IKEA - Croydon or Thurrock - which is best??

[Mo2]

DH need to do an 'IKEA' trip to buy some playroom furniture. We're equally far away from both Thurrock and Croydon. Last time we went to one of them (Croydon??) it was crap as undergoing huge refurbishment and there was no restaurant/ stock or anything!!

Anyone been to either very recently - any reason why we should avoid one or the other? We're going to have DS 1 & 2 in tow.. (ages 4 and 19 months).

The refurb in Croydon is pretty much done. The big new restaurant is open, although we didn't eat there ( went last monday). There was plenty of stock there, and seemed OK! I don't know which one is busier, or when you were planning on going but Croydon is packed at the weekends, but from 15/3 it will be open until midnight during the week.

HTH!

Never been to Thurrock, but thinking about it. The Croydon one is in Valley Park, which also has McD's and BK, a big Next and Boots and in the Megabowl there is a Jungle Jim soft play place that your kids would like, and would wear them out for the trip home!

Thanks Lydia...
I also spotted that they'll be opening til 12 midnight soon - that might be the perfect alternative - for DH & I to whizz up there one evening.

Did you use any of the kids facilities in Ike Croydon - isn't there a play area for 3 -6 year olds?

There's a free ball pit play area where you can leave your over 3 yos for an hour. My hour ran out just as I was planning on having a quiet coffee in the restaurant!

Went to the Croydon one years ago so can't compare but hated it so much went to Thurrock ever since. Thurrock is right next to Lakeside, and plenty of massive shops like ToysRus, Costco and alike...

Mo2 - might be a good idea to check with Ikea to see which is the largest. We are equal distance between the North Londodn one and Thurrock but the North Londodn one is much bigger and therefore has much more choice and so we always go there. It could be that either Thurrock or Croydon is particularly bigger and then that might influence your choice.

you can check availabilty of some items on line, that might help

Mo2, we prefer Thurrock (in a similar situation to you, both are a nail-biting urban drive away) because it is easier to park. Well worth the extra £2 for doing the Dartford crossing IMO.

The Ikea in Croydon on a weekend is a nightmare - far too busy. Aslo the traffice around there is pretty dire too on a weekend. Going in the late evenings or daytime is much better

MO2, yes Croydon has the play area, and it was good before. I haven't put them in the new one yet as someone had thrown up in there and they'd had to shut it!