Take a look inside Apple's new Regent Street store

Apple's Regent Street store in London was for a long time its flagship, not only in the UK but also in Europe.

It was the first store opened in Europe, and it's fair to say that it redefined what a technology retail store could look like, spawning imitations from the company's competitors.

Now, 12 years after its first opening, the Regent Street Apple Store is reopening after a pretty huge makeover.

Gone is the iconic glass staircase and in its place comes a more open, spacious design from Foster + Partners, who are also working on Apple's new headquarters in Battersea Power Station .

As before, the store features two levels, but the upper part of the mezzanine floor has been opened up, which means the main "hall" is is much more open and airy.

Downstairs features an "avenue" of trees – yes, real trees inside the building – with product areas each side.

Apple senior vice president of retail, Angela Ahrendts, and head of retail for Europe, Wendy Beckman, both emphasised the importance of respecting the architecture of the building, which has a grade II-listed exterior facade and forms a key part of the northern part of Regent Street.

Although the new store won't have as much impact on the wider retail technology market as the original one, it again positions Apple as a leader in tech retail.

The updated Apple Store Regent Street opens to the public at 10am on Saturday 15 October.