I need to organise a birthday day with a difference - garden centre crawl :) south London/Essex - anyone got any info?

[MyNeighbourJohnToturro]

That’s it really

my friends 40th- she’s recently bought a house, had a garden and is obsessed with planting, plants, homegrown but she gets lots of stuff online because she doesn’t drive

i want to make a full day of it - anyone know any garden centres with amazing cafes? Produce ? I’m looking at south east London but happy to drive to Essex for a few great ones

thanks in advance

Theres a couple on the A127. Summerhills (basildon-ish) going towards Southend and Alton (Wickford) coming away from Southend.

I live nowhere near London and know nothing about it, but that sounds like the best birthday ever! Could you incorporate a national trust or similar garden visit? They have nice cafes

For a real treat take her to somewhere really fab like Beth Chatto, or Sarah Raven at perch hill, or great dixter. More of a hike but a wonderful experience.

Crews Hill in Herts would be perfect.

If you are happy to come to SW London, Morden Hall Park is a National Trust home and park that has a lovely garden centre in the grounds. Edit to add that as its National Trust, there's also a cafe onsite.

Crews hill in Enfield/Hertfordshire is the ultimate garden centre crawl IMO and waaay better than anything on the A127 (and the likelihood of getting stuck in traffic if it’s a sunny day). Pubs nearby for lunch.

Or the Columbia Road flower market in a Sunday followed by a hipster lunch?

Or RHS Hyde Hall in Chelmsford which has a lovely cafe and plenty to look at plant wise.

I have no idea as thats not my local area but honestly this is the loveliest thing I have heard today. What a wonderful idea.

Also second it’s the loveliest birthday idea!

I'm so into the idea of a garden centre crawl ❤️. Might have one for my 50th.
There's a lovely garden centre in Syon Park (west London across the river from Kew gardens), but that might be a bit far for you, and the traffic across Kew bridge is horrible.

Crews Hill! Then a cosy country pub lunch.

What a fab birthday idea. I would love this. Again, nowhere near London but but I’ll come down for the plants and cakes!

RHS Hyde Hall is a great shout, as is Beth Chatto although that's quite a bit further into Essex. If you come out as far as Beth Chatto there's also Green Island Gardens and Marks Hall within a reasonable distance although can't remember if Marks Hall has a plant shop/nursery. Gardens of all three are spectacular though.

Actual garden centres, I love Craft Nurseries in Lawford, beautiful cafe, the Barn in Stanway/Copford, and Fillpots on other side of Colchester :)

This is such a lovely idea I might steal it!!

I've done this a couple of times for my mum. She doesn't drive so a lot of 'destination' garden centres take ages to get to or impractical, so I take her out for the day to visit a RHS/NT site, cafe, couple of garden centres and second hand book shops. I usually end up buying her a bag of compost and lifting it in and out of the car for her too.

If Surrey isn't too far... There are a number of garden centres near Wallington.

Crossways is amazing value and good quality plants. Make this stop 1. www.crosswaysnursery.com

Then head over to Woodcote for farm shop / restaurant/ cafe and any slightly more exotic plants she wants. They are a little pricey for plants though still good quality, so make this stop 2.

www.dobbies.com/woodcote-green

That sounds like a dream birthday! What a kind friend you are.

I was going to say crews hill

DSis and I quite like a trip to Coolings (in Knockholt) or Polhill. Polhill particularly has a good farm shop too.

Or there's a garden centre at RHS Wisley.

Yes Marks Tey is lovely . Also nearish to Tiptree ( jam factory cafe is nice ) is Perrywoods and they have a nice cafe also.

Goodness cannot believe all the responses already! Thanks SO much

@ThatTimeIKnewFamousPeople that’s reassuring thanks. I’m a single parent and don’t have much spare cash and wanted to do something really memorable and have bought her a really lovely tree and I’ve hand painted her a pot. I’m also hoping to grab large bulky items and compost bags as she can’t do stuff like this off the cuff- she has no idea we are doing this 🩷

another crews hill vote.

wisley is lovely and a bit posher, you have the beautiful gardens to walk round to make a day of it. I’ve a feeling you can book lunch / afternoon tea) , but it is carnage with roadworks
crews hill is definitely more of a “garden centre crawl” vibe. Which is, frankly, genius

Blimey
i am in tears

you are so nice

I sadly wasn’t able to make the proper birthday which was a weekend in Marbella and I was cringe about this idea but now I’m really looking forward to it

shes in SE London that’s why I figured Essex wouldn’t be much of a trek

I’ll look through these and make a list - I was thinking 3 but really want to find one with a gorgeous cafe or next to a lovely pub.

weirdly I started a list last week researching online but good reviews seem to be scarce.

Definitely Crews Hill. And then pub lunch.

And if you go to Crews Hill, you could also look around the gardens of Myddelton House and Forty Hall.

I suggest Coolings as above. coolings.co.uk. There are actually 2 Coolings in Knockholt, a village near Orpington. The one on Rushmore Hill is the main plant one - they have nurseries on site. They have an amazing cafe called Arthur’s. Then 5 minutes drive away on Main Road is Coolings Lifestyle- some plants but garden furniture, pots, barbecues, and lots of gift stuff. It also has a small cafe.

I could happily spend a day between the two!

If you wanted to opt for a pub there is the Bulls Head on Rushmore Hill or the Three Horseshoes on Main Road.