I want an apple tree. Please can someone just TELL me which one to get?

[CharlieAndLolasMummy]

I have spent hours looking at Victoriana etc

My head is spinning.

PLEASE help me narrow it down

Right, criteria.

I bascially want LOTS of apples that keep well through the winter, taste nice and are sweet rather than sharp.

It is for my allotment, so provided I can somehow get it up there, I don't need a dwarf rootstock or anything. OTOH I can't easily get a huge ladder up there, so that is a consideration.

I live in Wales, lots of rain, clay soil (though I can obv sort out the soil around the tree when I plant it).

There are loads of apple trees on nearby plots, so pollination is unlikely to be an issue.

This is our family Christmas present (dp and the kids LOVE apples), so any thoughts very useful!

have a look at marshalls website as they give good info on different varieties.

here you go

FWIW, I find their stuff very good at growing IFSWIM

Sweeter apple varieties are generally the earlier ones, and they are not good keepers. Later ones are sharper when they are picked but keep well and mellow into sweetness while they're being stored. I'd go for a smaller company that specialises in trees (esp fruit trees) rather than Marshalls - Keepers, Bernwode, RV Roger (I've bought trees and other plants from all of these - they REALLY know their stuff, and their plants are great. Very informative websites too)

We went to a local specialist in selling fruit trees recently. They were fab - we told them the sort of things we would like out of an apple tree and they pointed out 3 that would suit our needs. Took all of the confusion out of it. They told us exactly how to plant it and what to do with it. We've bought currants, raspberries and a blueberry bush from them in the past. They send out an email newsletter throughout the season saying what to do with what. Very very good service.