Garden & Home Directory
The Best Garden & Home Addresses in the East of England
The East of England stretches from the Norfolk coast and the Broads to the Peak District, with Chatsworth, Beth Chatto and RHS Hyde Hall among its gardens and Cambridge, Stamford and Newark for paint, kitchens and antiques. Here are the best in each category.
Gardens to Visit
Chatsworth
Bakewell, Derbyshire
Gardens laid out from the late 1600s, with the Great Cascade of 1696, a Capability Brown park and Tom Stuart-Smith's 15-acre Arcadia; best visited April to October.
See details →RHS Garden Hyde Hall
Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex
A 360-acre hilltop garden with big skies, roses and herbaceous borders, and a famous Dry Garden of drought-tolerant plants that thrive on rainfall alone.
See details →Beth Chatto Gardens
Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex
Five acres created over more than half a century by one of the great plantswomen, with woodland, water and the celebrated dry gravel garden.
See details →Anglesey Abbey
Lode, Cambridgeshire (National Trust)
A garden with something to see in every season, among the National Trust's best in the East of England.
See details →Blickling Estate
Aylsham, Norfolk (National Trust)
A great Norfolk house with a celebrated parterre garden.
See details →Ickworth
Near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (National Trust)
One of the region's most popular National Trust places, with gardens inspired by classical Italy.
See details →Helmingham Hall Gardens
Helmingham, Suffolk
Grade I listed gardens of the Tollemache family, home for over 500 years, with a walled garden of 1745, potager, topiary walk and colour-themed borders; open May to September.
See details →Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Cambridge
About 40 acres of garden in the heart of the city, holding some 8,000 plant species.
See details →East Ruston Old Vicarage
East Ruston, Norfolk
A 32-acre garden created by Alan Gray and Graham Robeson from 1973.
See details →Easton Walled Gardens
Easton, near Grantham, Lincolnshire
A 12-acre garden rescued from wilderness by Ursula and Fred Cholmeley from 2001, famous for February snowdrops and some 50 varieties of sweet pea in summer.
See details →
Countryside
Peak District National Park
Derbyshire and neighbouring counties
The UK's original national park, designated on 17 April 1951.
See details →The Broads
Norfolk and Suffolk
Rivers, lakes and fens given national park status by Act of Parliament in 1988, the only member of the family with a navigation purpose too.
See details →Norfolk Coast National Landscape
The Wash to Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk
Some 453 square kilometres of chalkland, glacial moraine and coast, crossed by the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trails.
See details →Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape
Stour estuary to Kessingland
A low-lying coastal landscape of astonishing variety, covering 403 square kilometres.
See details →Dedham Vale National Landscape
Essex–Suffolk border
Constable Country, made famous by John Constable's paintings, running upstream from Manningtree along the Stour.
See details →Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape
Lincolnshire
Rolling chalk hills and dry valleys over 558 square kilometres, designated in 1973.
See details →Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path
Knettishall Heath, Suffolk, and the Norfolk coast
A National Trail joining the 46-mile Peddars Way, along a Roman road, with the 112-mile path around the Norfolk coast.
See details →Sherwood Forest
Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire
A National Nature Reserve of more than a thousand ancient oaks, among them the Major Oak, thought to be about 800 years old.
See details →Chilterns National Landscape
Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
One of the most wooded parts of England, famous for its chalk beechwoods and home to England's largest population of red kites.
See details →Epping Forest
Essex and north-east London
Nearly 6,000 acres of ancient woodland in the care of the City of London since 1878, with the UK's largest collection of ancient trees.
See details →
Garden Centres
The GuideBritain's Love Affair with Garden Centres: History, Horticulture & the Best Days OutHow the garden centre was born, the family firms behind the best of them, and how to get the most from your visitRead our guide: Britain's Love of Garden Centres →Perrywood Tiptree
Tiptree, Essex
The Garden Centre Association's East Destination Garden Centre of the Year in 2026; it has also topped the GCA's national Top 100 league table.
See details →Poplars Garden Centre
Toddington, Bedfordshire
Named the GCA's East Garden Centre of the Year in 2026, and a customer service award winner in 2025.
See details →Pennells Garden Centre
Sleaford, Lincolnshire
The GCA's East Local Garden Centre of the Year in 2026.
See details →Notcutts Woodbridge
Woodbridge, Suffolk
A centre of Notcutts, the family-owned group of 19 garden centres whose nurseries won 50 gold medals at RHS Chelsea.
See details →Scotsdale Garden Centre
Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire
Called the jewel in the crown of Cambridgeshire's garden centres, and host of the GCA's East region awards in 2026.
