Whatever the occasion, how better to tell someone you love that you’re thinking of them than with armfuls of gloriously scented wildflowers or an artful arrangement of blooms from an independent London florist? From modern disruptors to go-to designers, there is a blooming floristry scene offering seasonal bouquets that would liven up any home, and offer the ideal self-gifting pick-me-up on dreary days. Read on for our definitive guide to the very best florists in London.
London Florist My Lady Garden was founded by Kaiva Kaimins and specialises in tonal-inspired aesthetics that place colour and texture at their core – think bright, clashing hues with plenty of fiery reds, hot pinks and spray-painted foliage. With a modern approach to floristry, Kai tries to work with seasonal blooms as much as possible, so you can expect bouquets filled with blowsy hydrangeas in the summer and chrysanthemums and fringed tulips in the winter months. She also runs popular workshops out of her studio-slash-coffee shop in Islington, where you can learn how to make floral sculptures and Kai’s signature flower clouds, all using techniques taken from her debut book, Flower Porn.
190 Balls Pond Road, Islington, London N1 4AA
myladygardenflowers.com
This Peckham-based London florist counts Rihanna and Stormzy among its fans, as well as legions of devoted Londoners, who have all fallen for Sage Flowers colourful, contemporary style. Founded by friends Romy St Clair and Iona Mathieson, who started out selling their blooms at a pop-up Peckham car park in 2018, neither have any formal floristry training, instead citing their influences as everything from clubbing flyers to architecture and mid-century modern furniture. It’s largely due to this that their arrangements stand out so much from the classic British wild garden style currently dominating the market, featuring unusual flowers, foliage and form to create a look that’s all their own. The duo also work hard to help address the very real barriers to floristry for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC), seeking to bring a more diverse future to flowers.
Unit 6 (Arch 98) Station Passage, Queens Road, Peckham, London SE15 2JR
sageflowers.co.uk
Roseur in Coal Drops Yard was founded by floral artist Sophie Kim, who has a background in sculpture and fine art – something you can see in abundance in her eye-catching bouquets. The emphasis in this flower-filled shop is firmly on sustainability, and Sophie is as well known for her dried flowers, which last for months, as she is for her fresh arrangements. Sophie’s style references nature as much as possible, mixing seasonal fresh blooms with locally-sourced foliage to create impactful, eco-conscious designs – keep an eye out for elements foraged from her local surroundings in London, such as vines from Angel canal and clematis seeds from Hackney Marshes.
Lower Stable Street, King’s Cross, London N1C 4DR
roseur.co.uk
East London florist Rebel Rebel has been creating magic for over two decades, brightening up Mare Street Market with their unorthodox approach to floristry. Friends Mairead Curtin and Athena Duncan founded the business after taking courses at the Jane Packer and Paula Pryke flower schools and have since worked on creating enchanting floral displays for the likes of BAFTA, De Beers and Hermès, who have all fallen for their boldly flamboyant approach to blooms. Specialising in seasonal and locally grown flowers and foliage, they also have a strong sustainable ethos, with all of their hand-tied bouquets foam free and delivered mostly by bicycle.
117 Mare Street, Hackney, London E8 4RU
rebelrebel.co.uk
The Flower Appreciation Society prides itself on creating floral arrangements that look so natural they could have just been picked from the garden – which, in some cases, they actually have, as the duo behind this London florist based in Dalston have their very own cutting garden just five minutes down the road. Founded by friends Anna Day and Ellie Jauncey over ten years ago, the emphasis here is on beautifully wild arrangements, with the likes of cosmos, dahlias, snap dragons and poppies all taken from the urban oasis they’ve created around the corner. The results have seen them work on some truly otherworldly events, including pulling together rooftop gardens for Harvey Nichols, flower meadows for Liberty and forest glades for Sketch.
72A Southgate Road, Hackney, London N1 3JF
theflowerappreciationsociety.co.uk
The Canada-born, London florist, who for years was responsible for the floral designs for Soho House, opened his eponymous boutique in 2020 after two years of working with clients ranging from The Dorchester to Brasserie Zedel. Known for using seasonal blooms to create bright, elegant arrangements, all of his bouquets are named after favourite locations, like the St Ives, which features hellebores, brunia berries and thistle a cushioned by natural shoreline foliage, and the Tetbury, a zingy combination of yellow roses and gelda viburnum inspired by the picturesque Cotswold market town. In addition to the striking floral designs, Ronny Colbie also has a selection of candles and hand soaps in scents ranging from the sophisticated Je Ne Said Quoi to the warm, fresh Lake Muskoka blend.
