For a lot of us, the perfect weekend involves seeing what we can discover at local gift shops, homeware stores and garden centres.
Plants at Hayes(Image: Tripadvisor)
Although plants are in their best condition in spring and summer, a visit to the garden centre is still a worthwhile trip to browse for any knick-knacks or ornaments you can pick up.
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They’re also a great place for Christmas decorations, if you’re looking to stock up early!
Christmas display at Hayes Garden Centre(Image: Tripadvisor)
So, we rounded up a few of the best garden centres in Cumbria, based on Google reviews.
Hayes Garden Centre, Ambleside came top of the list with more than 4.5K reviews, giving it an overall rating of 4.4 stars.
Reviews praised its ‘wide choice of plants and furniture’, ‘friendly staff’ and ‘plenty of things to see and buy’.
Inside Hayes(Image: Tripadvisor)
This centre stocks furniture, items for pets, and boasts a terrace cafe with mountain views.
One review said: “Very well presented and expertly laid out, plus the views from the outside garden area are just phenomenal. Excellent range and good diversity of gifts, clothes and shoes as well.”
Hayes’ goes the ‘extra mile’, customers say(Image: Tripadvisor)
Another review said: “There are wonderful displays to see along with the usual sales package. A big centre, well-laid out and very clean. It is definitely worth a visit and don’t forget the cafe upstairs.”
Beetham Nurseries, Milnthorpe, is another highly recommended centre in Cumbria.
It has everything you need from a cafe, home and lifestyle shop, and food shop.
Beetham Nurseries also had shining reviews(Image: Beetham Nurseries)
One Google review said: “The plants are always healthy, beautifully displayed, and there’s such a wide variety to choose from. The staff are knowledgeable, friendly, and happy to offer advice if you need help picking the right plants for your garden. The cafe is lovely too – great coffee and delicious homemade cakes in a relaxed setting.”
Another praised its ‘huge variety’ of ‘beautifully displayed’ plants, ‘delicious’ food and ‘beautiful cards, gifts and souvenirs’ in the gift shop.
The family-run Larch Cottage Nurseries, Penrith, is described as ‘one of the country’s great horticultural gems’.
Reviews revealed the best garden centres in Cumbria(Image: Tripadvisor)
A happy customer said: “The nursery itself is marvellous, very extensive, and much diversity in plants. There is also a fabulous restaurant as well, although we only had a pot of tea on our visit. All of the teams were very helpful and friendly.”
Another added: “What a hidden gem. Fabulous food and refreshments served in the cafe. Plants and shrubs aplenty at reasonable prices. Great place to walk around. Lots to see round every corner and wall.”
Whitesyke Garden Centre of Longtown, Carlisle, is another ‘excellent family-run’ business.
A review said: “The garden centre also has a fantastic tea room and a lovely shopping area with a good choice of ornaments and accessories to enhance your garden.
Plants at Whitesyke Garden Centre(Image: Whitesyke Garden Centre)
“They also sell sheds, summerhouses, greenhouses and some building products at reasonable prices.”
Last but not least on our list is Houghton Hall Garden Centre, Carlisle.
Houghton Hall Garden Centre has a ‘great selection of plants'(Image: Houghton Hall Garden Centre)
Its ‘miniature museum in the basement’ was a welcome surprise to some customers, while others said the centre had ‘a great selection of plants’.
Houghton Hall also has garden accessories for all your needs(Image: Houghton Hall Garden Centre)
“Lovely garden centre, large range of healthy plants and also a wide range of garden accessories,” one reviewer said.
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