THE BEST way to decorate your day? Flowers, of course – and luckily, London’s floristry scene has never been so lush. Want to show your sweetheart just how special they are? There’s no need to settle for ordinary – London is full of floral experts selling unique creations that will put a smile on your loved one’s face – or help get you out of the doghouse…
If you’re not sure where the best flower shops in London are hiding, don’t worry: here is our top 10 of the loveliest and best places to buy flowers in London, for Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or just to show you care.
Fjura
“People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.” – Iris Murdoch
Fjura means flower in Maltese.
Fjura was established in 2005 by Simone Gooch in Sydney. In 2015 Fjura moved to London. Simone is known for creating seasonal, custom flower arrangements spanning hand delivered flower gestures to large floral installations. Louis Vuitton and Hermès are on their client list.
Nikki Tibbles Wild at Heart
Founded in 1993, Nikki Tibbles Wild at Heart is famous for its opulent and unique style. Their events and weddings are truly breathtaking and they bring a vast wealth of experience to make every event special, original and stunning. In addition to their original Turquoise Island shop, Nikki Tibbles Wild at Heart includes a concession in Liberty, a flagship store on the Pimlico Road and a thriving nationwide delivery service. The A-list favourite’s clients include the likes of Burberry and Nicole Farhi.
30 Pimlico Road, SW1W
TO BTo book a consultation with Carole, call 0207 229 1174
Flowerbx
Founded by former Tom Ford PR director Adam Wilkie, Flowerbx is an online store which sells curated, fresh flowers, hand-picked by their in-house specialist, direct from the flower markets in Holland to your front door.
Make regular flower delivery a part of your life by using their on-line subscription service, where you control how often your flowers arrive (weekly, bi-monthly, you choose!); or feel free to order flowers as gift or as a one-off to avoid messy and inconvenient, early-morning trips to the wholesale market.
Natalie Massenet and Tom Ford are fans.
TELEPHONE: +44 (0)20 3696 6969
EMAIL: contact@flowerbx.com
ADDRESS: FLOWERBX Limited, 12 Cullen Way, London, NW10 6JZ
Petalon
Petalon is a husband-and-wife team that offers two seasonal bouquets a week. They deliver bouquets by bicycle across London, Monday – Friday. Florence and James also run a bicycle manufacturing business. This keeps costs down to £28 a bunch, £1 of which goes to Bee Collective, a not-for-profit organisation that helps Londoners help bees. Good vibes all round.
At 4am on Monday morning they are at the flower market choosing flowers and designing the bouquets for the week. The choice should be up online by 9am Monday morning, but you can always order in advance below, and they will email you the choice available on Monday.
E: hello@petalon.co.uk
T: 07514 178746
Grace & Thorn
Nik Southern founded Grace & Thorn in 2011, beginning her journey from a studio on the Kingsland Road, Dalston. Born from Nik’s desire to create florals that defied all traditions and rules, Grace & Thorn’s naturalist and asymmetrical style has gathered a cult following amongst Londoners and brands alike. Grace and Thorn’s approach reflects the constant movement and evolution of design, bringing together the contemporary and the classic with unique combinations of texture and colour. No two pieces are ever the same. Grace & Thorn opened the doors to its first shop in September 2014, on the Hackney Road.
HEAD OFFICE: 020 3637 1477
Their head office is open 7 days a week for all flower orders, wedding enquiries, and workshop information. Alternatively you can email them: info@graceandthorn.com
HACKNEY
338 Hackney Road, London, E2 7AX
Call: +44 (0) 207 739 1521 Ext 1
SOHO
7 Greens Court, Soho, London, W1F 0HQ
Call: +44 (0) 203 689 1576
Scarlet and Violet
Vic Brotherson is the green-fingered artist who turned Kate Moss’s wedding into a blissful bower of vintage-inspired blooms.
Established in 2006, Scarlet & Violet is a busy place full of flowers & scent, a lot of chatter, creativity and a whole load of leaves dropped on the floor. They buy their flowers daily from the market so each day has its different beauties and every bunch we make has its own character.
76 Chamberlayne Road, London, NW10 3JJ
Bloom & Wild
Giving and receiving flowers should be as elegant as the stems we deliver. No more last minute supermarket dashes, or disappointing deliveries. There’s a story behind every flower gift: Thank you. I’m thinking of you. I love you. You want to show someone special that you care, and so every detail has to be right.
That’s why They’ve taken the time make every aspect of the Bloom & Wild experience simply beautiful.
Their intuitive website means that in just a few clicks you can send an arrangement of fresh flowers. Designed by their professional florist, each bouquet is stunning and long-lasting.
They developed their bespoke presentation boxes to reflect the beauty of the flowers inside, whilst still protecting every petal. And most importantly of all are the finishing touches, that make every delivery a delight.
Jam Jar Flowers
Neat little arrangements with just the right amount of vagary to suggest that you created them yourself. Founded by Melissa Richardson, the former co-founder of Take 2 Models, and Jocelyn Lloyd, former i-D magazine designer, and based in Kennington, they do mean table centrepieces, too.
Their clients receive the freshest flowers available, bought in the early hours. Each arrangement designed to suit their personal style. They have a collection of wonderful and interesting vases and containers and always work to compliment each environment. Minimum order £50 to include delivery. Their team also share their passion for plants and they offer a planting and maintenance service both on small and large scales.
JamJar Flowers, 7a Peacock Yard, London SE17 3LH
T: 020 7738 7054
Flora Starkey
With a client list that includes anyone and everyone on the London fashion scene (Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Victoria Beckham) Starkey works with flowers as a Renaissance painter would work with oils. She brought alive Lucinda Chambers’ vision of dark glamour for the December 2013 issue, and has lent her effusive style to countless other shoots.
Flora Starkey is a bespoke floral designer based in central London. Working from her studio, Flora creates arrangements for events including parties, weddings, fashion shows and photo shoots. Taking inspiration from many sources including the work of the Dutch Masters and Renaissance artists, Victorian flower photographs and the English country garden, her displays are both romantic and sumptuous. Using only the highest quality and where possible seasonal flowers, Flora will often supplement her designs with flowers and foliage cultivated in her own garden.
Her clients include Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Comme des Garçons, Tom Ford, Stella McCartney, Victoria Beckham, Alexander Wang, Frieze London, The V&A and Fabergé, whilst her arrangements have been displayed in the Tate Britain and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Her floral styling has been exhibited at Chelsea Flower Show and has been published in British Vogue, AnOther Magazine, V Magazine, Sunday Times Style, Financial Times, US Glamour and numerous bridal magazines. Flora has worked with photographers including Nick Knight, Mert and Marcus, Willy Vanderperre and Paolo Roversi.
T: 07779 337 888
McQueens
When Kally Ellis set up McQueens in 1991, she had one aim in mind. “I wanted to sell simple, stylish flowers, beautifully presented, to the London market. And I knew people would love it.”
Kally drew on her business experience working in the marketing team of a large international French merchant bank. With a strong sense of colour and design, and a genuine passion for flowers, it has proved to be a winning combination, establishing McQueens as the premier name in the UK flower market – and beyond.
“It never fails to surprise me when I receive calls about our flowers from Hollywood and Japan,” says Kally. “It’s amazing to think that from a small shop in Clerkenwell, we’ve built a reputation for quality and innovation that’s known the world over. Yes, I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved.”
For glamorous flowers, this is the place to call. Well regarded for showstopping event and wedding floristry (as well as for its adjoining school), McQueens is perfect for a polished, smart bouquet for your discerning loved one.
McQueens, 229 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, E2 0EL