The pretty little UK market town with the most garden centres – 3 per square mile
In a quaint UK town, a floral paradise awaits, where there is an abundance of garden centres creating a haven for those with a passion for blooms.
If you're a keen gardener then this pretty little UK market town that lies just 3 miles south west of London, will seem blooming wonderful to you.
The 150,000 strong population couldn't be better served when it comes to all things green thanks to a whopping 16 garden centres in its vicinity, two public gardens and eight florists. No wonder Horsham is a Britain in Bloom winner.
A spokesperson for Flowercard said: “The UK has something of a love affair with all things flowers and gardens. From manor house gardens to garden centres, we love all that blooms.
“We decided to find out which parts of the UK are the best for those with a green thumb by looking at the number of public gardens, florists, garden centres and even how many Britain in Bloom awards each town or city has won.”
According to Horticultural Week (hortweek.com), Horsham has the most number of garden centres per square mile in the UK – 3.5 to be precise.
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Horsham is considered a great place for gardeners due to its high concentration of garden centres relative to its size, making it a hub for gardening enthusiasts.
Garden centres like Hillier and the Old Barn Garden Centre offer a wide variety of plants, gardening supplies, and related products. Hillier often hold community events, workshops, and partnerships with local businesses. The popular centre also sells home-ware, and boats the Mulberry & Thyme restaurant. There is also farm shop with local produce and a butchers should you want to make a day of it.
Other centres include Architectural Plants Ltd and Camelia Botnar Garden Centre in Littleworth Lane. That one has 4.4 stars from 481 Google reviews. Reviewers have called it 'a real gem of a place' with one saying: "Lovely place, fabulous toasties and hot chocolate, such helpful staff." The five-acre centre has plants, shrubs and trees.
Yelp reviewers say Horsham's many garden centres offer a good selection of more exotic varieties of plants and that staff are friendly and knowledgeable.
Facebook commentators say some of Horsham's garden centre have features like play areas and cafes, making them suitable for family visits. Squires garden Centre, just south of the town, has a dedicated children's play area and a popular option for families.
For a dedicated soft play area, consider Old Barn Nursery in Horsham which also has a cafe.
Newbridge Nurseries in Horsham even has a clothing store alongside its garden centre. This huge garden centre also features a restaurant and bakery. The clothing store at Newbridge Nurseries includes fashion from various brands, including some outdoor wear.
Away from the garden centres Horsham Museum's garden maintained by volunteers, provides a peaceful space with historical and interesting planting, offering inspiration for various gardening styles.
There's a strong emphasis on creating gardens that support local wildlife in the town too, with initiatives like Wiler Horsham District promoting wildlife-friendly gardening practices.
