An excellent range of garden centres and nurseries can be found throughout Rutland. Here are just a few of the horticultural delights on offer:

Gates Garden Centre is only 4 miles from Oakham in Cold Overton, and was built in an original Victorian Walled Garden (formerly part of Cold Overton Hall).  This spectacularly successful garden centre is still run by the Gates family and features a wide range of indoor and outdoor plants as well as garden care, hardware, homeware, gifts, garden furniture and BBQ's.  The Garden Restaurant serves breakfasts, lunches and afternoon tea in a beautiful setting with outstanding views across rolling Rutland countryside.  This really is a perfect place, come rain or shine, to visit; with snug seating around wood burners during the Winter and breathtaking outdoor verandas overlooking the lakes in Summer.   In addition, a children’s play area will keep younger visitors entertained and a Christmas display, complete with Father Christmas and his reindeer, that has become a joy for families to visit every year.

Welland Vale - Garden Inspirations is close to Uppingham and is filled with everything for the discerning gardener, including an extensive range of quality home grown plants, shrubs, climbers and perennials.  Garden inspiration continues in the form of decorative pots, statues, bird baths, stone benches and giftware. Not forgetting their lovely Orchard Cafe!

Rutland Water Garden Nursery on the south shore, near Manton, grows around 90% of their quality plants and shrubs on site, including bedding plants, hanging baskets and perennials. Wellies Coffee Shop is next door and provides delicious homemade cakes and scones, plus breakfast and light lunches.

At Barnsdale Gardens, there is a dedicated nursery stocking many of the species found in the gardens themselves.  There’s also a lovely Tea Room and gift shop selling exclusive Barnsdale souvenirs as well as dvd’s and books.

The Herb Nursery in Thistleton, near Oakham, specialises in herbs, wild flowers, cottage garden plants and scented-leaf Pelargoniums.  The owners are proud to confirm that 95% of all plants sold are propagated and grown on site.  The Herb Nursery is open every day except at Christmas and New Year.