Thousands queued for hours to shop at IKEA as 19 UK stores reopened

Thousands of people spent hours queuing in IKEA car parks across England and Northern Ireland on Monday (1 June), as the outside homeware giant reopened 19 of its stores.

The socially-distanced queues began early, with some customers arriving at 5.30am in the hopes of being among the first to enter the stores after weeks of closure due to coronavirus lockdown.

What are the social distancing measures in place?

The reopening of some IKEA stores came with the introduction of new safety measures.

The furniture shop currently has limits on the number of customers allowed to enter at any one time.

Once inside, customers will then be guided around the one-way system by social distancing ‘wardens’ patrolling the stores and the surrounding areas to ensure shoppers remain two metres apart.

In-store restaurants and play areas will remain closed, to prevent further contact between shoppers and staff.