Microsoft opens flagship London store on Oxford Circus
Microsoft opened its flagship store on Oxford Circus today, marking the US tech giant’s first major retail location in Europe.
The new store offers a string of hands-on customer experiences, including a McLaren Senna racing car experience, a gaming lounge and a digital learning hub offering coding lessons for children.
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“We’ve wanted to bring a flagship to London for a very long time,” said Cindy Rose, corporate vice president of Microsoft UK.
“Our ambition is that this is a place where people can do so much more than just shop. It’s a place where they can learn new skills, where businesses can grow and where we can build long term links with the communities in our neighbourhood.”
Microsoft said the flagship store, located a stone’s throw from rival Apple’s Regent Street base, marks the latest step in its almost 40-year investment in the UK.
The US company has announced a £1m donation to charities UK Youth, The Raspberry Pi Foundation and The London Community Foundation, which it said would help to empower disadvantaged young people and support the local community.
The flagship store, which covers 22,000 square feet over three floors, will be open seven days a week.
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Jace Tyrrell, chief executive at New West End Company, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Microsoft to Oxford Circus, the heart of London’s retail district.
“The interactive flagship offers a new hands-on customer experience to our 600,000 daily visitors, bolstering the innovative and technological offering of the West End to businesses, visitors and local communities alike.”
Main image credit: Microsoft