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Leicester Square store opening: what time to arrive?

WhateveristWhateverist BelgiumMember Posts: 33
in Everything else LEGO
Hey all,

I'll be in Londen on Thursday so I'm going to check out the new store opening (too late for Wednesday tickets, boo!). I was wondering what the best time would be to arrive. Any tips from previous openings?
snowhitiekiki180703
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Comments

  • LostInTranslationLostInTranslation UKMember Posts: 5,594
    I'd say the earlier the better if you want the promotional items, but be prepared to potentially queue for a long time. If you don't want to queue I'd say don't bother trying to go on the 17th at all. 
  • WhateveristWhateverist BelgiumMember Posts: 33
    Queuing's not an issue :-) So what's earlier then - 8AM, 6AM?
  • LostInTranslationLostInTranslation UKMember Posts: 5,594
    edited November 2016
    The store opens at 12pm apparently. I think if you want to be near the front of the queue you'd need to be there before 10am for sure, most likely even earlier.

    It sounds like it's going to be a pretty big deal and they've publicised it a lot,  always lots of tourists in that area too who will probably join the queue to see what's going on but then again it's a weekday. It's really hard to say how busy it would be but I think VERY! 


  • WhateveristWhateverist BelgiumMember Posts: 33
    Thanks for the info!
  • CCCCCC UKMember Posts: 20,298
    Panic. Start queuing now.
    LostInTranslationkiki180703AdeelZubair
  • mr_bennmr_benn United KingdomMember Posts: 908
    Leicester Square is a fascinating place at 3 in the morning so at least you won't be short of things to watch.

    LostInTranslationstluxobi_gkiki180703AdeelZubair
  • omniumomnium Brickenham, UKMember Posts: 831
    According to the LEGO Facebook page, the store opens at 10am on Thursday...
    https://www.facebook.com/events/656957121131011/

  • omniumomnium Brickenham, UKMember Posts: 831
    Oh, and I see that the link from the facebook page does actually say 12pm...
    https://www.lego.com/en-gb/stores/stores/uk/london-leicester-square
    Doh!  Who's right and who's wrong??  LEGO or LEGO? ;-)

  • WhateveristWhateverist BelgiumMember Posts: 33
    edited November 2016
    Guess I'll drop by as early as possible, bring a book and hope a kind soul can save my spot in line during the inevitable loo break.

    I've also got another appointment at 2PM that's a half-hour Tube ride away... cutting it close!
  • obi_gobi_g BlightyMember Posts: 604
    heading down on friday. hopefully there will still be offers available!
  • LegoboyLegoboy 100km furtherMember Posts: 8,837
    I would say if you're not already queuing, you've left it too late.


    bandit778Bumblepantsmessykiki180703
  • mr_bennmr_benn United KingdomMember Posts: 908
    ^ Woah.  Seriously?  Please tell me this is for something else :)
    Legoboykiki180703
  • bendybadgerbendybadger 127.0.0.1 ::1Member Posts: 1,141
    ^Thats the queue for the New years fireworks, the Lego one is much longer.  
    Legoboykiki180703
  • TigerMothTigerMoth Member Posts: 2,343
    bendybadger said:
    ^Thats the queue for the New years fireworks, the Lego one is much longer.  
    Which year? The Odeon's been closed for two.
  • WhateveristWhateverist BelgiumMember Posts: 33
    edited November 2016
    Legoboy said:
    I would say if you're not already queuing, you've left it too late.

    Couldn't have done it anyway, tent's in the wash.

  • kbenjeskbenjes Member Posts: 70
    I showed up at the latest Pentagon City store opening at 7AM for a 10AM opening, and was 100th in line or so. Show up early.
  • TigerMothTigerMoth Member Posts: 2,343
    Whateverist said:
    Legoboy said:
    I would say if you're not already queuing, you've left it too late.

    Couldn't have done it anyway, tent's in the wash.

    Cardboard boxes are more traditionally used in Central London.
  • WhateveristWhateverist BelgiumMember Posts: 33
    kbenjes said:
    I showed up at the latest Pentagon City store opening at 7AM for a 10AM opening, and was 100th in line or so. Show up early.
    I have cleared my schedule for the entire morning. Let's do this. Is there any kind of queue etiquette I should know about?
  • omniumomnium Brickenham, UKMember Posts: 831
    Surely if you turn up at 12:15, the queue of people will be in the shop by then and you can just walk through the door? ;-)
  • CCCCCC UKMember Posts: 20,298
    omnium said:
    Surely if you turn up at 12:15, the queue of people will be in the shop by then and you can just walk through the door? ;-)
    Not if the queue is bigger than the fire safety limit (or other excuse they use to limit numbers at one time).

    Remember Lego will want long queues so that they get on the news.
  • omniumomnium Brickenham, UKMember Posts: 831
    CCC said:
    omnium said:
    Surely if you turn up at 12:15, the queue of people will be in the shop by then and you can just walk through the door? ;-)
    Not if the queue is bigger than the fire safety limit (or other excuse they use to limit numbers at one time).
    That's a good point.  I guess a large store will hold a couple of hundred people.  And the queue could easily be that large.
  • TigerMothTigerMoth Member Posts: 2,343
    omnium said:

    I guess a large store will hold a couple of hundred people.
    That store should hold at least 400-500.  For safety purposes, you're looking at 2 m² per person in a shop, although you can physically get a lot more than that. Brand stores tend to be a bit "empty".
  • CCCCCC UKMember Posts: 20,298
    They will also want people getting a good first impression inside the store too, so they won't want it cramped due to numbers with people then blogging about how cramped the store is. Then have to balance that with the poor experience of waiting outside for hours ...


