London is preparing to welcome its first Apple Store, as a host of branded goodies including the iPod and its accessories are given their own shop.

Located on Regent Street in the heart of the West End, the store opens for business this weekend with customers able to purchase the latest products and also test out some of those under development.

Email facilities will be available to shoppers, as will the latest prototypes, and even a ‘Genius Bar’, where trained Apple experts will offer help and advice on all the latest technical gadgets.

Apple envisages a store that will cater for every last whim of the gadget fanatic, as Informa Media’s analyst Simon Dyson explained to the Evening Standard.

“The iPod is the must-have product and this store will become the high temple,” he quipped.

The Apple Store will mark the company’s second foray outside of America after its Tokyo shop.