Sooo. I went to the Largest Lego store's preview last night in London and Oh My God! It is amazing! It was unfortunate that the kids couldn't make it (still in school when I took the train) but I certainly had fun exploring! Without talking too much, let me show you some pictures (click to enlarge)!
| Top: Upstairs Bottom: Downstairs |
| Super helpful and friendly staff! |
| Largest LEGO Big Ben constructed by LEGO Group |
| Amazing London Wall Art! |
| Selfie Spots - Lester the Mascot, Front door Arc, light up London Underground map, and London Underground! |
Wow right! It seriously is awesome! I think it's definitely a landmark you must visit when you visit London. It is the largest in the world after all, and just seeing this morning's queue for the 12pm opening says it all!
The London LEGO store covers 2 stories, is in an L shape with a good amount of space for you to walk around, and has tills on both floors. It contains the largest LEGO constructed Big Ben that actually chimes, and the details are amazing! Do take your time as there is a LOT to see (914 sqm, containing over 30,000,000 bricks!) so it can be a bit overwhelming (I wanted to go everywhere at once!). You can take selfies with all the amazing giant LEGO constructions while you shop, and even have your photo made into a LEGO mosaic kit upstairs (see below)!
There is quite a bit of exclusives to the London LEGO store, including this LEGO Architect London kit (RRP £44.99, based on my memory), which according to the very friendly Architect designer (I'm so sorry I never got your name!) who came all the way from LEGO Headquarter, is made out of their usual schedule so that it can be released in time for the London store opening! He was pretty cool by the way and did a signing on the spot!
The LEGO Mosaic Maker, as mentioned above, is the first one released (might launch in other stores, I'm not too sure). All you have to do is buy a Mosaic Maker card, slot it into the machine and get your photo taken. It will then print a large mosaic print of you on a mat, and you'll get a full mosaic kit to go with it, so you can build your own photo! It is really cool, and I'm not going to hide that I was well jealous of those who won the LEGO Mosaic Kit last night (everyone was a winner though)!
Also exclusive to the London LEGO store is the LEGO LEGO Store kit, which you'll get for free if you spend over £125 (again, based on my memory. It's not been very good lately, but it's around there)! I really would have gotten it if I haven't already bought Clay's LEGO Christmas present! I did buy something last night though, it's very hard not to, and got something else as a gift instead (see below).
Other things worth mentioning as well is:
- the awesome lift inside the store, so it's buggy and disabled friendly! I wouldn't mind taking a ride in there myself...
- demonstrations during the week days (look out for store announcements regarding dates and times), which is currently a Christmas Tree that the kids (and adults) can take home after building!
- the digital screen where you can see some of the LEGO kits come to live if you put it in front of the screen
- If you are a tourist, they offer hotel delivery so you can shop till you drop without carrying them around London!
It's near Christmas time and you can find a great selection of LEGO Christmas kits in store! If you spend over £25, you'll get a free and very smart LEGO Christmas Toy Soldier Ornament! There are also the new elves and Santa kits, Christmas advent calendars that are ever so popular, and the LEGO Christmas train set! You can still buy the LEGO Santa's Workshop as well, which is my favourite LEGO Creator set I own!
Like other LEGO stores, there is a lot of displays in the shop. We found out last time in the Manchester store that LEGO doesn't just display fully built kits, they will also display something built by experts that are not for sale! So next time you visit a LEGO store, do take a look at the displays and you might find something really cool, and get inspired!
I'm so glad that I went to the press event last night, it was truly impressive! All the staff I spoke to are really friendly, and you can tell that each of them has a skill to bring to the London team. Majority of the languages are covered, so it's very tourist friendly, there are staff with previous experience from other stores as well, and they all had training and practises, so you can expect a very welcoming and fun time in the store. London, you are so lucky!
Also worth mentioning, is that after your opening-week/ Christmas shopping, you'll get a special sticker with your receipt! Bring that receipt and sticker back between 11th December 2016 to 15th January 2017 to get a free 2017 LEGO wall calendar (I'm not sure if purchases is required, do check the T&C with the staff)! I need to go back!
So I did a small shopping, and hid away the extra Christmas present. I bought the LEGO Elves Emily Jones & Baby Wind Dragon (RRP £8.99) for myself, because I love the new dragon range, and it's one of the £8.99 LEGO set that I think is really worth buying (if you love LEGO Elves of course)! I also bought the LEGO Creator London Bus, because I think the kids will enjoy the bus a bit more than the LEGO Architect London. The rest are from our goodie bag (The LEGO Gingerbread house was the gift I received, thank you LEGO!)!
I had an awesome time last night, and I hope those who has queued for so long today will find the wait worthwhile too (I'm sure it does!) Have fun everyone!
