Seed season

Clifton Nurseries (Maida Vale)

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop

Behind an unassuming entrance in Maida Vale since 1851, Clifton Nurseries is filled with vibrant, eclectic flowers and plants, which bloom inside its greenhouses and around its vast courtyard. Avid gardeners can find all sorts of outdoor plants as well as an abundance of indoor options, including an impressive selection of colourful orchids. There are also pots, gardening tools, and decorative items, as well as seasonally specific choices (I once bought a small potted fir as my Christmas tree).

It’s a place of discovery, with aisles and aisles of flora. Walk down one, and you’ll find a table of carnivorous plants; stroll down another, potted herbs; towards the register, shelves of cacti. The staff are helpful, and knowledgeable, armed with advice on whether something will grow in a particular place or how to resurrect a dying purchase. In one of the greenhouses, friends and families gather in the jungle-like cafe for coffee, brunch, or lunch. The food is solid, but the pastries and sweet treats are the way to go — there’s nothing quite like a sunny afternoon with cake and coffee, surrounded by plants. –Emily Zemler

→ Shop: Clifton Nurseries (Maida Vale) • 5A Clifton Villas • Mon-Sat 9a-6p, Sun 11a-5p.