We’ve been perusing plants at some of Bristol’s much loved garden centres to shine a light on new places to explore if you love a garden centre day trip.
When the weather gets warmer, many of us find ourselves in need of sprucing up our gardens. But such venues are also great trips out to relieve some stress, spend some time among flowers, trees and shrubs, partake in a bit of retail therapy, and even tuck into some homemade treats at the cafe.
There’s one garden centre venue nestled right in the countryside, not too far from the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which neighbours a nature reserve, forest, and even a sauna venue created by Bristol’s rugby stars.
Described as a ’10 acre hidden gem’ Brackenwood Plant and Garden Centre is a family run local business in Abbots Leigh spanning some four decades. When it comes to plants, there’s a vast array of them – many grown in-house at the ‘huge’ onsite nursery to ensure they thrive in local Bristol conditions. But there’s also a range of gifts, tools and houseplants for sale, too.
Inside Brackenwood Plant and Garden Centre in Bristol -Credit:Paul Gillis/Reach Plc
Neighbouring the garden centre is Leigh Woods, the Deer Park Pond, Leigh Court and Sivo Wellness – a sauna and wellness venue launched in 2025 by Bristol Bears players Harry Thacker and Jake Woolmore.
So if you planned your day right, you could take in a stroll through the forest, spend some time in the sauna and plunge pool at Sivo, browse for some garden supplies or a new houseplant at Brackenwood, and head home.
But if you find yourself getting peckish, it’s worth noting that the garden centre boasts its very own tea room – The Garden Tea Room – which is an independent franchise within the Brackenwood Plant and Garden Centre, serving up a range of hot and cold drinks and homemade food.
Dubbed a ‘small independent tea room and restaurant’, the menu includes locally sourced loose leaf teas, coffees, hot chocolate and cold drinks, as well as freshly baked cakes and scones.
Inside Brackenwood Plant and Garden Centre in Bristol -Credit:Paul Gillis/Reach Plc
With a 4.5 star Google rating, many describe the garden centre as being a ‘hidden gem’ and reference the tea room/cafe as one of the main reasons (in addition to the plants and products in store) that they keep coming back.
One reviewer, visiting two months ago at time of writing, said: “Brackenwood Garden Centre is an absolute gem! The variety of plants they have is incredible and it’s reasonably priced.
“Everything is well looked after and beautifully displayed, which makes browsing a really enjoyable experience. With several areas for different plants to look through.
“One of the highlights is their lovely tea shop. It’s the perfect place to relax after walking around the centre, with a great selection of drinks and tasty treats in a really welcoming atmosphere.
Inside Brackenwood Plant and Garden Centre in Bristol -Credit:Paul Gillis/Reach Plc
“The whole place feels friendly, well run, and full of inspiration for your garden. I always leave with great plants and a smile on my face. Highly recommended!”
A second visitor agreed and said: “This is a brilliant place for anyone who loves to garden. They have taken great thought in their placement of plants, there is loads of information about them and there is a good mix of under cover and open space.
“We spent a good few hours walking round. Prices are good too. The tea room is great and the staff lovely. We had elevenses and also lunch and two lovely hot pots of tea, very delicious. We will definitely be back.”
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