If you've ever been to Olympia in London you'll know that it's a pretty big venue and it takes an event of considerable proportions to take it over... but one of the country's biggest costume parties manages to do just that.

Taking place from 28-30 July, London Film & Comic Con is the flagship event of the Showmasters' conventions that will also head to Newcastle, Cardiff, Sheffield, Bournemouth, Glasgow and Exeter later in the year.

London Film & Comic Con, which began in 2004, focuses on films, cult television, gaming, anime and comics, bringing together visitors of all ages and all fandoms... whatever your interest, be it cosplay, autographs, props or meeting fellow fans, the event provides the space to indulge yourself.

There's a large dealers hall selling movie, comic and science fiction-related memorabilia and original film props, along with free guest talks, professional photo shoots, autograph sessions and displays.

And, as well as dressing up as some of your favourite film and television characters, you also get to meet many of them, with the guest list containing a who's who of popular movie and comic culture.

This year top of the list of big film and TV stars are John Cleese (Monty Python, Harry Potter), David Morrissey (Walking Dead, Doctor Who), Ron Perlman (Hell Boy), Emily Kinney (Walking Dead, The Flash), Tom Wilson (Back To The Future), D B Woodside (Lucifer, Buffy), Terence Stamp (Superman, Star Wars) and Mark Williams (Harry Potter, Doctor Who).

But in case you wondered why the convention requires such a big venue, the list of guests doesn't come close to ending there because at Olympia you'll also spot Pamela Anderson (Baywatch), Alyson Hannigan (Buffy, How I Met Your Mother), James and Oliver Phelps (Harry Potter), Alexis Denisof (Buffy, Angel), Christopher Lloyd, (Back to the Future), Conleth Hill (Game Of Thrones), Wil Wheaton (Star Trek, Big Bang Theory), Peter Mayhew (Star Wars), Pilou Asbaek (Game of Thrones, Ghost In The Shell), Marc Blucas (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and Sir Derek Jacobi (Doctor Who, Gladiator),

Recognise those names, well no matter what your age and interests you'll be familiar with stacks of other characters from an all-star cast doing talks and autograph sessions at London Film & Comic Con that also includes Mike Colter (Luke Cage, Defenders), Finn Jones (Iron Fist, Game of Thrones), Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Rogue One), John Carroll Lynch (American Horror Story, The Walking Dead), Tom Skerritt (Alien), Tricia Helfer (Battestar Galactica, Lucifer), Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Breaking In), Veronica Cartwright (Alien), Zoe Wanamaker (Harry Potter, Doctor Who), Joe Dinicol (Arrow, Blindspot) and Missi Pyle (Galaxy Quest, Dodgeball).

And, as with most great movies the credits just keep rolling, with those showing up in London also featuring Tia Carrere (Wayne's World, Relic Hunter), Richard Dean Anderson (Stargate SG1, MacGyver), Chris Judge (Stargate SG1, Dark Knight), Bernard Cribbins (Doctor Who, The Wombles), David Labrava (Son Of Anarchy), Sacha Dhawan (Iron Fist, Sherlock, Mr Selfridge), Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead), David Bradley (Doctor Who, The Strain), Kenny Johnson (Son Of Anarchy), Mark Boone Junior (Son Of Anarchy), Daniel Naprous (Rogue One, Game Of Thrones), Margot Kidder (Superman), Phil LaMarr (Futurama, Star Wars: Rebels), Walter Koenig (Star Trek), Robert Hardy (Harry Potter), Kristian Nairn (Game of Thrones), Doug Jones (The Flash, Hellboy, The Strain), Jessica Henwick (Iron Fist, Game of Thrones, The Defenders), Ian McDiarmid (Star Wars), Julian Glover (Game of Thrones, Star Wars), Valene Kane (Rogue One, The Fall), Wai Ching Ho (Daredevil) and Michelle Harrison (The Flash, Continuum).

Think that's the end of the guest list? Well you'd be wrong, there are many more famous names lined up for London Film & Comic Con and travelling to various venues across the UK for Showmasters' other film and comic conventions this year, which include Sheffield (Motorpoint Arena, 12-13 August); Glasgow (Braehead Arena, 19-20 August); Bournemouth (International Centre, 26-27 August); Cardiff (Motorpoint Arena, 23-24 September); Exeter (Westpoint Centre, 14-15 October) and Newcastle (Metro Radio Arena, 21-22 October).

For more details about all Showmasters events visit the website.