See details →Pennells Garden Centre Lincoln
South Hykeham, Lincoln
The main centre of a family business established in 1780, one of the oldest family-run garden centres in the country, with a restaurant and a five-year guarantee on hardy plants.
See details →Perrywood Sudbury
Sudbury, Suffolk
Perrywood's Suffolk centre, a 2026 runner-up for the GCA's East Garden Centre of the Year.
See details →Gates Woodlands
Hinckley, Leicestershire
Gates' newer site in west Leicestershire, with large outdoor and covered plant areas, David Austin roses and Fred & Ivy's restaurant; host of the GCA's 2026 regional awards.
See details →Fairways Garden Centre Ashbourne
Clifton, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
The Plumbly family's larger centre, strong on climbers and roses, with a two-year hardy plant guarantee; a 2026 regional runner-up.
See details →Blue Diamond East Bridgford
East Bridgford, Nottinghamshire
Shortlisted in 2026 for the GCA's award for best garden products retailer among destination centres.
See details →Crocus
Online · delivers UK-wide · crocus.co.uk
Often called the UK's biggest gardening website, and a favourite all-rounder for plants delivered to the door.
See details →Thompson & Morgan
Online · delivers UK-wide · thompson-morgan.com
The UK's largest mail-order seed and plant company.
See details →David Austin Roses
Online · delivers UK-wide · davidaustinroses.co.uk
English roses straight from the famous Shropshire rose grower, potted or bare-root in season.
See details →
Interior Shops
The GuideBritish Interior Style and Where to Shop for It: From Liberty to the Best IndependentsWhat makes a British interior, the great stores that shaped it, the independents worth a detour, and how to shop for a lookRead our guide: British Interior Style →Stag Interiors
Southwold, Suffolk
Everything from classic kitchenware to seahorse sculptures, in a playful, modern style.
See details →House & Garden at Snape Maltings
Snape, Suffolk
An award-winning independent, the largest shop at Snape Maltings, with British-made upholstery, lighting and a large choice of plants.
See details →Swan House & Garden
Debenham, Suffolk
A highly curated selection of goods from around the world, with an interior design service.
See details →Happiness at Home
Woodbridge, Suffolk
A charming boutique of pieces chosen to bring happiness to the home.
See details →Clara Bowe
Henley, near Ipswich, Suffolk
Fine china and vintage furniture, some pieces restored with an upcycled look.
See details →Atwin
Norwich Lanes, Norwich
Local Norfolk makers and ethical UK brands in the historic lanes, with a jewellery workshop upstairs.
See details →Elm Hill Craft Shop
Elm Hill, Norwich
One of the oldest independent shops still thriving in Norwich, with hand-picked homewares, books and toys.
See details →The House In Town
Ipswich, Suffolk
An independent furniture and homewares retailer.
See details →Five and Dime
Hertford, Hertfordshire
Unique, design-led homeware and lifestyle pieces.
See details →Rockett St George
Online · delivers UK-wide · rockettstgeorge.co.uk
The online interiors store founded in 2007 by Jane Rockett and Lucy St George, known for eclectic style and bold designs.
See details →Cox & Cox
Online · delivers UK-wide · coxandcox.co.uk
Homeware and lighting chosen in Frome, Somerset, delivered across the UK.
See details →OKA
Online · delivers UK-wide · oka.com
A go-to for rattan garden furniture and statement lighting.
See details →
Paint Suppliers
The GuideBritain's Love of Heritage Paint & Wallpaper: The Makers, the Colours and How to ChooseThe heritage paint makers, the story of British wallpaper from Pugin to William Morris, and how to choose and sample a colourRead our guide: Heritage Paint & Wallpaper →Farrow & Ball Cambridge
Cambridge
The Dorset paint and wallpaper maker's Cambridge showroom, for colour cards, sample pots and advice.
See details →Farrow & Ball St Albans
St Albans, Hertfordshire
The Hertfordshire showroom, in the heart of the market town.
See details →Neptune Cambridge
Near Cambridge
Neptune's own paint collection alongside its furniture and kitchens.
See details →Neptune Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Neptune's own paints alongside its kitchens and furniture, open seven days a week.
See details →Neptune Colchester
Stanway, Colchester, Essex
Help with choosing a paint palette for the whole house.
See details →Neptune Market Harborough
Market Harborough, Leicestershire
A kitchen and interiors showroom with guidance on choosing your paint palette; closed on Mondays.
See details →The Hen House
Southwell, Nottinghamshire
A proud stockist of Farrow & Ball paint and paper in the minster town.
