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

this is Arthurs

I would agree with coolings and Pollhill, but have you thought about Ruxley Manor in Sidcup? It's not quite as big as the other two but has the advantage of doing a lovely afternoon tea. They have half a dozen outdoor crystal maze type pods which you can book in advance for afternoon tea. I went with a friend a few months ago and it was really lovely.

www.ruxley-manor.co.uk/whats-on/afternoon-tea-at-ruxley.

What a lovely idea. So thoughtful. What a good friend you are OP.

I think if I was your friend, I’d be absolutely sobbing. You’re organising something so thoughtful and completely tailored to her, it would mean the world, and far, far more than a generic trip (which I’m sure was lovely, but not exactly personal to her). Such an incredibly wonderful thing to do for her, she’s going to love it!

Cooling’s deffo my fave so far- in a good location for us both too

Wisley (defo SW london/surry borders) would be more of a trek but it is an amazing garden, plus you’d get a high quality garden centre experience (although imvho sometimes their plant choice isn’t great in all areas). The posh cafe for afternoon tea is reasonably priced as nice afternoon teas go…).

petersham is one I’ve always wanted to visit : not sure what the plant to food bias is but it looks an idyllic place for lunch https://petershamnurseries.com/

also agree this is an inspired idea, op: I would have LOVED this as a special birthday treat!

There are lots of lovely suggestions already, but you could also look at Open Gardens under the NGS scheme. These are private gardens that open to the public for charity. It’s particularly fun to go to a group opening, eg four or five in the same village.

https://ngs.org.uk/

I meant to say The NGS gardens often sell plants and many of them have tea/cake

I would second Morten hall park and then perhaps onto Wallington. Loads of garden centres there. Or hall place in bexley

Hockley Market Garden Centre has a lovely little cafe and then just a little further on is Riverside Garden Centre. I haven't bought anything from Hockley Market that hasn't taken in the garden.

Thanks so much

Thanks
that means a lot. So many big milestone birthdays at the moment including my own kids and I’m not able to splash much cash at all so have to get my thinking cap on. I’ve already painted a bit pot to house water ever she chooses from the garden center and made a geometric pattern with the Roman bum metals XL . Hope she loves it.

Ok recap

whilst I’m sure she’d really dig bum metals - maybe I’ll save that for her 60th

ROMAN NUMERALS XL!! The previous post should read

Dying at Bum Metals :-D

What a fab idea OP. I’m sure your friend will love it

if you decide on Essex, I have a few suggestions which are super close to each other
1 rhs Hyde hall
2 buckhatch nursery and garden centre
3 meadowcroft nursery, rettendon
4 the hawk pub battlesbridge (also an antique centre with other garden centre in that village but I’ve not been to it so can’t say either way how good it is)

food at meadowcroft and the pub are both great. The others have food too but would be a bit more average imo - not by price though!
Hyde hall in particular in super expensive both for goods and a steep admission price - if you are on a tight budget , it’s not ideal

That would be a very niche gift indeed. I’d stick with the numerals if I were you! 😂

I second Summerhill and Alton on the A127, but also really love Buckhatch in Rettendon. Nice cafe's within them too!

Notes 😂

NOTED!

another autocorrect fail

These are the two I’d suggest too.

Riverside is crap since it got taken over. I think Scott’s is better further into Rochford / Southend although the plants are getting pricey. Cafe is very good though. And I really like Morley’s in wakering.

nursery wise the best one is four acres on brays lane, Rochford. Small, family run but lovely plants and great prices. The family are so helpful too.

A few of these have been mentioned, and it might be just too far, but another suggestion.
Take the M11, then the A120 towards Marks Tey/Colchester. There are 2 garden centres along the A120.
https://www.cherry-lane.co.uk/
https://www.poplarnurseries.co.uk/ Poplars used to have a lovely cafe, plus its very large so lots to look at, but I haven't been there in years.

Then go to Beth Chatto gardens https://www.bethchatto.co.uk/ They offer discounts for NHS staff, blue badge holders, certain benefits etc.

You could return to London via the A12.

Another vote for the coolings garden centres, Polhill isn’t far from them either.

Yes! Love Petersham Nurseries. The restaurant has a Michelin Star so very special occasion, although there’s also a more casual cafe, and it does have quite a few plants plus the usual lifestyle bit.

Wisley lovely as it is I would avoid right now, they’re still digging up the m25/a3 junction and it’s a bloody nightmare for traffic.