The world’s largest McDonald’s was a short-lived titan. Built specially for the London 2012 Olympics, it was situated within spitting distance of the stadium that’s since been taken over by West Ham United on a 99-year lease signed in 2013.
Expected to feed 1,200 customers an hour, the massive Maccies overtook the franchise in Pushkin Square, Moscow as the world’s busiest during its summer fling in 2012.
"London 2012 is set to be the most sustainable Games ever hosted and this ambition inspired us not only to fulfil our role as official restaurant in the catering operation behind the event, but also to bind sustainability into the heart of our state-of-the-art Olympic Park restaurants," said Jill McDonald, then-CEO of McDonald's UK, before the franchise opened.
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If you’re wondering what’s sustainable about an enormous McDonald’s that couldn’t outlast a season of Love Island for longevity, rest assured that 75% of the materials used for the pop-up were designed to be reused or recycled.
Seeing as you can’t go and see this McDonald’s for yourself, let’s take a look at what visitors to the London 2012 Olympics were treated to.
The cavernous building had 32,000 square feet of floor space, with 15 tills and 2,00 seats across its indoor and outdoor areas.
A first-floor balcony offering views over the Olympic Park in Stratford had 150 seats, with much of the upper floor and cladding being made with recycled timber.
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Beyond that, it was business as usual for a modern McDonald’s with its panelling, glossy sheen, and more corporate-esque aesthetic that replaced the kid-focused whimsy that preceded it.
It was staffed by 2,000 people, with most of those selected from the brand’s top-performing workers from around the UK. 500 crew members were active during its opening hours, serving a capacity of 2,000 customers across its seating and waiting areas.
“We'll be serving the broadest menu we've ever provided at an Olympic Games, thanks to the continued evolution of our menu, our longstanding British supply chain, and the technology we have in place to handle the highly complex Olympic catering challenge," McDonald’s said at the time.
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As for which McDonald’s is the largest in the world in 2025, the crown goes to the 19,000 square foot monster in Orlando, Florida. This one’s a bit of a cheat as far as being the biggest is concerned, as it’s not your typical Maccies.
Along with a menu bolstered by some exclusive options not seen anywhere else, it’s a three-storey entertainment complex complete with over 100 arcade games and a massive kids’ play area.
Rachael Davis