Garden centres are often not the first places you land upon, when thinking about things to do in autumn.
However, when the weather is dreary and you crave cosy places, you can’t beat an inviting garden centre to escape the chill.
Apart from the obvious plants and greenery that is a must for green-fingered fans, there is much to love about garden centres.
In the run up to Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas, garden centres can be excellent places to pick up artisan gifts, decorations and more.
In addition to doubling up as quaint shopping centres, many also have on-site cafés.
These are wonderful areas where you can hunker down after an afternoon shopping, mulling over life as you sip steaming hot chocolate, against the bustling backdrop of a busy café.
Here is our round-up of cosy garden centres with cafés to visit this autumn.
If you have recommendations we would absolutely love to hear from you. Please email [email protected] and we’ll take a look.
1. Garden centres with cosy cafés
A top tier activity when temperatures start to dip, is visiting a garden centre with cosy café. | Unsplash
2. Chatsworth Garden Centre, Calton Lees, Beeley, Derbyshire DE4 2NX
A recent Google reviewer said: "Cafe staff were excellent, super helpful and friendly. Wider variety of plants than usual and so although more expensive than others for me it was well worth a visit. Sometimes you just have to treat yourself! I will be back." | Submitted
3. Swarkestone Nursery, Lowes Lane, Swarkestone, Derby DE73 7GQ
A recent Google reviewer said: "The restaurant served typical garden centre food which was tasty and hot. The restaurant was very light and airy. The car park was very busy but I found a space." | Google
4. Hudsons Plant Centre, Wirksworth Road, Duffield, Belper DE56 4AQ
One reviewer said: "The coffee shop is really good, probably one of the best in a garden centre with realistic prices, full breakfast was £5.95 and was pretty substantial. The sausage cob was massive and the flat white was as good as any coffee shop around." | Submitted