Spring at Petersham Nurseries

Hidden within the confines of a stunning walled garden between Ham and Richmond, Petersham Nurseries is well worth seeking out.

Whether you want to shop, dine, or just glean inspiration, this nursery is a far cry from your modern-day department-store style garden centre. The raised beds planted with an assortment of seasonal flowers, rambling roses, and climbing shrubs, are a joy to behold.

Once inspired by this lovingly tended garden you can buy from a carefully curated collection of plants and create your own display whether that be in freshly dug beds or neat window boxes.

One of the main attractions of this nursery is the collection of enormous glasshouses with their bare earthen floors. In one you can choose to buy from a vast selection of antiquities, gifts, homeware, and curiosities, whilst in the other you can enjoy a rare treat purchased from the adjacent teahouse. Set amongst the tree-sized pot plants are a multitude of rickety tables and chairs where you can enjoy a brief respite.

If your appetite is for something a little more leisurely  The Café is no ordinary place to dine. Open for lunch only Tuesday to Sunday, new head chef, Damian Clisby, works alongside Culinary Director, Lucy Boyd, to create an evolving menu inspired by what is growing in the garden, depending on the season.

Spring and early summer is a wonderful time to visit the nursery as it brims with new life but is still relatively quiet.