IKEA today unveils plans for a new Decathlon store to open within IKEA Croydon – and customers don’t have long to wait, with the doors set to open this spring.
The Decathlon store will be a standalone unit with a dedicated customer entrance, spanning 1,188 square metres of retail space within the 25,000 square metre IKEA store. The move will see IKEA Croydon become a one-stop shopping destination for lifestyle needs where customers can be inspired and design and create their dream home spaces at IKEA, alongside discovering new sporting passions and the joy of being active at Decathlon.
IKEA Croydon will be the first UK store to pilot this partnership. The retailers share a commitment to offering well‑designed, high‑quality products at accessible prices, helping customers create a better everyday life, both in and out of the home.
IKEA’s latest Life at Home Report 2025 – one of the world’s most comprehensive studies into how people live and what contributes to their happiness at home – shows that over a third (36%) of people in the UK say spending time on hobbies and personal interests is their main source of enjoyment at home.
Decathlon’s offer will reflect this need by providing a curated selection of 5,000+ products across hiking, camping, running, fitness, swimming, cycling and more. By bringing its technical excellence and iconic gear to this new hub, Decathlon aims to help customers pursue the activities they love and experience the joy of being active. The one-stop destination will also champion circularity, offering services such as Buyback to keep high-quality gear in play, alongside Click & Collect for a seamless shopping experience.
As the brand transitions to its new home, local customers and members will be fully supported and kept informed every step of the way. Plans will soon be revealed around launch activities and opening offers delivered by a local team of passionate sports experts.
IKEA has a long history of embracing new opportunities to meet customers’ evolving needs. Today, IKEA stores come in different shapes and sizes, from full-sized IKEA stores to compact Plan and Order Points, city centre and small stores. Its latest partnership with Decathlon continues this tradition, reinforcing IKEA’s commitment to convenience, innovation and an enhanced in‑store experience. It builds on previous examples of agility including the rapid transformation of IKEA stores into fulfilment units in 2019, when online demand surged. This shift enabled the rollout of in‑store Click and Collect services and improved the efficiency of online order processing and delivery, while helping to reduce the environmental footprint of fulfilment.
More recently, IKEA launched a co-working space within its Greenwich store in response to the rise of hybrid and remote working. In partnership with Hej!Workshop, the concept (developed by Ingka Centres) aims to simplify everyday life by offering an easily accessible, flexible and comfortable workplace that bridges the gap between home and office, with stunning views from its rooftop location.
Kim Chin-Sung, market manager for IKEA Croydon, said: “We first opened IKEA Croydon back in 1992 and since then, the way people shop has changed. At IKEA, we believe that our physical stores have a vital role to play, as a shopping destination and to inspire customers. The new Decathlon unit coming to IKEA Croydon is the latest example of us investing in and reimagining our stores to ensure customers and co-workers continue to get the most out of these spaces.”
Mónica Cedres, London city leader, Decathlon UK, said: “At Decathlon, our purpose is to bring people together through sport to make wellbeing accessible for all. This new home at IKEA Croydon represents a bold step in our mission to help more people across the UK and Ireland become active. This is the next step in our retail journey to create a personalised local destination where our passionate team of sports experts can help customers rediscover or find their new favourite activity.”
As part of its long‑term UK expansion strategy to bring the brand closer to where customers live, work and socialise, IKEA continues to grow its presence across the country. Last year, IKEA opened seven new UK stores — including two city‑centre locations on London’s Oxford Street and in Brighton, two Plan and Order Points in Hull and York, and three small‑format stores in retail parks in Harlow, Norwich and Chester.
