Museum of Computing Swindon & Retro Games HQ

[decle]

It seems we're on a bit of a retro-roll, with a trip to Swindon to visit the Museum of Computing...

 

https://www.museumofcomputing.org.uk/

 

The museum is small, but perfectly formed with lots of home computers and consoles to take a crack at.  Most are set up with menus to take you straight to some games.   The £5 entry fee is well worth the retro fix for a couple of hours.  The staff were all really friendly and helpful (thanks Simon, Simon and Ollie), and if you're lucky enough to be offered it, definitely accept a behind the scenes tour!  Hopefully the Apple Lisa will be up and running soon, and we'll be back.  To get a sense of what's on offer you can take a virtual tour (spoilers!)

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Retro+Games+HQ/@51.5614978,-1.789039,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipMGd976G3Jwe8WGz3T3tA_uimA_xsoojswODzGo!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMGd976G3Jwe8WGz3T3tA_uimA_xsoojswODzGo%3Dw203-h152-k-no!7i4032!8i3024!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xde1812ef2842811e!8m2!3d51.5614978!4d-1.789039#

 

After the museum we took the 10 minute walk through the middle of town to Retro Games HQ...

 

https://retrogames-swindon.co.uk/

 

...this is located in and above Holmes Music store.  Wow! it too is amazing.  For the second time in a year I found some Intellivision games in the wild. Unfortunately, there was nothing I was after, but we were able to pick up some Gameboy bits and pieces I was after.    Their entire upstairs is given over to Nintendo from NES through Wii-U:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Retro+Games+HQ/@51.5614978,-1.789039,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipMGd976G3Jwe8WGz3T3tA_uimA_xsoojswODzGo!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMGd976G3Jwe8WGz3T3tA_uimA_xsoojswODzGo%3Dw203-h152-k-no!7i4032!8i3024!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xde1812ef2842811e!8m2!3d51.5614978!4d-1.789039#

 

And downstairs they have everything from 2600 onward.  Just don't expect to walk out with Pete's childhood Vectrex, it's not for sale!

 

Overall, a really successful day.  Swindon is well worth a visit for retro kicks.

 

 

 

 

[+Lathe26]

Sounds like a fun trip.  I feel slightly jealous. 😉 

 

I love the fact, being in the UK, that the Museum of Computing has to have the Sinclair C5 vehicle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_C5).