IKEA- Lakeside

Great selection of products, I am so NOT a home furnishings snob, absolutely love IKEA.
Every visit inspires you to redecorate the entire house… you have to resist, just buy the things you need… come on be strong, just the items on the list.
Fail !!!
I couldn’t help it, everything is so awesome here.
And we’re having Swedish meatballs for dinner. :-)

What can I say about IKEA that you don’t already know?
As a brand, it’s just genius. Flat pack furniture made cool and actually easy to assemble. AND they don’t just flip stock so if you happen to drop a piece down the stairs for instance, years after you first bought it as part of a set, you can just pop on over and pick up a replacement. Unlike anywhere else. Like I said, genius.
The Thurrock store is particularly nice. I thought I’d find it really difficult to get to, particularly as it’s not signposted from off the motorway, but all you really need to do is head to Lakeside and you’ll see a big sign for it on the roundabout. Then it’s just one giant turn around and you’re there.
When you head in, there are three things to note.
1. They have a insanely cool kiddie play area so there aren’t any bored kids causing a ruckus in the store. They’re all having fun in the ball pit.
2. You need to take a lift if you’re taking a trolley with you, but unless you’re planning on stocking up majorly on cushions on your way round, they have trolleys at the end too.
3. The paper and pencils are on a tiny little stand next to the left railing on the staircase. This will probably be the most useful tip because I spent a VERY long time looking for them. Almost an embarrassingly long time.
Once you’ve navigated the stairs/​lift, this IKEA is much like the others. A winding trail around beautiful displays that make you want to have 50 rooms in your house so you can have every style and all the furniture… everything from bedrooms to living rooms to entire studio flats including bathrooms and a small kitchen/​bedroom/​sofaspace. This really is a one stop shop. Anything else that claims to be is lying.
Of course, if you’re only there to stock up on some candles and a rug, you’ve got a long walk ahead of you. And maybe you should just go to Argos to save yourself two hours and spontaneous buys along the way. Hey, just trying to help from experience.
After you’ve browsed the huge displays, it’s time to stock up. And if you’re anything like me and forgot to write down the aisle and shelf numbers (you know, the things that actually help you FIND the stuff at the end) and you’ve just written down the name of things, then don’t fear. They’ve introduced a nifty little computer system where you can look up products by name. I really can’t say it enough: genius.
Everything from IKEA is ridiculously good value. I’ve had chests of drawers, bookcases and rugs that have had daily use and are still in perfect condition. The flat pack stuff is easy to assemble, you can get an entirely matching house if you really want to and it’s probably possible to do it for under £500 too. And thanks to their clever storage collection, size isn’t a problem either. They’ve got the solution to all your storage needs.
When I finally find my future home, you can bet your bottom dollar I’m heading back here and kitting it out. I’ve already got my eye on an ottoman for £25 and a button rug for £35. GENIUS.

If you haven’t heard of Ikea before, let me be the first to welcome to you on our might fine planet, be sure to try the meatballs, they’ll change your alien life!
Ikea does this amazing trick, they setup all of their stores the exact same for the most part. They’ve created a pretty solid app, so if you know what you want, you can save it and find out stock availability and location at your preferred store to collect it. This in theory should make your trip to Ikea quick and easy. No, I still managed to spend 3 hours there, but got almost everything I needed and the overall experience was pretty good.
I like going in the mornings when they first open as it is a lot less manic, start out with some cheap brekkie (£4 total for 2 people), then finish with some Swedish meatballs before leaving… after a three hour trip.

Slightly confusing to get to by car, but worth the effort as this is definitely one of the nicer Ikea stores around. Everything is clean and tidy with well laid out displays. We went during the quiet period and it was much less stressful than your average Ikea trip. The food at the on site café is pretty good toogo for the meatballs with mash and gravy! However, watch out at the till for mis-​priced items as we were initially overcharged for a few clearance items and getting the difference refunded proved a real mission.