  • TigerMothTigerMoth Member Posts: 2,343
    CCC said:
    they won't want it cramped
    That hasn't stopped them before...

    The best time to go sounds like late on Saturday evening.
  • stluxstlux LuxembourgMember Posts: 2,446
    I'm about in the line, with 10 more behind me now at 09:00. If anybody wants to say hi: red sweater and black backpack:)
    Fireheartbookmumbandit778kiki180703Lego_StarGaetanBurm
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,332
    When does it open? 12? Crazy.
  • FireheartFireheart Suffolk, UKMember Posts: 631
    ^^Dedicated AFOL. Hope you pick up some good items..
  • bookmumbookmum londonMember Posts: 1,390
    @stlux and all the others queuing - I hope you all have a good time. I hope someone bought a non afol with them to be the Mcdonalds runner or if you just want a sugar rush send them to m+m store. Have fun folks! 
  • mr_bennmr_benn United KingdomMember Posts: 908
    ^ I still have no idea how an entire store dedicated to M&Ms can sustain itself.  But yet it's always full!  M&Ms are just rubbish Smarties anyway...

    I think most important is to make friends in the queue for when you need a loo break!

    I hope that there aren't any 'entertainers' knocking about in the square yet (ok, some are pretty good, but a lot of them are terrible!)
  • RogerKirkRogerKirk BrightonMember Posts: 365
    stlux said:
    I'm about in the line, with 10 more behind me now at 09:00. If anybody wants to say hi: red sweater and black backpack:)
    How many people would you say are there now and how fast is it growing?
  • Steve_J_OMSteve_J_OM IrelandMember Posts: 987
    RogerKirk said:
    stlux said:
    I'm about in the line, with 10 more behind me now at 09:00. If anybody wants to say hi: red sweater and black backpack:)
    How many people would you say are there now and how fast is it growing?
    Er...I'm pretty bad at head counts but I'd say around 60? I've been here ten minutes and there are six people behind me now.
    RogerKirkkiki180703
  • RogerKirkRogerKirk BrightonMember Posts: 365
    Steve_J_OM said:
    RogerKirk said:
    stlux said:
    I'm about in the line, with 10 more behind me now at 09:00. If anybody wants to say hi: red sweater and black backpack:)
    How many people would you say are there now and how fast is it growing?
    Er...I'm pretty bad at head counts but I'd say around 60? I've been here ten minutes and there are six people behind me now.
    Thanks. Likely to be arriving there myself in about an hour...if I can get hold of my sister and work out where to meet her...
  • CCCCCC UKMember Posts: 20,298
    mr_benn said:

    I think most important is to make friends in the queue for when you need a loo break!




  • mr_bennmr_benn United KingdomMember Posts: 908
    ^ NO. 

    Bumblepantskiki180703stlux
  • GothamConstructionCoGothamConstructionCo Colchester UKMember Posts: 791
    ^^ It's just not worth it.
  • SeanTheCollectorSeanTheCollector BirminghamMember Posts: 765
    I've been queuing now for 15mins and the queue has grown at a steady pace. Has grown by at least 30 people. So don't leave it too late if you want to get in when it opens at 12 :)
  • bookmumbookmum londonMember Posts: 1,390
    @mr_benn the m+m store is one of the worlds biggest mysteries! 
  • snowhitiesnowhitie BelgiumMember Posts: 3,060
    How about someone gets out of the queue to take a picture if the queue for us at home? Or is that asking too much ? ;)
    Enjoy!
    bookmumkiki180703
  • jasonord69ajasonord69a UKMember Posts: 456
    bandit778snowhitiekiki180703stlux
  • DB361DB361 UKMember Posts: 290
    Just started turning people away from the queue for now as it's about to block the neighbouring building site - there'll be a queue for the queue!
  • mountebankmountebank Member Posts: 1,237
    Blimey! Since I wouldn't have be willing to queue for a couple of hours or more I'm glad I decided not to go.
  • theLEGOmantheLEGOman UKMember Posts: 1,525
    No way could you get 4-500 people in there comfortably, it was pretty busy yesterday with 100ish people plus staff.

    It will be brutal in there today.
  • CCCCCC UKMember Posts: 20,298
    Not many kids taking the day off school, just loads of adults taking the day of work.
  • jasonord69ajasonord69a UKMember Posts: 456
    After the initial 2-300 went in at 12.20ish nobody else has been let in! Anybody not near the front of the queue has along wait ahead. 
  • Steve_J_OMSteve_J_OM IrelandMember Posts: 987
    Just left now and there still massive queues to get in. Hard to enjoy to be honest because it is just rammed. Will come back to appreciate it properly some evening. For now I'm happy to take my retail store set and get outta here!
    Fireheartkiki180703
  • Speedman29Speedman29 UKMember Posts: 2,120
    Glad I didn't take a day off to go now. Lester will be unobtainium and the only other set I fancied was the store model for £20. Hopefully they may still be available for a bit or at leaset a bit cheaper on BL.
  • CCCCCC UKMember Posts: 20,298
    Still no Lesters on ebay yet (well, just the fake ones). Don't people have smartphones ...? :-)


  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,332
    With just 275 released it makes Lester almost 20x rarer than Mr Gold (and far more dapper if I do say so).
    SeanTheCollectorkiki180703
  • Steve_J_OMSteve_J_OM IrelandMember Posts: 987
    Also, was a little star struck to see Jamie Berrard in there signing copies of Big Ben!
    Legoboykiki180703
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