See details →Brewers Norwich North
Barker Street, Norwich
A decorator centre stocking Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library.
See details →Paint & Paper
Norwich, Norfolk
Specialists in designer wallpaper and paint since 1995 and the first stockist of Farrow & Ball, now part of Kent Blaxill.
See details →Edward Bulmer Natural Paint
Online · delivers UK-wide · edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk
Order a colour chart, painted A5 swatches or 60ml sample pots online, then your paint, with a calculator to work out how much you need. UK delivery.
See details →
Curtains & Blinds
The GuideCurtains, Blinds & Shutters: Britain's Window Dressing Traditions and How to ChooseFrom chintz and William Morris to the made-to-measure workrooms of today, and how to choose curtains, blinds and shuttersRead our guide: Curtains, Blinds & Shutters →Woods Interiors
Sprowston, Norwich, Norfolk
Made-to-measure curtains, blinds, poles and soft furnishings, made by hand by their own team, with a showroom and homewares shop.
See details →Country Blinds & Shutters
Norwich, Norfolk
A family-run company making made-to-measure blinds and shutters; a member of the British Blind and Shutter Association.
See details →Angelina's Curtains and Blinds
Heacham, Norfolk
A family-run business with a showroom on the North Norfolk coast.
See details →Broadland Home Interiors
Suffolk coast
A family-run business for made-to-measure blinds, curtains, shutters and poles.
See details →The Cambridge Fabric Company
Peas Hill, Cambridge
A fabric shop whose own seamstresses make your choice into curtains, blinds and soft furnishings, with help on fitting.
See details →Choice Linen & Curtains
Nottingham
A well-established curtain supplier of over 25 years, with its own Nottingham workshop making bespoke curtains.
See details →Homecraft Interiors
Beeston, Nottingham
Specialists in made-to-measure curtains, with soft furnishings and furniture.
See details →Norwich Sunblinds
St Benedict's Street, Norwich
A showroom of fabric samples, with a home visit to measure up for made-to-measure curtains and blinds.
See details →Sarah Harding Interiors
Uppingham, Rutland
Showrooms of hand-finished curtains, with a soft furnishing making-up service and design consultations.
See details →Norwich Sunblinds Attleborough
Attleborough, Norfolk
A second showroom for curtains and soft furnishings made to measure by local craftspeople, with matching cushions and pelmets.
See details →Sewing House
Online · delivers UK-wide · sewinghouse.co.uk
Curtains, blinds and cushions made to order in the UK.
See details →Closs & Hamblin
Online · delivers UK-wide · candh.co.uk
Over 90 years of made-to-measure window dressings, now with made-to-measure curtains and Roman blinds online.
See details →British Made Interiors
Online · delivers UK-wide · britishmadeinteriors.com
Made to measure in about 20 working days, with a 10-year guarantee.
See details →The Home of Interiors
Online · delivers UK-wide · thehomeofinteriors.co.uk
An independent online retailer of high-quality made-to-measure curtains.
See details →Blinds2Go
Online · delivers UK-wide · blinds2go.co.uk
A good-value choice for made-to-measure blinds.
See details →
Kitchen Design
The GuideThe British Kitchen: From the Victorian Range to the Shaker Revival, and How to Choose YoursFrom the Victorian range and the Aga to the Shaker revival, the makers behind the British kitchen and how to choose a kitchen studioRead our guide: The British Kitchen →Tom Howley Cambridge
Cambridge
Hand-crafted kitchens including the Kavanagh and Hartford designs.
See details →Tom Howley St Albans
St Albans, Hertfordshire
A newer showroom with three full-size kitchens, a walk-in pantry and a boot room.
See details →Tom Howley Nottingham
West Bridgford, Nottingham
Tom Howley's 20th showroom, in the leafy suburb of West Bridgford.
See details →Harvey Jones Cambridge
Cambridge
Reopened in December 2025 after refurbishment, with three full-size kitchen displays, a laundry area and a home office.
See details →Neptune Cambridge
Near Cambridge
Solid timber cabinetry and full kitchens shown in room settings.
See details →Neptune Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Kitchens, furniture, natural stone, timber flooring and work surfaces.
See details →deVOL Cotes Mill
Cotes, near Loughborough, Leicestershire
deVOL's kitchen showrooms, in a former mill house just beyond Loughborough since 2013.
See details →Harvey Jones Nottingham
Exchange Arcade, Nottingham
A city-centre kitchen showroom, open since 2014; Sundays by appointment.
See details →Harvey Jones St Albans
St Albans, Hertfordshire
Harvey Jones's Hertfordshire kitchen showroom.
