Microsoft to plant retail flag in London

Microsoft will open its third flagship location, which will also be the company's first retail store in London.



The company announced plans to open a flagship on Regent Street at Oxford Circus. The location, which in the heart of the city's retail district, is just down the road from an Apple flagship.



"We couldn’t be happier to be opening a flagship store in the heart of central London at Oxford Circus, where two of the world’s most iconic shopping streets meet," said Cindy Rose, head of Microsoft in the U.K. and the company's partner throughout the location selection process. "This will be so much more than just a great place to experience all that is possible with Microsoft, but a real hub for the community where we’ll be bringing to life our passion for helping people explore their creativity through an ambitious program of workshops and training along with moments that work to unite the community.”



Microsoft did not say when the store would open or reveal any design details. But similar to the company's other stores, it's expected that the London outpost will showcase Microsoft's hardware and software offerings, allowing for hands-on experiences by customers, and host free workshops and other events.



Currently, the tech giant operates approximately 100 mostly mall-based stores, with a flagship in New York City and Sydney, Australia.