Squires are a very popular garden centre, which is busy all year round…read more The high number of visitors means most of the stock is very fresh and not root bound. This makes a big difference as the quality is so much better and there plants tend to get off to a much better start once planted in the garden. They also have properly trained staff on hand to give plant advise - which probably accounts for why they are so popular. The downside is it's not the cheapest of garden centres - some of the bedding plants are almost double what you would pay in a DIY centre. Also the range of shrubs is a bit limited. If it was a restaurant it would have 3 Michelin stars - worth a long journey just to visit.

There are other Squires outlets, but for me the Twickenham branch, is a haven. When I was working…read moreon a project , there were three places I would go to check on their stock, and this was my first preference, though I would always save it as the last visit. Many garden centres have gone downhill and don't really take pride in their establishment , or worse are not knowledgeable on what they are selling. The plants they sell look as if they have met the patched and over frazzled soft shell crab from my other review. Not so here, and it is no surprise that this particular place has won various awards for its design layout. This for me is important since they have created an atmosphere that for me just leaves you to feel content and think freely. Yes there is the usual eating section which I never go to and pets corner , though I did find a use for bundles of straw and bugs bunny had long since taken a vacation. There is a good selection of gardening implements, fertilisers and growers, I am sure Percy Thrower would have been in his element. Once you have managed to pass the piles of soil , only you don't because there are so many different kinds , your uncertain which one to choose and then you notice.....oooh 3 for the price of 2 ...where's the trolly out of my way and you ignore the caution not to lift heavy objects on your own because you just want that bargain..and then oh dear you are already over loaded and you have not yet got to the plant section...and then you wield and guide and grunt and push....no don't worry this is still the same review...and you gaze in amazement at the symphony of colour. I need more time.. So back you go with the soil and you return at a later date...20 mins later you just dashed at ..the pace of a snail ;) For me the time to visit this branch is early Spring , March, for they have a collection of Rhododendrons ,Camellias , Magnolias, Azaleas and Acers that is second to none. I can't say if they will this year but last year they went that little bit extra and created a Japanese theme to complement it, It was then easy to get engrossed or yes I confess drool at a particular plant, and then imagining where I was going to plant it and how it would blend in with the rest of the garden, ..I would often get carried away and wonder what it would be like once it had fully matured. However, there will be no admissions of talking to plants or passing complements of beauty on its fauna. In the excitement of finding the right specimen and having giving it a thorough examination i might frequently get drawn to another...no honestly my feelings for you have not wained ..let me introduce you to...well okay it passes the time. I should point out that they don't just do Japanese plants, that is my particular choice, they have a wide variety and it is a large outlet. There are also two areas where you can obtain information. ..and when you completed your purchase they will if need be load your car up. It has been a while but I feel a visit to this place coming on.

Been back again this time to see if the improvements have settled down. They had and I have…read morefeatured some of them. The Restaurant has been settled to morning, dinner and tea sessions. The spaces between the various sections far more browse area, still no Aquaria apart from Pool supplies, and the outside has a patio extension just outside the café with all the garden furniture together with all the compost you could ever need. Still only the kids area is to be built.

A good place to go for some interesting food and drink. I am a fan of the deli counter and the…read morearray of scotch eggs. This place is a bit pricey (it's in Surrey what do you expect) however there is the odd bargain to be found. My son loves stickers and there is always lots of them here for him to choose. There is a nice pub "The Prince of Wales" near by (2 min walk) as well.

Marvelous, marvelous, marvelous!…read more I've recently gotten really into windowsill gardening and have been filling all available spaces with tiny green loveliness. I was looking for a good garden shop that offered real variety (unlike the chain stores which seem to offer not much and a lot of it), and learned about Neal's. I'm so glad I did. While it is awkwardly located just across from a prison, the place is just great. Pots galore; a beautiful selection of bedding plants and other outdoor selections; and a great indoor shop featuring a greenhouse of houseplants, a wealth of garden tools, indoor pots and planters, and gifts for gardeners. While I've come to expect independent shops to be a touch more expensive than the chain stores (and am ok with this as I like supporting the little guy), I was pleasantly surprised at the super reasonable pricing at Neal's! I ended up bringing home more and larger plants than I would have anywhere else as they were so well priced. I kept going on about this to my husband, who very kindly didn't say too much as I added plant after plant to our basket! Definitely a place I'll be visiting on a semi-regular basis!

Pots! Freaking LOADS of pots!…read more That's what greats you as you enter Neal's Nurseries. It's a pot fest. Little ones, round ones, glass ones, square ones, silver ones... You get the picture. If you want something to put your plant's in that isn't the ground, you'll do well here. So, that's your pots sorted. Inside you've got your regular garden centre type stuff - a good selection of tools, seeds, other ...err...things you need for your garden. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and are happy to offer up advice - but don't expect help to come to you - you gotta go and seek help on your garden related conundrums. It's in a bit of a weird location though - right opposite Wandsworth Prison. Not sure if that matters, but it's probably best to avoid picking up a spade when you hear about an escape on the news.

I treated myself to some time-out with a leisurely wander through Hampton Court and chanced upon…read morethis delightful gem, on their opening day! What a treat for the senses this inviting new florist shop is. The exterior draws the eye and has an almost regal feel, in keeping with its close proximity to the Palace. Enter and the delights continue; it's a real pleasure to look around here with the sumptuous yet understated displays - everything from simple spring hyacinths to protea, orchids and exquisite deep, dusky pink roses. It was the dream of lovely, welcoming owners Jules and Pippa to set-up on this site and their great enthusiasm and attention to detail shines through. Prices are reasonable, for the quality on offer - with something for everyone - as they want their floral passion to be accessible to all.

