Before I left London, Shirley set me a challenge.
"Go to IKEA in Sweden and find out if the Billy bookcases are the same as those in the UK"
Well as your intrepid explorer I would be letting you all down if I didn't rise to the challenge - wouldn't I?
Incidentally if you laughed at Changing Rooms when it was on telly pronouncing the name ICK-EE-A then laugh no more as that's actually closer to how the Swedes say it.
It's not going to surprise you to learn that Stockholm is home to the worlds largest IKEA in the south of the city at Kungens Kurva. It's very easy to get to as on weekdays there is a free bus from just opposite Stockholm Central station every hour that takes about 20 minutes to get there.
Once there the store is arranged over 5 floors with the room/furniture displays being in a circular part of the building which you work your way down through before entering the maze that is the pots and pans, lighting and rugs etc etc. As with all IKEA's you end up in the warehouse where you pick up your flat pack furniture.
Highlight of the trip has to be the restaurant where you can get a plate of meatballs for under £5 which in Stockholm doesn't usually buy a beer. The experience was much more enjoyable and relaxing than a trip to IKEA in the UK but that was probably because it was not only a Monday and also the first day back at school/work for everyone after the summer holidays. Probably at the weekends it's very busy.
The free bus back was full and standing so I opted instead for a local bus to the Tunnelbana station at Skarholmen for the underground back to the city centre - equally easy really.
As for the Billy bookcases ......... Well they look the same!
I feel really bad that you spent a day of your hols in Ikea of all places. But a fiver for the meatballs makes me feel slightly less guilty
ReplyDeleteThe meatballs were cheap hope you managed to find a few pennies to buy a beer. Happy days now you are a man of leisure!!!!!!!PE
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