The Best Time to shop at Ikea
Whether you need furniture, are craving Swedish meatballs, or just want to browse the aisles. Ikea is the ideal place to shop. It's also a popular place to do so. You may have found yourself arriving in the past, only to turn around and drive away when you saw the length of the queue.
If you've had that experience on multiple occasions, then you've likely been visiting during a busy period. Long lines and busy stores can be a frustrating experience, but how can you avoid this with such a popular store?
There are plenty of opportunities to visit Ikea throughout the week, some of them will be quieter than others. If you're holding out for the chance to browse to your heart's content, you'll probably want to go when there are fewer queues. That way, if you wind up picking up more than you expected, you can still get in and out of the store in good time.
When should you visit Ikea Exeter?
According to retail experts Opening Times, the best time to visit Ikea Exeter is a Tuesday after 5 PM. Any time in the evening is quieter than in the afternoon, but an hour before closing will be your best bet. Tuesday, however, is generally less busy than the rest of the week. So if you can't get in during the evening, a day trip isn't too bad either. If you cannot get it on Tuesday specifically, then either between 10 and 11 AM or between 7 and 8 PM on a Wednesday or a Thursday is a great opportunity as well.
Generally, if you want to visit Ikea in the morning, you should probably get there before the store opens. This will work out best during the week, as you may want to pop in and grab the stuff you need quickly. Most of the people who queue up early with you will be wanting to do the same thing. So you should be able to get in and out quickly.
If you want more opportunities to browse, then go in during the last hour of the store opening. The store closes at 8 PM for most of the week. If you head into the store at around 7 PM, you will find that it's a lot quieter in preparation for the shop closing, but you'll still have time to browse if you wish. Just don't head in too close to closing time unless you are going in to grab something specific because you won't have time to browse if you leave it too late.
If you are trying to avoid busy periods for whatever reason, then stay away from the shop mid-afternoon. You may get people visiting to collect things in their lunch break, or if it's a little later in the afternoon, people on the way home from collecting kids. Ikea is a furniture shop foremost. But there are plenty of other products that could make for a fun trip to keep them quiet on the way home. If you need the furniture as you're redecorating, then try to plan your trip out in advance. If you have any idea of when you're going and what you're looking for, you may be able to move through the crowds quicker, even if it is busy, and get through the queues to pay.
What if I want to go to the restaurant?
If you're craving sustenance to power your shop you may want to eat in the restaurant. The Exeter store does have a restaurant, but you may well have to book a table in advance. You will want to avoid browsing the store during meal times, as it will be busy, but this can work in your favour. The restaurant stops taking bookings 45 minutes before the restaurant closes, so bear that in mind when planning your meal.
Last Booking Times
- Monday to Friday - 6.45 PM
- Saturday - 5.45 PM
- Sunday - 2.45 PM
If you want to take advantage of the quiet shopping time in the evening, you can book one of those last tables. The restaurants themselves shut earlier than the shop as a whole. So you can enjoy your meal, then go and get your shopping and browse afterwards. This is probably the best way to do it, as neither the restaurant nor store will be busy so late in the day.
For those of you who are visiting Ikea for the Swedish Food Market and Bistro options, it is probably best to get there early during the day. If you go during meal times then a lot more people will want to visit the market. And that means that it will be busy. But going at the end of the day puts you at risk of not being able to pick up what you wanted. So if you fancy Swedish food to take home, make it a morning trip.
Unlike the restaurant, the bistro and food market is open the same hours as the shop itself. So even if you aren't visiting for the food, you will have the opportunity to see what they have to offer.
What if I can only visit Ikea on weekends?
Be warned that Ikea will be busy during the weekend. It's a possible day out for some families, and you won't be the only person who only really has the opportunity to visit the store on the weekends.
You may need to be patient, and you may have to be willing to queue. But if you visit the store around an hour before it closes, it should be a little quieter. If you want to avoid the crowds, then don't visit on a Saturday afternoon. According to Google data, the shop is busiest around 1 PM on a Saturday. Though we don't have exact specifics, you will have a longer wait at this time than in the evening.
Sunday is generally a little quieter than a Saturday. But the shop is also open for a shorter amount of time. The quietest time is still going to be an hour before closing, but it is also less busy during the day. If you need to visit Ikea on the weekend, going on a Sunday is your best bet.
When Should I Visit on a Bank Holiday?
A bank holiday weekend is going to be very busy. So if you're thinking of dropping into Ikea, try to avoid the mid-afternoon. The store will likely be busy from when it opens.
Fortunately, the Exeter Ikea is open for the usual hours on bank holidays. This means that you have a full day's opportunity to shop. You're not restricted to Sunday hours, as many shops are during a bank holiday.
With this in mind, you should try to pop in between 7 and 8 PM, an hour before the store closes, as this is when it'll be quietest.
When can I use the click and collect service?
The Exeter Ikea does offer a click-and-collect service which is very helpful if you're busy. Especially if you're only planning on popping in on your way home; when the store is a little quieter. The click and collect service does close before the shop itself, though.
If you need to collect an order from this store, you will need to make sure that you do so before 7 PM. Your items may be ready for collection as soon as the store opens; you just need to keep in mind that there is an end time.
The click and collect service is going to be the faster way to get the items you want. But in a way that ensures that the store does have them in stock. So think about using the service before you head out to Ikea.
