Best plant shops in London
Wondering where to buy house plants? London is full of experiential plant stores that offer coffee, food or simply a green refuge in the city
Conservatory Archives, Hackney
This glorious ramshackle indoor jungle in East London has been attracting a trendy crowd since opening in 2015. Owner Jin Ahn left her job in Seoul as a fashion designer and moved to the UK to study horticulture. In a mission to introduce more greenery into urban lifestyles, she opened Conservatory Archives, and has been supplying stylish Hackneyites with new green friends and a fertile ground for Instagrams ever since. Be warned: this place is packed to the rafters with plants. Expect to have a banana leaf protruding in your face as soon as you enter and to stoop under curtains of Devil’s ivy.
Read more ...Battersea Flower Station, Battersea
We like this one for its pun-tastic name and its adorable ‘down the rabbit hole’ vibes. If you take a peek behind a florist stand on Battersea Park Road, you’ll discover a quaint pathway lined with fresh blooms and bunting. This space is oozing with charm, with a starry constellation of fairy lights, rusty wheelbarrows, and a wooden sign advertising ‘free garden advice’ to the less-green-fingered of us – all making you momentarily forget that you’re in the city.
Read more ...Petersham Nurseries, Richmond and Covent Garden
Admittedly Petersham Nurseries is hardly an undiscovered gem, with its mini empire of restaurants and sleek pop-ups at prestigious art fairs, but the original green emporium in Richmond has led the way in creating a tranquil 'third place' and offering an experiential alternative to traditional garden centres. We love its natural gravel floor, its cornucopia of artisanal homewares and picturesque vistas of Richmond’s meadows. It’s also home to a cosy indoor cafe and a Michelin-starred restaurant, making it a destinations for foodies and plant aficionados alike.
Read more ...Clifton Nurseries, Maida Vale
Is there a better combination than plants and patisseries? Clifton Nurseries is not only home to London's oldest garden centre – having supplied plants to Victorian nature-lovers in the 19th century – but within this lush enclosure wedged between two townhouses, you'll also find the Quince Tree Cafe which offers delicious breakfasts, lunch and afternoon tea. So after perusing its plethora of perennials and laurels of lemon trees, you can fork down a slice of spiced apple cake.
Read more ...The Chelsea Gardener, Chelsea
Truly the grande dame of garden centres, this elegant orangery is packed with classical sculptures, zen bonsais and impeccable hedges. And, in typical Chelsea fashion, this store takes something as simple as plant shopping to the next, opulent level. An attached cafe and cocktail bar, offers parched plant fiends botanical-themed beverages such as Gardener’s Iced Tea, made with Earl Grey-infused vodka, kombucha and homemade vanilla bourbon. It's a setting so gorgeous that you'll definitely make time for a tipple amongst the topiaries.
Read more ...The Palace Gardener, Fulham
Bypass Nurseries Ltd, who own The Chelsea Gardener, bought up another South-West gem and relaunched the dormant nursery into a vibrant space in 2017. Its format is definitely on the larger side, fulfilling all your practical gardening needs and stocking everything from beguiling terrariums to lilliputian shrubs. If shopping starts to take its toll, take a seat in the centre's bright and spacious Glasshouse Cafe run by the Massarella family, who serve up homemade focaccias and healthy salads.
Read more ...Twigs, Hackney
This is more a cafe than a plant shop, but with original Asian-inspired brunch and lunch fare like rice waffles with salmon, egg and yuzu mayo, and maple soy smoked tofu noodles, we don't mind. This irresistible cafe just off the bustling hipster culinary haunt, Broadway Market, draws you in with its brick exterior and chalkboard menus. Inside is a stylish minimal interior with plenty of warm wood finishes and shelves lined with healthy plants. Stop by to pick up some of their famous chilli oil, a macaroon ice cream sandwich or a cactus nestled in one of their charming ceramic pots.
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