The Pokémon Company has announced that London will be home to the brand's first permanent physical retail store outside Asia, slated to open by 2029. The announcement was made on October 21, 2026, and reported the same day by outlets including Polygon and Metro. Engadget emphasized that this is the first permanent store outside Asia, a major expansion of the brand's retail footprint: until now, the UK has only had pop-up Pokémon shops, with no permanent location.
Gaku Susai, chief product and experience officer at The Pokémon Company International, said the new London store will give visitors "the chance to step into the world of Pokémon, whether they're discovering the brand for the first time or have been Trainers for years." The company's announcement promises "a variety of exclusive merchandise and one-of-a-kind experiences for Trainers of all ages."
London has hosted the Pokémon European International Championships at the ExCeL London convention center in recent years, alongside temporary Pokémon Center shops that proved popular. Earlier this year, a pop-up shop ran at the Natural History Museum. A permanent location would give fans a place to shop beyond tournament weekends. VGC notes that London has become a hub of Pokémon events in recent years, with pop-up Pokémon Center slots regularly selling out weeks ahead of time. ComicBook observed that the first permanent store is landing in London rather than the United States.
For collectors and families, the store offers a stable, long-term destination. For local retail, it may bring steady foot traffic. The store's exact address has not been announced, nor has any follow-up city on the international list. Metro emphasized that this time it's "permanent this time," noting that every previous London store was a pop-up; TechRadar called it "the ultimate destination for Pokémon fans." Engadget recalled that New York had a Pokémon Center from 2001 to 2005 before it became Nintendo's flagship store, while VGC noted the company is not using the "Pokémon Center" brand name carried by permanent stores in Japan.
As 2029 approaches, watch for three developments: a confirmed London address, a specific opening date, and any announcement naming the next international city. The company has said the London opening kicks off a broader global rollout of stores.