This is my local Ikea. In fact it’s so close I sometimes like to visit even if I don’t have a purpose! I always find loads I want to buy and sometimes have to really think about if I need it or not. However, I always buy candles which are cheap and smell lovely and I have a thing for their food clips! Ikea loses a point because they have started to sell only their brand of food in the shop. I happen to like other Swedish brands and so this was a disappointment when the shop changed.

I’m a fan of cool Scandinavian design so every now and then I make a journey to this huge IKEA located in former gravel pits. Unfortunately due to geography and the way Lakeside retail park is laid out. It’s not particularly walker friendly.
The store is laid out in room style to encourage customers to recreate it rather than buy individual items. However IKEA caters for everyone from gay couples to family units with prices keenly designed to reflect all budgets. All very democratic and equal.
The food in the café is cheap and fairly tasty but it could be better as everything is made off site before being assembled together insure. The café is messy as people don’t clear their tables and IKEA keeps staffing levels low.
After choosing your goods and before making your way to the checkout. Do take a quick peek at bargain corner. You may find damaged rubbish but you can also buy perfectly good ex display stuff.
After the tills, I always look at the Swedish shop where they sell a range of frozen and long life Swedish groceries. I love the blackcurrant cured herrings and the reindeer salami.

Huge warehouse stocking everythign you could ever possibly want for your home: furniture, lighting, kitchens, cutlery, soft furnishings, toys and so much more. The first floor is a giant showroom — beware, you can get lost in here for HOURS!
There is a super cheap restaurant upstairs and a swedish food market downstairs that sells all the dime bars and meatballs you could ever want.
Avoid like the plague on weekends as it will be packed with families and screaming children.

I love Ikea, but not so much when its a packed Saturday or Sunday.
If your after cheap furniture, then Ikea is the place for you to go. They selll a huge range of household furniture, beds, desks, and lots more. Most stuff comes flat packed, so you will need to put it together, but i’m female and manage fine, so its very easy, and i normally struggle with things like this.
I wouldn’t visit if i didn’t have a car, i have looked at the delivery prices and your looking at nearly £45, which is very expensive for somebody who lives 10 miles away.
After walking around for hours its great to stop by the café. They are known for very cheap food. I have had the meatballs about 5 times, and i have to say its yummy. You can also grab yourself a very nice brekki here too for around 95p, the whole works too.
If you are going to Ikea for something inparticular make sure you check online first to see whether its in stock.

When visiting Ikea you really need a whole day. Because it takes a while to travel there. I would really recommend driving here as you will most definitely end up buying a lot more than you actually need just because.
I usually have a look on line first to see what I want and try my best to stick to my list but as I said it is difficult. They literally have everything you could possibly need for your home, to include, lighting, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and eating, dining, living room, storage and work spaces.
Luckily they have a restaurant here because shopping in Ikea is tiring. I usually go for the Swedish Meat balls which are pretty cheap.

I love it, you love it, everybody loves Ikea. The Lakeside branch is massive and crammed full of affordable, Swedish, flat pack furniture goodness.
If you have never been to Ikea before, shame on you. The store is split into sections as if you were walking through someone’s house. So the bedroom furnishings are together, as are the bathroom and so on. The designs are contemporary, affordable with a huge variety of styles to choose from. You can either go for really cheap items that unfortunately look cheap, or splurge a little more cash and buy something that looks, funky and expensive for a still relatively cheap price.
Once you’ve decided on what you want to take home, you must meander down to the warehouse to pick up your flat pack boxes. I recommend taking a pen so you can remember exactly the product you liked, so when you are in the warehouse you can easily locate the items.
The best part of shopping at Ikea is yet to come. Just beyond the cash tills they have a counter that sells the cheapest yet tastiest hotdogs I have ever had. For around 60p a hotdog you can stuff yourself with as many as you like. I always do.
Keep an eye out for Ikea sales. They are legendary and at times quite aggressive where people battle it out for the remaining bargains.

