Cheaper than other garden centres we’ve been before. Have a variety of plants plus there is a cafe inside.
Scott
Popped in to the bbq world and to be honest if your looking to spend £1000+ on a smoker or bbq then this is your place. It's all directed at high end of the market, there is nothing inbetween, it's more like a weber showroom than a bbq world. shame
Matt Mussett
Lovely garden centre
we was surprised how big the place
was and the staff was very helpful and pleasant
Sam Redlark (backwards7)
I have been visiting Alton Garden Centre since the mid 1990s. I still own cacti that date to the period when their houseplants department resembled a Kew Gardens hothouse.\\n\\nChristmas at Alton will always hold a special place in my heart. The kitsch, shop-floor mannequin dioramas, re-enacting scenes from fairy-tales, are sadly a thing of the recent past, however there is still an air of magic about the centre around this time of year.\\n\\nI wasn't able to visit in December 2020, on account of the pandemic. When the person who usually drives me broke their foot, it looked like I might not be able to go in 2021 either.\\n\\nI decided to try anyway: I took the bus from Southend to the foot of Rushbottom Lane, on the London Road. I then took a footpath (which is actually a continuation of Rushbottom Lane) across country to Harrow Road, which I followed to Pound Lane, before walking up the A127 where Alton is located. The only difficult part is the short final stretch along Pound Lane where there is no pavement, only a very thin grass verge on one side of the road, and where large trucks tend to rumble past at speed.\\n\\nI found Alton somewhat low on stock (I went on December 8th, 2021). I don't know whether I arrived too early for Christmas, or too late, or if I was bearing witness to the impact of COVID on the supply chain. As usual a lot of effort seemed to have gone into getting everything set up and that effort appeared to be ongoing. A big part of what makes Alton such a special place are the staff - Throw a plush Santa (don't actually do this) and you will hit someone wearing an Alton shirt who is kind and helpful.\\n\\nChristmas 2021 was, for me, a truly wretched affair. When I think back on it now, I was at my most content sitting in Digby's restaurant at Alton, drinking a cappuccino and eating a Danish pastry. I have always felt welcome and at home there. Sometimes it is the simple things that make the most positive impact.\\n\\nWas my visit worth the strange and occasionally difficult journey? Absolutely. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Alton has been a fixture in my life for a long time. I think that I will always go there.
Charlotte Ash-D'Aleo
Be mindful of updating your website and Google opening hours. Almost got hit on A127 pulling into your turning at speed to find your gates shut early according to Google. I was arriving at 16.55 as Google said you shut at 17.30 and just needed something quickly. Was very dangerous for me then to.pull back onto the motorway and a car behind did the same thing! Checked your website and opening times were hard to.l9acevto find in winter months you are only open till 17.00 please be more concerned about customer safety as my whole family were in the car. Most upsetting.
Nik Bailey
HGV Advice…. I’ve delivered compost to this site! I was going to be late so called to confirm my ETA, the lady on the phone was very helpful and arranged for the night security to allow me in to park up over night!? I tipped in the main customer car park which by the time I left was quite busy so you need to keep an eye on your exit route! Allowing drivers to park up on site is a rare occurrence these days so thank you guys!!! ?
Laura Bartlett
Impressed with our grotto experience at Alton’s. Santa took the time to speak to the kids and the gifts were very good quality and were well received by the kids. Good value for money
Jean Norton
Lovely time Santa was great and not rushed. The whole place looked very festive. Not so keen on the food in the cafe. I have had better on previous visits.
Justin Lau
Excellent variety of gardening products! Anything you can think of in a garden they have it! Worth a visit if you haven't been!
Tina Christodoulou
2nd time we have visited to the santa's grotto and its brilliant, staff are friendly and is the best santa I've seen, was the same santa from last time. And enjoyed having a shop in altons it's self. Thank you Altons, we will be back for santa year after year! Photos of my son in 2019 and this year
Restaurantji Recommends
Rebecca Smith
First time seeing Santa here and was really impressed! Elves and Santa very engaging and really took the time to speak to our son and make him feel special. Nice not to be rushed or have lots of queues! Good gift too, excellent value for money.
Triple2
EXUBERANT STAFF COLLABORATION BETWEEN SUCCESS & FULFILLING INDULGE YOURSELVES GARDEN FURNITURE ORBBQ GAS FREQUENTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS SIMPLY WILL NOT INTEREST ENGLANDS OUTSTANDING BUSINESS OF 1997HIGHLY RECOMMEND MY POPULAR CHOICE OF THE DAY
Fredi G
Really good shopping experience. Kids loved going round and looking at all Christmas lights round and round. Plenty ornaments and trinkets to get load your car with ?. We went early in the morning and it wasn't too busy, however, when we got out and ready to leave it was so busy. Cars had to stop in the a127 and wait to get into the car park. All and all, a very pleasant shopping experience 5?
