Inside Apple's New Covent Garden Retail Store

[MacRumors]

We've mentioned Apple's new retail store set to open in the Covent Garden district of London on Saturday several times over the past week, but the location is an interesting one given its status as the company's largest store yet. Yesterday we shared some photos of the exterior of the store after the wraps came down, but today Electricpig.co.uk follows up with a brief video walkthrough of the sprawling space.

Among the interesting items of note for the store are a pair of glass staircases, as well as a number of "rooms" breaking up large interior space, including dedicated spaces for group learning and professional labs. According to the report, Apple's entire flagship Fifth Avenue retail store in Manhattan would fit into the glass-covered courtyard of the Covent Garden store. The new store also offers Apple's largest-yet Genius Bar, as well as more iPad and iPhone 4s in stock than any other retail location in the world.

Article Link: Inside Apple's New Covent Garden Retail Store

 

[millertime021]

Man, I really wish the Apple store's near me were awesome.

Don't get me wrong, they're awesome, just not this awesome.

My Apple store doesn't even have ONE glass staircase!!! This is ridiculous...

 

[lilcosco08]

It's
*sniffle*
Beautiful!

 

[macnerd93]

I feel privilege to live in the UK now lol, when I go to Sandhurst next week I"m gonna go into london to see this store instead of Regent Street which use to be my Fav. Also to note is one of my mates lives nearby and he said the store looked open, there where people wondering about just dressed in normal clothing no uniform. I suppose it was a staff tour or something

 

[iguanarama]

Covent Garden retail space is close to $1,000,000 per square millimetre.

It's incredible how much space Apple has there.

 

[kernkraft]

1.) For the premium that Apple UK charges, they better have a decent store!

2.) At least the UK is the best in something, even if it's such an insignificant thing. Ladies and gentlemen, the "Largest Apple Store In The World" award goes to... London, United Kingdom!

 

[iDisk]

London Calling .......

I want an ALL GLASS APPLE STORE!!! Literally All Glass

 

[whooleytoo]

Niiiice. Not often is a store "pretty".

Makes a lot of sense to have such a big store in London, given the big trendy design industry there.

 

[gmcalpin]

Apple Stores are gorgeous but I have this weird neuroses about walking on glass, no matter how thick it is.

Going up the glass stairs or crossing the glass bridge upstairs at the Michigan Avenue location always gives me the willies.

Yes, I am a big frickin' baby.

 

[Lesser Evets]

HOLD THE PRESSES! This store has TWO glass staircases! TWO!! OMG.

-_-;

Come on. It's a nice store space, no doubt, and the tech help is cool. However, this is so disturbingly fan-wanky. TWO glass staircases, and one is SQUARE. OMG....omg... phone home.

 

[DGFan]

Going up the glass stairs or crossing the glass bridge upstairs at the Michigan Avenue location always gives me the willies.

I think the glass stairs and bridges have something to do with willies, but it's not what you think.

There always seem to be a few "distracted gentlemen" hanging out at the bottom for some reason -- at least when it's warm outside.

 

[JakeDTS]

Camera Work

It's a beautiful store. Nice camera work too..not.

 

[iZac]

God bless our rigorously enforced planning permissions for listed buildings (i assume its listed anyway) It's cases like this when they clearly weren’t allowed to remove existing columns, affect pretty much any of the building fabric and restricted to minimal signage outside and it looks much more beautiful and unique for it.

 

[Theclamshell]

I want that big picture of all the iPod nano's !!!

 

[macjock]

I feel privilege to live in the UK now lol, when I go to Sandhurst next week I"m gonna go into london to see this store instead of Regent Street which use to be my Fav. Also to note is one of my mates lives nearby and he said the store looked open, there where people wondering about just dressed in normal clothing no uniform. I suppose it was a staff tour or something

There is a media briefing / preview today.

That is the people he would have noticed.

 

[Žalgiris]

Looks like some US citizens can't swallow their pride, not that it comes as a surprise though.

 

[obiwan]

Cool, can't wait to visit! - I'm going to London in a couple of weeks - perfect excuse to pick up a Magic Trackpad.

 

[sananda]

I do believe I'll head down there on Saturday. Just maybe they'll have an iPad Camera Connector Kit!

 

[wrkactjob]

Apple Stores are gorgeous but I have this weird neuroses about walking on glass, no matter how thick it is.

Going up the glass stairs or crossing the glass bridge upstairs at the Michigan Avenue location always gives me the willies.

Yes, I am a big frickin' baby.

Yes you have had that since being a baby, it's quite inherent.

 

[salesguy]

Am I one of the few that don't like the look? All the glass and modern Apple design touches don't mesh well with the brick building IMO.

I also think the largest Apple store in the world should be in the USA not the UK.

 

[Sixtafoua]

I want to go there!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[niuniu]

Feels good to be able to win any argument, ever, on the MR forums from now on..



'yeah, but our Apple Store is bigger than yours'.

 

[kernkraft]

Looks like some US citizens can't swallow their pride, not that it comes as a surprise though.

Who have you got in mind?

 

[macjock]

I also think the largest Apple store in the world should be in the USA not the UK.

Why?

 

[casik]

Am I one of the few that don't like the look? All the glass and modern Apple design touches don't mesh well with the brick building IMO.

I also think the largest Apple store in the world should be in the USA not the UK.

The glass and brick is awesome... and as for the last comment... I should hold my tongue...