Has Style But Is That All? (Recommended)

Pros The Biggest Apple store in the UK, and I think the world!
It has Style written all over it, The smooth White colour all over the store.
As you walk in you get the feeling of price and style, which can be a good thing.
In the store is a whole range of ipods, macbooks, and software.
Also in the store are the "Genius Bar Helpers" - These help you with your broken or damaged ipods or just ask them for advice.
Overall it is a fantastic store

Cons But there are downsides.

In such a big store you would thing there would be a lot of things in it. Well not really, it has the same items just spaced out in massive quanities.

Queues - They really can get big at Peak Times

Cool look and great products (Recommended)

Pros Just like the apple products, this store is laid out very simply and is extremely accessible, comprising of two floors and glass walls, attributing the store with a chic modern look that make apple products oh so cool. The store lets you test sample their latest accessories, computers, mp3 players and phones and also acts as a free internet cafe - but you do have to stand up. This is great for test driving expensive applications, such as garageband and other music apps, before paying for them. The staff are also very friendly and will sort out any problems with mac products you own. They also offer deals, mainly aimed at students, such as buy a macbook and get an iphone, ipod, etc. free - they are trying to take over the world after all.

Cons The products' prices are never reduced and it is always best to buy them online. Also, the store is always busy, making it diifficult to test out the latest hardware, etc. Also, it's pretty annoying how big the store is compared to its contents - there is waaay too much space available. Also, the mini cinema upstairs showing how to work different apps is hardly ever on.

Brilliant Stores, brilliant products! (Recommended)

Pros A nice, modern store front (full glass & the white clinical, simplistic feel you get with Apple Macs). Interior is equally simplistic, pure white & glass seps to level 2 (where free daily lectures take place on various Mac hardware & software).

Product range is great, spread evenly across the store, you can sample most products (including the new i-phone) in-store. Also brilliant as most of the test models have internet access!

Staff are always friendly and eager to help, brilliant if you have ipod problems (as I did), as they can sort out all your garantee/replacement nonsense in store and won't refer you to a premium rate phone number like some other retail stores do!

Cons Sometimes staff can be overbearing, particularly when you are trying to sample one of their products.

good store, but not as fantasic as the hype makes out. (Recommended)

Pros the store itself really stnads out from the outside- big flashy logo, white shiny interior, lots of media screens to see from the outside.

Inside its clean and tidy, with quite afew staff around to help you out if you have any questions, quite afew ipods and macs to test drive and fully stocked with wires and cables for all apple media.

There is also, on the top floor, a space for apple lectures, done by the staff, with seating and a large projected image where you can learn tips and instructions for use. The lectures change every day so its worth picking up a programme incase theres something you want to know.

There are also toilets- despite apple not selling food, they do have toilets you can use, they are slightly hidden so ask for them from a member of staff. They are very clean and very tidy- or atleast they were on my last visit!

Cons This store is too big- its needless space that is filled with duplicated products, its a let down as you get inside and think "wow- all these new things for my ipod/mac" only to find theres only a handful of products and they are duplicated around the store. Saves walking around I suppose, but makes you wonder if Apple should have bought a smaller store...

The machines to test drive are always buisy, you have to que and grap to get to use them ahead of the timewasters whose wives are shopping across the road at liberties/down the road at marks and spencers. They sit and hog the machines, you will rarely get to test one in my experience.

The stairs! luckily they have a life- but the place could do with either escilators or a few glass lifts.

The staff are everywhere and will always help you, but one or tow could do with a tad more training, they go get thier friends to help you if this happens!

Still style over substance (Recommended)

Pros I'm still not convinced.

I've tried using their computers for years, I just don't get the attraction. Either which way, Apple have always done presentation pretty well.

The flagship store is huge and really spacious. Most of the floor space isn't used. There's lots of macs and ipods and iphones available to get to grips with.

Even in busy periods I've managed to get my hands on something to play with it. They sell the ipods, macs and the likes on the ground floor along with their relevant accessories.

Upstairs there's a "Genius Bar" (I'm saying nothing), where the tech team will answer any queries you might have. The staff in there are genuinely friendly and will take their time in answering any questions or showing you around a machine or gadget.

Upstairs there's an area where they step you through the latest Apple product. A member of staff with a head mic and a large projector display walks people sitting in cinema-like seats through software products. These presentations are always good for killing time if you're curious about the evil fruit machines.
Overall the presentation and Apple store experience is a good one. I still don't get it though.

Cons None given.

Apple Fanboy Heaven UK not fun (Not Recommended)

Pros Good layout with lots of equipment on display to let you play with. I think a lot of tech retailers should copy the way the goods are presented and can be played with - if you touch and feel and play with it you get a better appreciation of the kit.

Cons Elbow your way to the front and make the fanboys gasp with shock as you roughly pick up the iPhone. Make them faint in the aisles as you loudly declare that Balckberries are more useful.

I just don't get the Apple tech lust and this shop isn't really a shop is it? It's a commercial altar where the customer service can be painfully slow and lazy. But they know why you are really here: to drool over the latest pointless bit of kit in shiny silver. You don't need it but you want it

Go during the week as you pass but if you want anything other than an ipod buy online.