Upton Park in East London has been invaded by aliens from space. But don’t panic, they’re all safely contained in The Who Shop, London’s only permanent Doctor Who shop and museum.

As well as an extensive range of Doctor Who merchandise for sale, the fun really begins when you step into the TARDIS and visit the treasures in the small museum at the back of the shop.

The room is packed with props and costumes from the TV show. You’ll find yourself face to face with a Cyberman, a Cybermat, K9 and two scary Daleks as well as a host of other characters and objects.

When I visited The Who Shop, the friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic owner talked us through the collection and even let me try on a Dalek Trooper helmet (not showing you a picture and if you ask I’ll exterminate you.)

If you’re not a Whovian you might be a little mystified, but if you like or love the show, The Who Shop is exciting. It’s the perfect place to visit with your brainy friends, your kids and your Ood butler.

The Who Shop host book signings with Doctor Who stars, welcome fans from round the world and provides a joyful haven of geekery that you shouldn’t miss if you’re visiting London.

Read more about exploring the history of Doctor Who in London.

The Doctor Who comic strip began in TV Comics then Doctor Who Weekly which became Doctor Who Magazine, still going strong today. Over the years, all of the doctors from William Hartnell to Matt Smith have appeared in comic strip adventures and the exhibition is a fascinating glimpse into the history of Doctor Who.

In the early days of Doctor Who, comics allowed The Doctor to have adventures which were beyond the BBC budget. The comics also provided fans with new adventures in the nineties when the show was off air.

The exhibition mainly consists of gorgeous original artwork, from initial pencils (pencil sketches indicating the placement of characters and speech bubbles) to inks, colour and black and white. One of the strips is accompanied by the original script so you can see how the comic was created. The artwork is mostly larger than the final printed comics, so the exhibition provides a great opportunity to see fine details and appreciate the quality of the work.

The Doctor faced many of his famous enemies in the comics – Daleks and Cybermen look just as menacing on paper as they do on the telly and most of the early strips were all about the Daleks.

For licencing reasons, The Doctor’s adventures in the comics didn’t always include his TV companions, and the exhibition references comic-only companions including Sharon, John, Gillian and the lovely Frobisher, the Whifferdill shape shifter who likes to look like a penguin.

The exhibition is a trip down memory lane for dedicated Time Lord fans and introduction to something new for younger viewers, but it’s a must-see for everyone who loves the adventures of Gallifrey’s favourite time-traveller.

Entry to the exhibition also includes access to the other cartoons and comics on display from the museum’s general collection and because there’s always a gift shop, you can pick up copies of the Doctor Who comic strip books on the way out if you want to read more.

27 July – 30 October 2011. Adults £5.50, concessions £3/£4, under 18 free. www.cartoonmuseum.org

The Doctor Who Experience is utterly terrifying. Running through corridors and being surrounded by Daleks is the stuff of childhood nightmares and suddenly it’s real!

As a big wuss with an overactive imagination, I’ve spent a lifetime watching Doctor Who with my eyes closed. At the Doctor Who Experience, there’s nowhere to hide and I thought it was very scary, although everyone else loved it, especially the kids.

The experience has three TARDIS sets, two modern ones which you’re allowed to walk in, and one from the 80s which is just the coolest thing ever. After the adventure with the Doctor, you can see an exhibition of costumes, props and aliens from the show.

I’ve never seen so many Daleks in one place, it was as if someone had opened a Genesis Ark in West London. If you love Doctor Who, you need to see this.

Tickets from £17.05 for adults and £13.55 for children (the experience is aimed at children aged 7-12). Family tickets from £12.55 per person. Find out more at www.doctorwhoexperience.com