I am a massive IKEA fan! Each one is the same... but different. Most have their basic products, but sometimes their minor product range is different depending on the location and country.
I know this for a fact, as I've been to IKEAs in nearly every western European country and USA! "Why?" you might ask!? Because it's so much fun! And I can Always rely on a scrumptious and affordable meal in their cafes!
This location is basically the same as all the others, but in my opinion it is much larger! One of the biggest buildings in central Coventry! It has 3 floors of parking and 6 or more floors in the building total!
Your main starting point is on the floor with 'showrooms'. You can find this floor via the 4 massive elevators from the parking garage. Once you manage to make your way through that, the next level down is smaller individual items for sale, like kitchenware, bedding, storage etc. Then the final level down is the massive warehouse of huge items in boxes to buy. I hope you wrote your item # down somewhere or took a pic on your phone, because there's never many people on this floor to help you!
Before the check out, be sure to stop by the discounted area. These are the items that someone returned, partially broken, or old showroom furniture. The checkout queues are usually a bit of a wait, but this location has a self service area if you only have a few things.
I suggest eating at the cafe before you shop. At this location it is located on the top floor, near the toilets, and conveniently before you begin with the showrooms. Sometimes I get carried away that after shopping I have so much stuff my trolley won''t fit in the cafe seating area. If that happens, put everything in your car and head back up. (Hassle) The cafe offers a wide selection of full meals at very reasonable prices. And desserts, drinks of all sorts, etc. There is also an area for nursing and a small kids play area.
Coventrys IKEA won't let you go home hungry! They've even got a second smaller cafe down stairs on the groundfloor, and another quick one after the tills! Also after the tills is a small geocery store with packaged goods to take home and make for dinner. And don't feel bad about dragging you little ones through the place for a couple hours... because there is actually a daycare center here to let them get off all their steam!
Tips and Tricks:
Join the IKEA Family card program to get a free type of insurance on faulty products. This card also gets you free coffee or tea any time of day... and discounts of select main courses. It also allows for you to know about upcoming events. Last but not least, scan your club card receipt after every shop for a special spurise!
Use the loo before you shop, because once you're in the IKEA "maizes", it takes quite some time to actually get out!
Allow yourself enough time to lose yourself in the creative mindset of what your potential home or office space could become! This is a creative space!
Coventrys location allows you to validate your parking ticket after shopping. Also if you enter your car around the secret back side entrance, you can save some time and park on the ground floor. This is also useful for walking around the city center so not to navigate stairs or elevators.
Enjoy & good luck! read more