The international social media account for the Japanese retailer Animate, otherwise known as Animate Ltd, have recently confirmed that the previously announced Pop-Up Store in London will open on 31st October 2025. The expected closing date for the pop-up store has also been revealed as the 7th January 2026.
The pop-up store will open on the 31st October 2025 at London Waterloo Station, in The Sidings, located underneath Platforms 20 – 24. As shown below, the store will be open from 12pm until 7pm (Monday – Friday & Sunday), but until 8pm on Saturdays.
For those unfamiliar Animate is a range of stores in Japan that sell anime entertainment and merchandise, such as figures, badges, plushies, and T-Shirts, with the Animate store in Ikebukuro being awarded the world’s largest anime store in 2024 by the Guinness World Record.
Animate also has other stores in China, America, and South Korea, but this pop-up store in Waterloo (London) will be the first one to open in the UK. Those interested in learning more about Animate, can visit the official website.