271 Cavendish Road, Balham, London SW12 0PH
ronnycolbie.com
Mcqueens has been creating striking bouquets since opening in Shoreditch in 1991, and has been the go-to florist for prestigious events such as Vanity Fair’s Oscars party and seasonal installations at Claridge’s and The Connaught. The famed London florist specialises in hand-tied, seasonal blooms that are a particular favourite of the fashion crowd. Their Mayfair flagship is a flower-lover’s dream, and they also run an online delivery service so you can bring one of their glamorous arrangements to your home, or that of a loved one, with elegant, black ribbon-tied single blooms or creative seasonal assortments.
29 North Audley Street, Mayfair, London W1K 6WY
mcqueens.co.uk
The Flower Stand in Chelsea has stood on the corner of Fulham Road and Old Church Street for over a quarter of a century, and now the independent florist also offers home delivery to bring their luxurious blooms across London. They pride themselves on sourcing flowers from the world’s best suppliers instead of relying on the Covent Garden market selection to create seasonal arrangements that range from the understated to bold bursts of colour. They also have an entire library of rose-based arrangements for a classic gesture of love and appreciation.
241 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW3 6HY
theflowerstandchelsea.com
Launched in 2001 as a small flower shop in North London, today Flower Station is best known for its flagship store in Marylebone, which offers speedy deliveries of striking bouquets across the UK, with a promise of same day delivery in London within three hours and a late night service that ensures blooms can be delivered at any hour. The extensive selection of options covers every colour, seasonal flower, size and recipient, from a hand-tied assortment of hydrangeas to elaborate arrangements of roses, pale pink dahlias, white nigellas and more. Special bouquets are created for every occasion, and the regular Bouquet of the Week highlights the best seasonal blooms of the moment. A selection of rose boxes are available, too, as well as a range of potted plants for those who’d prefer something with a longer lifespan.
Rossmore Court, 55 Park Road, Marylebone, London NW1 6XU
flowerstation.co.uk
When she was a little girl, Nik Southern was mesmerised by the fig tree in her grandparents’ front room, a fascination which would culminate in the opening of her shop Grace & Thorn in 2011, in Hackney. Nik and her team pride themselves on being rule-breakers, challenging the idea of the conventional bouquet with an offbeat, bespoke approach to floristry. The signature of the brand is that all bouquets are bespoke, so even though you select a type of creation that gives an idea of size and colour palette, no two bouquets will ever be the same. Dried flowers, wreaths and imaginative floral gift boxes are all available to peruse, too.
312 Hackney Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 7SJ
graceandthorn.com
Scarlet & Violet in Kensal Rise has been regarded as one of the best florists in London since 2006. The shop is a glorious kaleidoscope of colour, overflowing with romantic blooms, the likes of peonies, roses and daisies selected daily from local flower markets, nestled amidst shelves stacked with retro vases and containers. You’ll always get a warm welcome from owner Vic Brotherson and her capable team, whose one-of-a-kind arrangements of British-grown flowers are breath-taking. The London florist famously created the romantic vintage-inspired blooms at Kate Moss’ wedding to Jamie Hince (David Austin English Roses and lily-of-the-valley are Kate’s favourites).
76 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise, London NW10 3JJ
scarletandviolet.com
This is quintessential country garden floral design at its best. JamJar was founded in 2009 by Melissa Richardson, who was inspired by the simple charm of the jars of wildflowers she’d collected in the Sussex countryside around her childhood home. This natural and unfussy way of displaying flowers informs everything that Melissa and her team, who are based in Kennington, do, whether it’s creating a ceiling of 6,000 hanging flowers at Sketch in Mayfair or delivering exquisitely-scented flowers and foliage in their signature JamJar (they also deliver in Enamel Buckets, Giant Jars, Kilner Jars, Pickle Jars…) From minimalist bouquets of single blooms to dramatic assortments of seasonal blooms, JamJar Flowers has a style for every mood.
7A Peacock Yard, Kennington, London SE17 3LH
jamjarflowers.co.uk
