Ikea confirms opening date for Oxford Street flagship

Ikea has confirmed its highly anticipated Oxford Street flagship will open at the start of May following an extensive environmental upgrade of the Grade II listed building.

The 5,800sqm store at 214 Oxford Street will span three floors, and house the furniture giant’s showroom of inspiration roomsets, a market hall, and a 130-seater Swedish Deli.

Shoppers will also be able to book complimentary one-to-one design consultations for kitchens and bedroom storage.

Ikea Oxford Street will have a selection of 3,500 home furnishing accessories and small furniture items available for immediate purchase from its market hall, while larger products will be available for home delivery or collection.

The store’s opening follows three years of renovation works, which include upgrades to enhance the property’s environmental performance, refurbishing its original features.

Ikea UK chief executive and sustainability officer Peter Jelkeby said: “Whether a local Londoner or a tourist passing through, Ikea Oxford Street aims to inspire home dreams for everyone – offering beautifully designed, functional furnishings at prices affordable for as many people as possible, ensuring visitors leave with ideas and solutions that make everyday life at home a little better.

“We have worked carefully to ensure we maintain the character of this historic building whilst creating a modern retail environment for customers to explore and be inspired.

“London is an iconic shopping destination, and we are thrilled to now have a home in its centre. Ikea Oxford Street’s location complements our network of stores in London – and beyond – and allows us to be closer to where our customers live, work and shop, while importantly being easily accessible by foot or public transport. We look forward to welcoming you in.”

The retailer revealed at the start of last month that it had received 3,730 applications in just six days for the Oxford Street store – more than ten times the 150 available positions.

Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter