Garden & Home Directory
The Best Garden & Home Addresses in the South of England
The South of England is garden country: Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire and Berkshire are home to some of the finest garden centres, paint showrooms, kitchen studios and antiques towns in Britain. Here are five of the best in each category.
Gardens to Visit
Sheffield Park and Garden
Uckfield, East Sussex (National Trust)
A Capability Brown landscape of lakes and rare trees, famous for its blazing autumn colour reflected in the water.
See details →Nymans
Handcross, West Sussex (National Trust)
A romantic Grade II* listed garden around the ruins of a country house, with rare plant collections gathered over generations.
See details →Borde Hill Garden
Haywards Heath, West Sussex
A plant hunter's garden of rare trees and shrubs. Its Rose Garden celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2026 with hundreds of varieties.
See details →West Dean Gardens
Chichester, West Sussex
A 300-foot pergola, restored Victorian glasshouses and one of the finest walled kitchen gardens in the country.
See details →Parham House and Gardens
Pulborough, West Sussex
A four-acre walled garden and seven acres of pleasure grounds beneath the South Downs; an RHS partner garden.
See details →Great Dixter
Northiam, East Sussex
Christopher Lloyd's celebrated garden, one of the great historic gardens of East Sussex and a lesson in bold, joyful planting.
See details →Wakehurst
Ardingly, West Sussex
Kew's wild botanic garden in the Sussex Weald, with a much-loved spring display.
See details →RHS Garden Wisley
Wisley, Surrey
The Royal Horticultural Society's flagship garden, inspiring in every season.
See details →Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Near Cranbrook, Kent (National Trust)
Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson's Grade I garden, most famous for its White Garden and its roses; go early, as it can be busy.
See details →Exbury Gardens
Exbury, New Forest, Hampshire
Lionel de Rothschild's woodland garden, laid out from 1919, where many of his famous rhododendron and azalea hybrids still flower around the Azalea Bowl.
See details →
Countryside
South Downs National Park
Hampshire and Sussex
Some 600 square miles of rolling chalk hills, ancient woodland, river valleys and white cliffs. Read our full guide.
See details →The South Downs Way
Winchester to Eastbourne
A 100-mile National Trail along the chalk ridge, for walkers, cyclists and riders.
See details →Seven Sisters and Birling Gap
Near Eastbourne, East Sussex
The great white chalk cliffs of the Sussex Heritage Coast, with Beachy Head close by.
See details →Devil's Dyke
Near Brighton, West Sussex
A dramatic dry chalk valley with one of the finest panoramas on the Downs.
See details →Kingley Vale
Near Chichester, West Sussex
An ancient yew forest, one of the most atmospheric woods in the National Park.
See details →New Forest National Park
Hampshire
Heath and woodland shaped by some 5,000 ponies turned out by around 700 commoners; enjoy them, but never feed or touch them.
See details →The North Downs Way
Farnham, Surrey to Dover, Kent
A 153-mile National Trail, opened in 1978, crossing the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs by way of Canterbury to the White Cliffs.
See details →Box Hill
Surrey Hills, Surrey (National Trust, western part)
The famous North Downs summit in the Surrey Hills, named after the old box woods on its chalk slopes; some 850,000 people visit each year.
See details →High Weald National Landscape
Surrey, Sussex and Kent
Some 1,450 square kilometres of small farms and woods, historic parks, sunken lanes and ridge-top villages.
See details →Isle of Wight National Landscape
Isle of Wight
Half the island is a designated National Landscape, an easy escape to the country.
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 →Haskins Snowhill
Copthorne, West Sussex
Named the Garden Centre Association's South East Garden Centre of the Year in 2026, and third in the national destination category.
See details →Coolings Wych Cross
Forest Row, East Sussex
A family-run garden centre on Colemans Hatch Road at the edge of Ashdown Forest, part of a Kent and Sussex business growing since 1913.
See details →Garsons Esher
Esher, Surrey
A 2026 finalist in the Garden Centre Association's South East awards.
See details →Garsons Titchfield
Titchfield, Hampshire
Garsons' Hampshire centre, also a 2026 finalist in the South East awards.
See details →RHS Garden Wisley Plant Centre
Wisley, Surrey
The Royal Horticultural Society's flagship garden and its plant centre, the place to buy what you have just admired in the borders.
See details →The Gardener's Garden Centre (Coolings)
Knockholt, Kent
Coolings' plant-led home on a 14-acre site, growing over 65 per cent of what it sells on its own nursery; Coolings Nurseries was the GCA's South East Garden Centre of the Year in 2026.
See details →Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
Sidcup, Kent
A family-run destination centre on the London–Kent border with roots in a nursery of 1876; among the GCA's South East destination winners in 2026.
See details →The Millbrook Garden Company Staplehurst
Staplehurst, Kent
The GCA's South East Local Garden Centre of the Year in 2025.
See details →Squire's Milford
Milford, Surrey
Winner of the GCA's 2025 South East award for best garden products retailer; Squire's has centres across Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire and west London.
See details →Squire's Frensham
Frensham, Surrey
Named UK Garden Centre Food Hall of the Year.
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 →Wattle and Daub
Godalming, Surrey
Ceramics, textiles, furniture and vintage finds in a Tudor house.
See details →Rae
Rye, East Sussex
Rustic vintage homeware hand-picked from the UK and Europe, alongside collections from modern independent makers.
See details →Reste
Hastings, East Sussex
Artisan and handcrafted household pieces and modern home accessories from around the world.
See details →Abode
Brighton, East Sussex
A Brighton favourite for some fifteen years, for a home with a distinctive style.
See details →Blossom Home
Tenterden, Kent
A much-loved independent at 35 High Street, known for affordable prints and decorations.
See details →French Loft
Arundel and Petworth, West Sussex
A dealer trading from its own warehouse in Arundel and from Petworth Antiques Market.
See details →The Hambledon
Winchester, Hampshire
A townhouse store, a small department store of homewares, fashion, beauty and stationery.
See details →A G Hendy & Co
Hastings Old Town, East Sussex
Chef Alastair Hendy's beautifully presented homeware and hardware shop of new and vintage pieces, with workshops and meals.
See details →Dyke & Dean
Hastings, East Sussex
Classic housewares mixed with contemporary pieces from independent designers.
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 Guildford
11 Tunsgate, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3QT
The Dorset paint and wallpaper maker’s Surrey showroom, for colour cards, sample pots and colour advice.
See details →Farrow & Ball Winchester
32 The Square, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9EX
Just off the cathedral close, open seven days a week.
See details →Farrow & Ball Tunbridge Wells
4 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1UX
The Kent showroom, a short walk from the Pantiles.
See details →Farrow & Ball Hove
31B Western Road, Hove BN3 1AF
The showroom for Brighton and Hove.
See details →Neptune Chichester
Drayton Lane, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 2EW
Neptune’s own paint collection, with staff on hand to help you build a palette for the whole house. On-site parking.
See details →Farrow & Ball Oxford
Summertown, Oxford
The Oxford showroom in Summertown.
See details →Farrow & Ball Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
The Buckinghamshire showroom, on London End.
See details →Farrow & Ball Esher
Esher, Surrey
The Surrey showroom on the High Street, open seven days a week.
See details →Brewers Guildford
Guildford, Surrey
A Brewers decorator centre chosen by Farrow & Ball as a Premium Stockist.
See details →Brewers Herne Bay
Altira Trade Park, Herne Bay, Kent
A decorator centre praised for its range of big paint brands, including Farrow & Ball.
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 →Closs & Hamblin
Brighton, Chichester and Winchester
Made-to-measure curtains and blinds, sewn locally by their own makers, with a home consultation included.
See details →Mitchell's Fabrics
Haslemere and Milford, Surrey
Two Surrey shops designing and making made-to-measure curtains, blinds and soft furnishings.
See details →Zoe Rourke Interiors
Hove, East Sussex
An independent curtain maker working across East Sussex, Surrey and south-west London, with home visits.
See details →Curtain Creation
Surrey and Kent
A family business since 1988, making handmade curtains and blinds to measure, with home visits.
See details →Allure Blinds
Chertsey, Surrey
Blinds for Surrey, Berkshire and West London; a member of the British Blind and Shutter Association.
See details →Pleats Soft Furnishings
Bicester, Oxfordshire
Made-to-measure and bespoke curtains and blinds for Oxford and beyond.
See details →Mill House Designs Kent
Mersham, near Ashford, Kent
Handmade bespoke curtains and blinds from its own workroom since 1988, for Kent and East Sussex.
See details →Surrey Blinds and Shutters
Farnham, Surrey
A newly extended Farnham showroom to see blinds and shutters and every fabric and colour, fitted by their own team.
See details →Sofas & Stuff Fittleworth
Fittleworth, West Sussex
The flagship store and head office of the West Sussex upholstery maker, with its fabric collections.
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 →Neptune
Guildford, Winchester and Chichester
Timeless kitchens and furniture; Winchester was Neptune’s very first store, and Guildford has a design library.
See details →Harvey Jones
95 Western Road, Hove BN3 1FA
Signature Shaker kitchens, plus the contemporary Linear collections, from a maker with almost five decades of experience.
See details →Tom Howley
Tunbridge Wells and Guildford
Showrooms at 35 High Street, Tunbridge Wells (near the Pantiles) and 185 High Street, Guildford, with design help from first sketch to aftercare.
See details →Martin Moore
Esher, Surrey and Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Hand-crafted kitchens made in their own workshops, combining traditional techniques with modern innovation.
See details →David Haugh Kitchens
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A workshop-based kitchen maker serving Surrey, Sussex and Kent.
See details →Harvey Jones Bicester Village
Bicester Village, Oxfordshire
Harvey Jones's largest showroom, one of 32 across the UK.
See details →Neptune Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Neptune's kitchen showroom for Reading and Henley-on-Thames.
See details →Neptune Tonbridge
Tonbridge, Kent
Neptune's nearest kitchen showroom to Sevenoaks.
See details →Neptune Farnham
Farnham, Surrey
Neptune's Surrey kitchen showroom.
See details →Tom Howley Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
One of Tom Howley's showrooms of hand-crafted kitchens.
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 Brighton
The Quadrant, Brighton
Homeware, bedding, lighting and tableware from well-known brands at reduced prices; stock changes constantly.
See details →HomeSense Tunbridge Wells
Fountains Retail Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3FB
A large HomeSense on the edge of town, open late on weekdays and Saturdays.
See details →HomeSense Hedge End
Hedge End Retail Park, Southampton, Hampshire SO30 2QY
The Southampton-area store, with easy parking on the retail park.
See details →Moda
Folkestone, Kent
An award-winning independent for home decor, candles and prints.
See details →Winter's Moon
Chichester, West Sussex
One of Chichester’s best-loved independent homeware shops.
See details →HomeSense Aylesbury
Broadfields Retail Park, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Discounted homeware, bedding, lighting and tableware from well-known brands.
See details →HomeSense Westwood Cross
Westwood Cross, Thanet, Kent
Opened in 2018 inside the TK Maxx store; homeware, bedding, lighting and tableware from well-known brands at reduced prices.
See details →HomeSense Horsham
Horsham town centre, West Sussex
Homeware, bedding, lighting and tableware from well-known brands at reduced prices.
See details →No 77
Preston Street, Faversham, Kent
A treasure trove of homeware and curated pieces.
See details →Barley Mow
Court Street, Faversham, Kent
A gift shop of home pieces and cards, in Faversham for more than 30 years.
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 →
Zara Home and H&M Home have no shops in the South at present (Zara Home's UK stores are in London), but both sell their full home ranges online.
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 →Petworth Antiques Market
East Street, Petworth, West Sussex
More than 35 dealers under one roof in the town known as the antiques centre of the South, with fine silver, tableware, furniture and vintage clothing.
See details →Tudor Rose Antiques & Interiors
Petworth, West Sussex
Ten dealers in a former alehouse, a short stroll from the market.
See details →Hungerford Arcade
Hungerford, Berkshire
Over 100 dealers under one roof in a family-owned arcade, open since 1972, with a tearoom upstairs.
See details →Rye House Antiques
Wish Street, Rye, East Sussex
A specialist in mid-century pieces.
See details →Ardingly International Antiques & Collectors Fair
South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex
One of the great two-day antiques fairs, held several times a year. The next is on 3 and 4 November 2026; the Tuesday trade day costs more than Wednesday.
See details →The Pantiles Antiques Market
The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
More than 40 selected dealers in the historic Pantiles, with valuations and plenty of places to eat.
See details →Pilgrim's Antiques Centre
West Street, Dorking, Surrey
In Dorking's antiques hub, crammed with antiques and collectables from a few pounds to a few thousand.
See details →Talbot House Antiques Centre
West Street, Dorking, Surrey
More than ten rooms of fine furniture, glass, pictures and more.
See details →Farnham Maltings Antiques Market
Farnham, Surrey
A monthly market, one of the oldest and largest quality markets in Surrey and Hampshire.
See details →Antiques at The George
High Street, Burford, Oxfordshire
A multi-floor centre in a refurbished Cotswold coaching inn, established in 1992, open seven days a week.
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.