KeithJ-184
Great selection although products slightly more expensive than other local places
TracyA-118
Great Garden center with fantastic customer service and excellent friendly helpful staff
Cheaper than other garden centres we’ve been before. Have a variety of plants plus there is a cafe inside.
Popped in to the bbq world and to be honest if your looking to spend £1000+ on a smoker or bbq then this is your place. It's all directed at high end of the market, there is nothing inbetween, it's more like a weber showroom than a bbq world. shame
Lovely garden centre we was surprised how big the place was and the staff was very helpful and pleasant
I have been visiting Alton Garden Centre since the mid 1990s. I still own cacti that date to the period when their houseplants department resembled a Kew Gardens hothouse.\\n\\nChristmas at Alton will always hold a special place in my heart. The kitsch, shop-floor mannequin dioramas, re-enacting scenes from fairy-tales, are sadly a thing of the recent past, however there is still an air of magic about the centre around this time of year.\\n\\nI wasn't able to visit in December 2020, on account of the pandemic. When the person who usually drives me broke their foot, it looked like I might not be able to go in 2021 either.\\n\\nI decided to try anyway: I took the bus from Southend to the foot of Rushbottom Lane, on the London Road. I then took a footpath (which is actually a continuation of Rushbottom Lane) across country to Harrow Road, which I followed to Pound Lane, before walking up the A127 where Alton is located. The only difficult part is the short final stretch along Pound Lane where there is no pavement, only a very thin grass verge on one side of the road, and where large trucks tend to rumble past at speed.\\n\\nI found Alton somewhat low on stock (I went on December 8th, 2021). I don't know whether I arrived too early for Christmas, or too late, or if I was bearing witness to the impact of COVID on the supply chain. As usual a lot of effort seemed to have gone into getting everything set up and that effort appeared to be ongoing. A big part of what makes Alton such a special place are the staff - Throw a plush Santa (don't actually do this) and you will hit someone wearing an Alton shirt who is kind and helpful.\\n\\nChristmas 2021 was, for me, a truly wretched affair. When I think back on it now, I was at my most content sitting in Digby's restaurant at Alton, drinking a cappuccino and eating a Danish pastry. I have always felt welcome and at home there. Sometimes it is the simple things that make the most positive impact.\\n\\nWas my visit worth the strange and occasionally difficult journey? Absolutely. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Alton has been a fixture in my life for a long time. I think that I will always go there.
Be mindful of updating your website and Google opening hours. Almost got hit on A127 pulling into your turning at speed to find your gates shut early according to Google. I was arriving at 16.55 as Google said you shut at 17.30 and just needed something quickly. Was very dangerous for me then to.pull back onto the motorway and a car behind did the same thing! Checked your website and opening times were hard to.l9acevto find in winter months you are only open till 17.00 please be more concerned about customer safety as my whole family were in the car. Most upsetting.
HGV Advice…. I’ve delivered compost to this site! I was going to be late so called to confirm my ETA, the lady on the phone was very helpful and arranged for the night security to allow me in to park up over night!? I tipped in the main customer car park which by the time I left was quite busy so you need to keep an eye on your exit route! Allowing drivers to park up on site is a rare occurrence these days so thank you guys!!! ?
Impressed with our grotto experience at Alton’s. Santa took the time to speak to the kids and the gifts were very good quality and were well received by the kids. Good value for money
Lovely time Santa was great and not rushed. The whole place looked very festive. Not so keen on the food in the cafe. I have had better on previous visits.
Excellent variety of gardening products! Anything you can think of in a garden they have it! Worth a visit if you haven't been!
2nd time we have visited to the santa's grotto and its brilliant, staff are friendly and is the best santa I've seen, was the same santa from last time. And enjoyed having a shop in altons it's self. Thank you Altons, we will be back for santa year after year! Photos of my son in 2019 and this year
Restaurantji Recommends
First time seeing Santa here and was really impressed! Elves and Santa very engaging and really took the time to speak to our son and make him feel special. Nice not to be rushed or have lots of queues! Good gift too, excellent value for money.
EXUBERANT STAFF COLLABORATION BETWEEN SUCCESS & FULFILLING INDULGE YOURSELVES GARDEN FURNITURE ORBBQ GAS FREQUENTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS SIMPLY WILL NOT INTEREST ENGLANDS OUTSTANDING BUSINESS OF 1997HIGHLY RECOMMEND MY POPULAR CHOICE OF THE DAY
Really good shopping experience. Kids loved going round and looking at all Christmas lights round and round. Plenty ornaments and trinkets to get load your car with ?. We went early in the morning and it wasn't too busy, however, when we got out and ready to leave it was so busy. Cars had to stop in the a127 and wait to get into the car park. All and all, a very pleasant shopping experience 5?
Great selection although products slightly more expensive than other local places
Great Garden center with fantastic customer service and excellent friendly helpful staff