As much as I hate going over Dartford bridge (scary) I would much rather go to the Lakeside Ikea than the Croydon one. I take my hat off to the staff here they were so helpful, the store was much better set out than Croydon and they had nearly everything in stock unlike Croydon. Also it’s easier to find. The disabled access is good with lots of parking and disabled loos.

I love Ikea. It has some great bargains at really affordable prices. Their products are very well made, designed well and very fashionable for the prices they ask. You could not ask for more for your home.
This store however is so huge that I find it offputting. Walking from one end of the store to the other is a workout in itself and I am always shattered after a visit.
The café/​resturant area is big too to reflect the overall size of the building but it is clean, affordable with a good selection of food and drinks and there is always plenty of seating available. Its a great place to browse their catalogue before buying in the main shop.

Although this store has some great bargains and is worth a visit it is always overcrowded both inside and outside whenever I visit. They have a large carpet but you will be lucky to find a space close to the store. Also, the collection points where you can pack heavy items into your car are always very busy. You may have to wait for a while to get one. It is easy to navigate your way around the store and there is a convenient restaurant with cheap food available. I must admit I never enjoy the experience when shopping in Ikea but do find some bargains. Returning something really is a unique experience. The last time I went I had to wait my turn for 30 minutes. They had a number system which was like waiting to give blood.

For some people (IE my husband!) IKEA is a nightmare, but for others like me it’s heaven. I love their children’s stuff and the storage solutions are a godsend. The café is great when it’s not too busy. Would avoid going at all on as Saturday afternoon. love the hot dogs too. It’s a shame you can’t sit at tables and eat them anymore, they replaced them with high stools and tables, not v. child friendly.

Personally I love Ikea. You can always find something that you will wonder how you ever lived without it.
When you first go in you can wander round rooms and imagine how your house could be. Then you can go to the market area and pick up some really good bargains.
Can get busy and can get frustrating trying to find your way round but definitely a place to go.

I really like Ikea there are such a lot of wonderful quirky items as well as the larger furniture items. Beware though you find that you’re saying quite a lot only a pound I’ll have one of those, or only 50p I’ll have two of those and when you get to the till somehow you have a bill of £30−40!!! There Christmas stuff is really unusual too which makes for special treats. The restaurant is so cheap and for really good portions too and I do like the idea of free refills for your drinks too!!! A great day out! I’ve just found out that they are building one in Southampton which is much closer to home, so no more wasting petrol and trekking half way across the country!!! Wonderful!

This IKEA is not quite as clean as ones I have been into in the past, that said it still has the same great selection. We initially moved into an unfurnished apartment and this was a good way to get set up cheaply.
The restaurant is also a great idea as it means my boyfriend has incentive to come as he is not a big shopping fan. The restaurant here is also a little tired but still serviceable.

Who doesn’t like IKEA!
People may moan that it’s cheap and that it’s flat pack, but it’s really modern and generally easy to put together. (unless you get unlucky, which is probably often with flatpack)
The store is really huge, and you could only ever really visit if you have access to a car, otherwise you’d have little chance of getting it delivered. If I recall they do a delivery service, but it isn’t too cheap.
Another plus is the Café. They do really cheap breakfast in the morning, and cheap and cheerful meals too, it helps make a visit to IKEA a family day out!
Just beware the store will likely get busy, afterall, we all love cheap furniture!

Cheap and cheerful (ok, not always cheerful when its really busy) great place to furnish your house on the cheap.
Café is fantastic, try the meatballs!
You can also buy food in the small food shop near the checkouts, the dime chocolate is lovely!

ok it is busy and the queues are huge but most ikea stores are like this. The staff are very nice and helpful they have let me and other customers stay late after they close the shop to get stock down for us using forklift trucks when they could of just we don’t have any. the guy in charge of bargin corner is not up to the usual standard of their staff he is rude, not helpful and hides out the back leaving customers waiting for him and tries to over price stuff.
Don’t go during half term the café runs out of food and real plates and cups.