comics, books, DVD, memrobelia, toys, and more. Need a sonic screwdriver from Doctor Who or a little replica of Simon’s Cat. Look no further.
The staff was almost non-​existent when we were there. Oh, I’m not saying there was no staff, simply we didn’t even get a nod in our direction as we walked in. They were behind the counter, waiting to ring people up, and that was about all you’re going to get from them.
Nerds and nerding out. It’s all here for you to shop through.

I have only visited Forbidden Planet in Cardiff a handful of times and all I have ever purchased was a t-​shirt from upstairs. The first time I visited the shop it reminded me of the comic shop in the Simpsons. There was an overweight gentleman sat at the counter to your left as you enter the shop and he was casually flicking through a comic just as you would expect in a comic store.
This is much more than a comic store though. Forbidden planet is home to many things that could be classed as cult or science fiction. From Red Dwarf to Doctor Who, Knight Rider, Star Wars, The X-​Files, Star Trek, and all kinds of sci-​fi items can be found here. They have toys, models, comics, DVDs, t-​shirts, posters and many other nick knacks you might be interested in if you are a sci-​fi junkie, some might say even, geek. In my teens I would have spent ages browsing around this kind of store but my interests changed the world has turned and I’m more into my music now than television. I do still go in and check out the t-​shirts however, as they often have old favourites that I haven’t seen in other stores. Some of my favourites that I have found here are Red Dwarf and Thundercats.
This is a great store for kids and adults that haven’t grown up (me included).

Forbidden Planet is the home of all things geek. It’s pure, unadulterated geekery. The main draw of the place for many is its ever-​expanding library of comic books and graphic novels. It has shelves and shelves of recognised favourites as well as more obscure titles to discover. As well as this there are always the current week’s and last week’s set of comics along the dedicated shelves of the ground floor. It is a place that has secured itself a set of weekly customers, which is a pretty smart thing, in my opinion.
As well as all of the comics and graphic novels it is home to all other paraphernalia of the geek world. These include models, sci-​fi books, toys, posters, DVDs and various little hidden gems. I’m not a fully-​fledged geek, but I’m definitely somewhere on the outskirts and have been known to read a graphic novel or seven in my time. I often find myself having a wander in this store for a wee explore. The staff know what they’re talking about when it comes to comics and everything else the store has to offer, so best to ask them if the swathes of geekery confuse you.

Let’s be honest, there is a little nerd inside all of us. Remember those days when you had a favourite super hero or collected figures of characters from your favourite show or even when you just wanted to read comic books. Look no further! Forbidden Planet can take you back to your childhood.
I’m not the geekiest man out of my friends but I will never say no to going in and having a look inside forbidden planet because they do have an extremely cool range of things such as valuable collectables, a complete collection of comic books and clothing. All at good prices too! The employees are very laid back and friendly and would gladly talk to you for hours on end about any comics or TV shows that you like. The only thing that is disappointing about this store is the size of it; it is an extremely small space, which is a sad thing because with the amount of customers that visits, it deserves a bigger space. It is also quite dark in there too, but I blame that on the size and location of the store. If it were given a bigger space with brighter lights I am sure more people would visit.
With lots of items to suit your geeky needs, Forbidden Planet is a great store with plenty of collectables and cool clothes to offer.

A tiny yet lovely geek store in Cardiff, right across the street from the castle. Next to media, it has a vast collection of action figures and Sci-​Fi toys for small and big kids.

A shop for all Sci-​Fi geeks and fantasy fans, Forbidden Planet offers a whole range of branded merchandise based on popular films and TV programmes that fall into these genres.
From Dr Who and Torchwood to Star Wars and Buffy, there’s all sorts covered — and plenty of potential Christmas and birthday present material for the right person.
You can browse and buy sci fi and fantasy magazines, graphic novels, DVDs, posters, action figures, film memorabilia, clothing and other merchandise. It has a slightly dingy and disorganised air about the place, but this kind of adds to the geeky atmosphere!

Forbidden Planet is NOT a shop to walk past if you have young boys in tow.
Forbidden Planet is NOT a shop to walk past if you have just been paid but need to sort your bills out before buying anything for fun.
Forbidden Planet is NOT a shop to walk past if you need to be somewhere soon, but have five minutes to burn.
The little boys will be utterly captivated by some wonderful Marvel figure and will demand that you spend the £18 you were saving for food that week on a brand new Spider-​Man figure for them to play with.
Your bill money will quickly turn into a large stack of comics and DVDs and a Galactus helmet. And whilst these are all awesome things, the landlord doesn’t take kindly to be presented with a Battlestar Galactica boxset to borrow for a week in lieu of rent.
That five minutes will drift into half an hour spent perusing the comic book section and reading the comics, generally making you late for your appointment and probably making the staff want to throw you out for being a time waster.
In short, Forbidden Planet is a money and timesink unmatched in Cardiff. If you’re even slightly geeky, you won’t be able to resist its allure for long.

I assure you that this is not a forbidden planet or a forbidden shop to enter in Cardiff’s city centre, opposite Cardiff Castle. It is an attractive for all your Sci-​Fi and Fantasy fans… and yes sadly to some, but proudly from me, I am one of them! But I am particularly a Fantasy fan!
I love Doctor Who, Torchwood and Star Wars though, and I do not mind Star Trek…
This has all sorts of merchandise characters and TV shows and films based within it. I even saw the lovely Johnny Depp in his beautiful outfit from the Alice and Wonderland film in his Mad Hatters outfit. I so want: but it does cost roughly £65, maybe slightly more I can’t entirely remember the price. I was too attracted to the doll (I guess you could call it). So it is a very pricey shop, but I am sure the price would not be much different elsewhere, apart from maybe on EBay.
They have magazines, bags, posters, action figures, and Harry Potter merchandise too. I love looking in there every now and then, but very rarely do I buy anything in there. But I do know one toy to put on my Christmas list. Yes! I’m already planning it… I recommend to all Sci-​Fi and Fantasy fans who like collecting merchandise things…

I had always though that this shop was an independently run store. This had accounted for its rather higgledy piggledy displays, decoration that leaves you somewhat wanting, and strange assortment of staff. These were reasons why I loved it as a teenager.
However, upon finding out that it’s actually a small chain of stores that’s throughout all the major cities and capitals in the UK, I was a little bit crestfallen. This is because suddenly the teenage-boy’s-bedroom feel to it all felt a bit, well, dirty. I think the main mish-​mash window displays is the epitome of the rest of the store.
But, please don’t get me wrong, I think this shop has a great range of all thinks somewhat geekish, including thousands upon thousands of comics and a great range of sci-​fi and fantasy novels.
Despite recent disillusionment, it’s still a fun shop I enjoy to have a poke around in every now and again, even if most of their stock is ultimately pointless. Pointless is fun though.

I’m not ashamed to admit that i’m a geek and it’s a scary world out there for those of us who openly admit it so it’s good to return to the ‘mothership’ once in a while and shop in a perfectly non judgemental environment.
Forbidden planet stocks comics, film and tv merch and everything in between so the best place to get a really awesome ‘one off’ gift for a friends birthday or just something for yourself.
My specialties are vampires and Star Trek and i’m pleased to announce they have plenty of Buffy/​True Blood/​Jean Luc Picard merch to keep me occupied and fangirling for hours.
Thanks to forbidden planet, it’s hip to be square.

Geek alert whoop whoop. As an avid film fanboy, gamer, Graphic novel reader and figure collector, Forbidden Planet is what we like to call ‘home’ in the loop.
It specialises in comics, Graphic novels, film/​tv/​comic memorabilia and dvds. There’s a lot of products crammed in to the small narrow shop and is hard to browse if your not sure what your looking for. However there is a lot of things in here your just not going to find elsewhere in Cardiff. Rare collectors items, figures etc are some of the things your not gong to find in your local Toys R Us etc.
They will also get things in for you or help you find certain items if you cannot see them in store. The staff are always enthusiastic and ready to help in that sense.

Geek’s Paradise Highly Recommended
Pros: I could spend hours in this store just browsing. This to me is a big kid’s paradise. They stock everything to do with Sci Fi, Fantasy and Horror from books to comics to DVDs to action figures. I cannot go to Cardiff without calling into this store. Located over two floors there is a huge choice of memorabilia on offer. You can spend anything from a couple of quid to a few hundred. I love looking at the models and action figures on offer. A must for any Sci Fi fan.
Cons: Why can’t we have one of these closer to where I live. Although it is probably safer on my wallet as it is.