With Valentine’s Day a few days away and Mother’s Day just around the corner, we thought we’d let you in on some of our favourite London florists. With so many to choose from creating fabulous show-stopping arrangements – and willing to train you up too, we ask just one thing in return – don’t send anything average this year!
Send your dedicated Buy Time PA a list of important dates and they’ll have the right bouquet delivered, at the right time, for every occasion.
NORTH
A busy place full of flowers and scent, a lot of chatter, creativity and a whole load of leaves dropped on the floor. This elegant store is popular with celebrities – shooting to fame a few years ago for the sweet creations at Kate Moss’s wedding to Jamie Hince. It is equally famous however for pretty and natural-looking arrangements suitable for every occasion. Old fashioned and traditional country garden flowers are exquisitely presented in old buckets, pickle jars and lovely vintage vases. We recommend giving them a budget and letting them work their creative magic.
They deliver across the capital and can visit your home to set an arrangement or design a scheme for weddings and events.
76 Chamberlayne Road, London NW10, scarletandviolet.com
EAST
Forget rows of boring brown pots or symmetrically squished blooms, these guys let the plants show off and flowers dance and sing. A trendy flower shop that caters well for the local hipster demographic. For the ultimate indulgence this Valentine’s, they’ve teamed up with New York based chocolate maker MAST brothers to provide you with about the coolest Valentine’s gift a guy or gal could give. Whether they’re into chocolate & cocktails, boomin’ bouquets, or sultry succulents – Grace & Thorn have got it covered!
338 Hackney Road, London E2, graceandthorn.com
Equally famous for it’s school as for its flowers – McQueens Flower School attracts students from all across the world. Stop here for nothing but extravagant, design-led floristry. The fashion forward floral brand is favoured among five-star hotels with a dedicated shop in Claridge’s and a flagship store in Old Street.
229 Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2; mcqueens.co.uk
With a reputation for originality, creativity and uncompromising quality, their favourite way of working is to follow the wild form of the flowers and foliage, emphasising and celebrating their natural grace. But they are rebels too, and love to be bold and experimental, using unusual, clashing colour combinations and relishing the opportunity to present flowers in an unexpected way. This valentine’s day – treat your loved one to a bouquet on legs! Aptly named as the arrangement is so large that’s how it will seem when delivered.
They hold a market stall every Saturday on Broadway Market and have a shop in the Spar 64-66 Brooksby’s Walk, London E9 6DA, rebelrebel.co.uk
SOUTH EAST
Wild flower look alikes and simple garden flowers, undesigned using only the freshest flowers and foliage currently in season.
Kennington based JamJar Flowers was founded by Melissa Richardson, the former co-founder of Take 2 Models, who’s favorite flower is an Italian Anenome.
Arrangments are priced according to the size of the jar – whether that be a Jam Jar, Pickle Jar, Kilner or Enamel Bucket!
7a Peacock Yard, London SE17 3LH, jamjarflowers.co.uk
SOUTH WEST
If only roses will do, then head directly to Vive La Rose for show-stopping arrangements accompanied with a beautiful hand written postcard. The Central London shop is a homage to the classic flower and manages to arrange the familiar stems in brilliantly inventive ways, from roses in vintage tins to stunning arrangements in pretty trugs and jugs.
26 Royal Opera Arcade, St. James’s, London SW1Y 4UY, vivelarose.com
Orchidya is the only florist in the UK dedicated to one of the most exotic, mysterious and desired flower, the orchid – what’s more, most of its stock is grown in England.
If your loved one isn’t fussed about roses – a simple and elegant Orchid arrangement in a striking colour could be the way to go.
And, if you’re buying for your bloke, Orchidya do truly eye catching bouquets of vivid royal blue roses with green hints of rosa lisianthus – inspired by the beauty of the coral reefs.
42 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7DB, orchidya.com
Covent Garden Academy of Flowers
Create your own bouquets this year with expert guidance from the masters at Covent Garden Academy of Flowers where they hold a full range of day and evening courses – whether you can spare just a day or a social evening (complete with wine), or 3 or 4 days for more intensive instruction.
Here you’ll find precision arranged bouquets that come with creative flare. There’s a shop upstairs stocking pretty gifts from vases to ornaments while the floral academy is on the lower level.
St Martin’s Courtyard, 9 Slingsby Place, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9AB, academyofflowers.myshopify.com
WEST
Set up by Nikki Tibbles some 20 years ago, the original Westbourne Grove florist is a long-running local favourite, spreading the floral love with a second branch on Pimlico Road and concessions in Liberty and Harrods.
This year they’ve teamed up with prestigious champagne house, Ruinart, to bring you a heavenly combination of roses & rosé – the ultimate indulgence. For your chance to win one of these great gifts – just enter a simple Instagram competition.
222 Westbourne Grove, London, W11 2RH, wildatheart.com
For when you’d like to surprise someone but delivery practicalities are proving impossible – we highly recommend Bloom and Wild for gorgeous flowers delivered through the letterbox. Beautifully packaged, Bloom & Wild’s bunches slot neatly through a standard letter box and stay fresh for days. You can even purchase flower subscriptions to send a bouquet per month – for 3, 6 or 12 months. What could be easier?
bloomandwild.com
Just let your dedicated Buy Time PA know about any important dates coming up!