The store, which will be in Tottenham Court Road in the Fitzrovia area of the city, will specialise in kitchens and wardrobes, rather than offering the full range of homeware usually sold by the retailer.

And Ikea says it is looking at other locations in central London, if its first store proves a success, and may branch out further afield too.

There are currently 21 Ikea stores across the UK, but they are mostly based in large warehouses, usually outside city centres, rather than in smaller, urban locations.

There are also four order and collection points in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Norwich and Westfield Stratford City

What does Ikea say?

Javier Quiñones, Ikea UK and Ireland retail manager, said: "Urbanisation and inner-city living are trends that continue to dominate the market.

"By launching this new approach and investing in our online offer and services, we are working to ensure Ikea remains affordable, convenient and sustainable, both now and in the future."