North One Garden Centre

Despite that I did like the N1 a lot, the stuff was nice and with knowledge and the plants always interesting I was shocked today to find the very poisenous Roundup by Monsanto on their shelves!
A no-​go if you are seriously into gardening and sell all these bee-​friendly meadows beside your till…
I wrote them and:
«Great News from N1
Thank you for your message regarding Round Up, which has prompted us to focus on our stand regarding the product.
For some time now, we too thought it was a an anomaly, and your comments have prompted us to make the decision to take this Round Up product off our shelves…»
So dear gardeners, take care and have an open eye.
Anyone who still wonders what it is about (and those who like it presented very good):

Beautiful garden centre with lots of planting paraphernalia and various plants and flowers. But some decently priced things too. Wish it was nearby.

I am so indifferent about gardens and plants. I am quite happy with a patch of lawn in a garden and maybe a tree. But if you are, unlike me, then you may find this place handy should you have one of those muddy patches at the back of your flat or house.
Unlike the mammoth stores out of town this one is compact and on a quiet residential street. They make use of all available space both inside and out and the staff are extremely helpful. One even came round to view our garden so they could better recommend which plants we should plant and where (needless to say when I say WE I mean D.)
They have a range of seasonal decorations as well such as Halloween pumpkins of different varieties and loads of Christmas tree decorations. They also sell trees at Christmas.
They also have a small range of garden furniture and garden decorations plus a few other bits and bobs such as candles etc you may end up buying for someone as a birthday present.
It is probably a bit pricier than you’d pay out of town but for convenience and service this place is your best bet*
*Seriously though, they were voted best garden centre last year or so the banner on the door says.

I wouldn’t really call myself the green fingered type. In fact, it would be fair to say that my most successful gardening moment to date was aged 9, growing cress from a yoghurt pot with the rest of Primary 5. Recently however, I’ve had a revelation and I am now growing not one, but six (!) different herbs. Although off-​put occassionally by rouge squirrels having a nosey, last weekend I successfully grew them to the height that repotting was required.
Not up for treking out to one of the mega gardening centres, I was very pleased to discover that only 10 minutes walk away was the beautiful North One! This little garden centre is small but perfectly formed. As well as stock a range of pot plants and herbs, they have every type of seed, soil, pot and cane imaginable. Prices are however, a bit more steep than you would get in one of the chains. I was a bit taken a back to discover that a cute purple bench, just big enough for two but no more was selling for £250. Needless to say I left that one to someone that might be feeling a bit more flash than myself!
Now I’ve put my gardening kitty to use I can safety assure you that Mr Mint, Lord Thyme, Miss Chives, Sir Sage, Prof Parsely and Queen Rosemary are looking better than ever! Four terracotta pots, soil, plant food, and a few other bits and pieces came to around £35. Ok, it’s a bit more than I wanted to pay but the whole day was lovely. No long commute. No chain garden centre. Just a lovely walk around Islington followed by a day of getting my hands dirty. Perfect!

This garden centre is truly a little gem. While it is tiny, and as such can’t rival the scale and variety of larger out of town centres, it packs in a great deal. I sadly don’t have a garden, but I love dropping in just to browse. They have a small outside section with a good variety of plants which vary with the season. It’s almost like visiting an actual garden. Inside is also immaculately presented, with a small but good range of seeds, pretty pots, garden ornaments, etc. The staff are friendly too. I really wish I could go in for more than a few seeds for a window box
According to their website they’ve been awarded Garden Centre of the year 2007 by the Horticultural Trade, in recognition of their innovative use of a small space. Can’t be bad if other Garden Centres recognise how good they are!
Their website is