See details →deVOL
Online · delivers UK-wide · devolkitchens.co.uk
Kitchens such as the Real Shaker and Classic English are designed with you, and their online shop sells the taps, lighting and hardware.
See details →Naked Kitchens
Online · delivers UK-wide · nakedkitchens.com
Made-to-order kitchens in eight cabinet door styles, with a lower-priced sister range, 80/20.
See details →
Home Comforts
The GuideBritish Interior Style and Where to Shop for It: From Liberty to the Best IndependentsWhat makes a British interior, the great stores that shaped it, the independents worth a detour, and how to shop for a lookRead our guide: British Interior Style →HomeSense Cambridge
Beehive Centre, Cambridge
Homeware, bedding, lighting and tableware from well-known brands at reduced prices, beside TK Maxx.
See details →Ffarr
Burnham Market, Norfolk
A minimalist emporium of fashion, furnishings and accessories from the team behind Nomad and the Bowerbird, in a village of more than 30 independent shops.
See details →Nomad and the Bowerbird
Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
A lifestyle shop on the coast with pretty ceramics and fragrant candles alongside clothing.
See details →Baker Rhodes Home
Felmingham, Norfolk
A homeware showroom with a large choice of home accessories and its own fragrance collection of scented candles and room sprays.
See details →Stiffkey Stores
Stiffkey, Norfolk
A coast-road village shop for gifts, home essentials and treats.
See details →HomeSense Nottingham
Castle Marina Retail Park, Nottingham
Homeware, bedding, lighting and tableware from well-known brands at reduced prices.
See details →HomeSense Northampton
St James Retail Park, Northampton
Homeware, bedding, lighting and tableware from well-known brands at reduced prices.
See details →Podarok
Bene't Street, Cambridge
An independent gift shop with handbags, jewellery, lampshades and handmade homewares; its name is Russian for 'gift'.
See details →Lift
Southwold, Suffolk
An independent home and accessory store.
See details →Zara Home
Online · delivers UK-wide · zarahome.com
Bedding, table linen, tableware and fragrance, with the full range online.
See details →H&M Home
Online · delivers UK-wide · hm.com
Affordable cushions, throws, tableware and decorative pieces.
See details →
Antique Shops
The GuideBritain's Antiques Towns, Centres & Fairs: Where to Go and How to Buy WellThe great antiques towns, the big fairs at Newark and Ardingly, and how to judge age, condition and provenance before you buyRead our guide: Britain's Antiques Towns & Fairs →Hemswell Antique Centres
Hemswell, Lincolnshire
Hemswell Antiques Centre and Canberra Antiques Centre share one site, which also hosts the Astra Antiques Fair, in a county rich in antiques fairs and markets.
See details →Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair
Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire
Billed as the largest antiques fair in Europe, with up to 2,000 stalls. The next is on 10 and 11 December 2026; Thursday entry costs more than Friday.
See details →St Martins Antiques Centre
Stamford, Lincolnshire
More than seventy expert dealers, open seven days a week.
See details →Long Melford Antiques Fair
Village Memorial Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk
A midweek fair of quality dealers with no modern or reproduction items, billed as the longest-running midweek antiques fair.
See details →Holt Antiques & Interiors Centre
Holt, Norfolk
Some 30 dealers of vintage, industrial, country, painted and antique furniture under one roof.
See details →Anthony Fell Antiques
Holt, Norfolk
A specialist in authentic antique period furniture and works of art; a LAPADA and BADA member.
See details →The Warehouse Antiques & Collectables
Setchey, near King's Lynn, Norfolk
More than 100 dealers, all on one level.
See details →Ashbourne Antiques Centre
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
A centre in a town of some ten antique shops and galleries.
See details →Rutland Arms Antiques Centre
Bakewell, Derbyshire
A large centre in the listed stable block of the Rutland Arms Hotel.
See details →Cromford Mill Antique Centre
Cromford, near Matlock, Derbyshire
Antiques in the historic Cromford Mill, alongside Heritage Antiques on the same site.
See details →Decorative Collective
Online · delivers UK-wide · decorativecollective.com
Well over a hundred vetted UK antiques dealers in one place online.
See details →Vinterior
Online · delivers UK-wide · vinterior.co
Curated vintage and antique furniture from independent sellers.
See details →Selency
Online · delivers UK-wide · selency.co.uk
A second-hand and vintage furniture marketplace, launched in 2014.
See details →1stDibs
Online · delivers UK-wide · 1stdibs.com
The international marketplace for antiques and design, including pieces from dealers in Petworth and across Britain.
See details →
Checked October 2026. Opening times, prices and delivery terms change, so please check before you travel or order.