Wonderful little shop bursting with beautiful flowers, plants, gifts and accessories with great…read moreattention to detail and style. Thrilled with my purchases and can't wait for my next visit! Jules and Pippa deserve every success.

As spring starts to show its little head with bluebells appearing, the intrepid gardener in me…read morestirs. Though the summer-long hosepipe ban which is already in force for the southeast of England may put a slight dampener (no pun intended!) on things Woodcote Green Nurseries are located a road along with a few other horticultural centres. However, they are the biggest and have a few more strings to their bow apart from the garden centre At this of year, I like to add some seasonal vegetables just for the year and perhaps plant a new fruit bush or tree which will yield a bountiful harvest over many years. Sometimes, some herb plants may need replacing after a harsh winter though it wasn't too bad a winter this time I also love to browse their aquarium area though I've discovered through experience that my doctoring skills sadly don't extend to my finned friends, so I now confine myself to looking at the fishes! They have a nice cafe with hot and cold food as well as cakes and drinks for a snack, hence catering for different types of meals. Edinburgh Woollen Mills have an area with clothing and there's a small book department too Like the start of a new football season, spring brings with it a season of hope and limitless opportunities in the garden!

As it is really the nearest to me, often go there for various gardening accessories, and just for…read morepleasure, and for the excellent café.

My oh my, such a disappointment. We booked afternoon tea, months in advance, as is necessary…read more Here's what we learned. This is what could reasonably termed an "experience", but it fails on every point. Service is lackadaisical( difficult to see how they justify the service charge). The food looks pretty, but isn't very special in terms of taste or presentation ( probably not helped by the fact it has to be carried in from a separate building), and was served on a ridiculous cake stand/vase that effectively conceals your dining companion. Crockery is cheap looking and charmless. The price difference between the plain tea and the version with a single glass of Cremant ( served, disappointingly, in a warm glass) is £15 ( 45 versus 60). It's easy to buy an entire bottle for that, at retail prices. God help you if it rains ( you'll be dripped on- the greenhouse is not weatherproof). Don't bother, especially if you're paying.

The Nurseries is one of those gems that you don't want to share with everyone ;))) It's only open…read morein the sunny days of the year and it's because it's hidden in the old glass house of the Nurseries garden center. Old & disparate furniture is scattered around, directly on the nude earth floor and in between large pots of green & colorful plants. Beautiful flowers are set on each table. It's like a picturesque scene of Alice in Wonderland. You feel like a little kid entering a magical wild world, where birds talk and nature is alive. It's all very comfortable and cute. And on a sunny warm day, it's the ideal getaway for lunch. The menu is small but fresh and seasonal. Vegetables seem to be at the center of many dishes. And fish was quite predominant when I was there. Everything sounds delicious and it definitively is! They well deserve their 1-star michelin. I had the squid to start with and it was super nice!!! I'm usually not a big fan but the squid was very well cooked (quite soft), on a yummy piece of bread and in a very tasty sauce. Then I had the halibut. The fish was cooked to perfection, very moist and the mayonnaise was mouthwatering :P For desserts, we shared the rice pudding and the chocolate tart. To die for. Both of them. Point. The staff is friendly and fast. So all good there. If you want to spoil your better half, this is the perfect summer romantic spot. The gardens are a nice little after-lunch discovery too. And if you feel really chilled out, you can sit next to the fountain and profit from the sun rays. Or just roll out into the fields around and have a lazy rest in the green grass of Richmond park.

went to smiths today!!!!!!!!!I had a great experience ,we needed to get some plants for the garden…read moreand we were really sucsessful today.I was really pleased with the experience today.There were thousands of plants in the garden centre,there were a lot in the inside area and an absolute abundance of plants outside.Also all plants were well kept and very watered,actually helped me keep cool in all this heat,they obviously take pride in each and every one of their plants.Also there is so much stock of everything(plants and non-plants).This has really pleased me as I've seen some garden centres which has hardly any plants and they are all neglected.However in this garden centre,they even have Christmas trees in June,but I suppose today(the day I wrote my review)is only 6 months till Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!But I cannot see why you can't have a Christmas tree in June if you want to.I brought 3 small ones!!!!!!!!!Also I've been to garden centres in Christmas and they haven't had christmas trees.Also they were really well staffed as well,and our cashier was polite and even offered for someone to help us load the car.Also the smiths golf thing right at the back of the garden centre looks great and I'm sure will make a lot of money for the garden centre.Also their drive thru concept to collect soil was good and very well thought out,it's like a McDonald's drive thru but you show you're receipt to staff and then drive on to get the soil.Lovely experience!!!!!!!!

Smiths is a large garden centre just outside Uxbridge. There is a vast choice of greenery for sale…read morein a huge outdoor area, and also an indoor shopping area and cafe (not tried). It offers an extremely comprehensive range of products. Staff in the outside area can be hard to find but there are knowledgeable staff available if you need advice as I did when selecting a fruit tree for my garden. The level of customer service is high, I was surprised to discover that if you buy a heavy bag of fertiliser or compost it will be taken to your car on an electric carrier! So all in all a recommended place to go for garden supplies and products.

I can only speak for the restaurant and coffee shop…read more Both are good, offering a pleasant experience and great service from the team.

An older garden centre, but has it's own Rose nursery, nice cafe, and mostly the same things as…read moreother squires locally, good plant information.