Tree dilemma - good value fake tree?

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This year, and many other years we will be spending Christmas with family who live abroad. I am reticient to buy a real tree (and actually we normally have 2 because of house layout) if we're not even here for the day.
So I thinm maybe the solution is a realistic fake tree, but it needs to be a sensible price. The balsam hill ones are lovely but £££££. Can anyone recommend a fake tree that is realistic and cheaper than BH?

You need to use a fake tree for 10 years to offset its carbon footprint compared to real trees. So you could multiply what you would spend on a real tree by 10 to determine what to spend? Having said that, I bought a fairly cheap tree from Tesco a few years ago and it is brilliant and so easy to put together.

I’ve got one for our living room from Asda which is easy to assemble and is lovely. I also have a pencil tree that we got from Argos again looks good and is easy to assemble.

I bought a 7ft artificial tree from b&q and it's really good. Looks bushy etc. Was only £20

we got our tree 11 years ago need a new one this year some have crazy prices. The one we have used for 11 years was from b&q and was only £30

For realistic, look for trees made from polyethylene (PE) rather than PVC. We wanted a Balsam Hill one and were just about able to justify the sale prices, but for the height we wanted it was just too wide. We bought a 7ft slimline one from Christmas Tree World with PE tips and PVC in the middle; it cost £140. It was to replace one that came from either B&Q or Homebase about 20 years ago for £40 and unfortunately only stands at an angle nowadays.

One thing I would say about cheaper fake trees: when they say it's 6ft, it's actually about 5'2" with one ten inch twig rising from the top.

The trees in m and a always look lovely to me. A tip though is to go to your picas garden centre and look at their decorated artificial trees on display. Our let us buy the trees (not the decorations) for half price after Christmas. You collect them from 27th December. You could buy a real tree this year and then have the half price artificial one for next year.

Best fake tree I've seen was from The White Company.

I bought one from Hayes Garden World last year and a lot of people thought it was real except DD who could tell from across the other side of the room.I can't remember what it was called but they have an online service.

Do you need an actual tree if you aren’t around? The best bit of real trees is the smell and you won’t get that.

My Aunt has a holiday home and she puts a beautiful bare branch in a vase and hangs large glass baubles from that. Looks stunning.

I also liked these wire Christmas trees www.coxandcox.co.uk/new-metal-silhouette-tree ( use a referral for £20 off)

There are some lovely ones on Not on the High Street too.

Another vote for Tesco, I got a cracking deal on one a few years ago for about £50 for a 7ft. Having previously had real trees and with a German DH, we wouldn't have anything naff.

I'd go into store and take a look, agree with others looking at a local garden centre is a good option.

@Horsemad I’ve been looking at the White Company ones & agree they are the most realistic I’ve seen. Not cheap though not as bad as BH. Love real trees but I’m starting to suspect I may be allergic so contemplating a fake one for this year.

They are truly lovely @Decorhate 🙂

We always have a real one but I am tempted every year by The White Company ones! 🌲

We got this tree from Tesco about 10 years ago, after becoming shocked at the cost of rels ones. It serves us well and was only £25.

Ours is from Tesco. It's got fake sparkling snow on the branches. I saw it in the shop last year and had to have it. I absolutely love it. Can't wait to put it up.

I’ve got the 7ft Wilko tree and it’s fab. It fills my bay window, and once it’s fully decorated looks absolutely lovely. Not cheap/fake at all. Ballache to put together though!

A friend of mine said that The Range have a great selection of trees. I'd suggest seeing one in person so you're not disappointed.

Ive got mine for b & q. Its now 8 years old and still perfect. I love it

Charity shops often bring them out at this time of year. Cheap and environmentally friendly.

Balsam Hill. I caved last year after unwrapping a totally lopsided real tree that dropped needles in the first 10 minutes. It's gorgeous and worth every penny.

I got my fake tree in B&Q about 12 years ago and it still looks great. I think it cost about £80.

Snap! Though mine was probably more like 15 years ago, and still going strong. Money very well spent

I second everything Otherpeoplesteens said about Christmas tree world. Mine's fabulous. Worth a look

Google is your friend here, lots pop up from various retailers and some are quite nice.

Another vote for Christmas Tree World, beautiful trees, sensible prices, helpful people.