Gung-ho for gadgets: World's largest Apple store opens in Covent Garden

A line of acolytes snaked through London's Covent Garden yesterday, desperate to be among the first to sample the largest Apple store in the world. Though no new products were launched, the first 4,000 through the doors did get a free commemorative T-shirt. The shirts were gone within four hours.

Apple opened its 300th store – the 28th in the UK – at 10am. So determined was Rosalie Williams, 29, from Angel, north London, to be first in line that she set up stall with her sleeping bag at 10am on Friday.

Thousands of technology fans followed her, including Apple's obligatory fanboys. Staff reported seeing the actors Nicholas Hoult, David Morrissey and Tom Felton, as well as the comedian Matt Lucas. Among the well-known female fans was singer Sharleen Spiteri.

Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs bought an iPad. "If I did anything other than acting it would be working in the [technical support] Genius Bar," said the Apple fan, who admitted he could often be found at the company's Regent Street store hoping staff would be busy so he could help out. "I am one of those people who reads manuals cover to cover."