Vanstone Park Garden Centre image

Vanstone Park Garden Centre

Cafe Wedding venue Garden center Car wash Conservatory specialist

One of the Most Reviewed Wedding venues in North Hertfordshire


Address

Hitchin Ln, Codicote, Hitchin SG4 8TH, United Kingdom

Website

www.vanstoneparkgardencentre.co.uk

Contact

+44 1438 820412

Rating on Google Maps

4.20 (917 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Sunday: 10:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Monday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Tuesday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Wednesday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Thursday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Friday: 9 am to 5 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: plants (25) garden (22) good (18) cafe (16) centre (13) area (12) great (10) staff (10) selection (8) helpful (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 C S. 10 months ago on Google
    This place has improved massively in recent years. They recently opened a new restaurant brand in 2023 with great food. We went there today and had fast service. Nice cafe layout and all the cafe staff seem very welcoming. Way better than the old cafe & cafe management staff they had in the past which were extremely rude. Staff in all parts of the store are very friendly and helpful if you have any questions about specific plants etc. They have a decent selection of stuff to buy there, quite varied from pots, plants to garden furniture and outdoor lightning. The geese are funny to watch here too. UPDATE: Restaurant pricing was good at launch but now has changed to normal price as others. And unfortunately you can arrive early and on somedays they won't be serving food at all, with no notice, only drinks. Also they recently stopped including a pack of crisps with ciabatta/sandwich meals, not sure if this is a mistake or more cost cutting.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Matt R. 2 years ago on Google
    Large garden centre split across two buildings. A good selection of plants, and a cafe on site. Looked a bit untidy in places hence 4/5 stars. Overall good, also dog friendly.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lujan A. 2 years ago on Google
    Lovely place! We are new to the area and ended up here looking for a plant nursery. Surprisingly, it became our Sunday activity, featuring a lake with ducks, a caffe and a ride through the woods on a miniature train spotting gnomes. Will definitely come back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Anna M. 1 year ago on Google
    Good selection of plants and pots, great miniature railway (this was the highlight for us) but the ice cream shed outside the lower building served the TINIEST ice cream portions I've ever seen... would've complained but we were literally speechless! Will be back, but not for the ice cream 🤣 The zebra crossing could do with being repainted too... not great to cross there when idiot coming shooting down the hill from the upper building.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Liz G. 1 year ago on Google
    I took my granddaughters shopping here and they where looking at the children's story book each and there was a young male member of staff hovering over us I asked if he had a problem with the girls looking at the books with the intent to buy 1 each and I felt his presence was disturbing and I was being treated like a shop lifter I have been shopping at vanstone for 40 years and I have a loyalty card which I won't be using again disgusted with the service
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lesley B. 2 months ago on Google New
    Lovely relaxed atmosphere. Helpful staff & a great cafe that's reasonably priced great coffee.

  • 5/5 Laura F. 6 months ago on Google
    I've visited this garden centre a lot. It is split across 2 areas with 2 car parks. You can walk between the areas but if laden with plants you're probably best driving between the 2 areas. 1. At the bottom is the cafe, toilets, indoor plants, gifts, garden furniture, tools, lighting etc. There is a good selection of garden furniture and gifts in spring and summer. Be aware that during the Christmas season a large portion of this is converted into a Christmas shop. They usually have lovely displays of quality decorations- well worth a visit in all seasons. 2. At the top is the car wash, miniature train (very small),small playground, outdoor plants and pots etc. There is usually a good selection of plants, the shady plants are usually in a shady section so are usually in good condition. The plants in general are in good condition and competitively priced. The barked playground is clean, solid and fenced. Staff are knowledgeable and helpful across both sites, the toilets are clean and it is accessible for wheelchair users. There is also a pond with ducks and geese in the middle. For me this is a garden centre to visit if you need things for your garden/Christmas decorations, rather than as a meet up site but I haven't used the cafe myself. Definitely one of the best in the area.

  • 4/5 samuel b. 3 months ago on Google New
    This is a nice garden centre and I hope to be able to come here for many years to come. My only issue is price. I know the economy has collapsed and they have to survive, but I often wonder why things cost so much - like £350 for a garden chair. I do buy things here anyway as I want them to survive and the duck pond and the railway have been loved by my children. The toilets are outdoors and pretty disgusting - they should do better with this, and the cafe is poor. Still, it's a nice place.

  • 5/5 DAVE V. 8 months ago on Google
    Wow There are garden centers and there are epic garden centers, Well from all the garden centers we have been to this is way above them, Its like kew gardens with a garden center, So many items you dont find in others, A gift that says quality and looking at ALL the plants health , We would say a very dedicated team off staff work here, On that note i must add where credit is due, We saw 2 members of staff helping elderly couples in one of the most heart warming ways we have seen for a long time, well done to your team, they are part part and parcel of what we saw today, Just amazing x Back to where i was, The centers? I say centers because walking from the main area to the nursery is such a wonderfull walk and at the moment walking near and across the bridge we saw the babiy geese ahhh, And then forward, You need to go here its a hidden gem for adults and kids alike , From the goods on sale inc the gifts to the cafe and outdoor sitting, You could teleport to kew gardens, But this is on your doorstep between, stevenage,coldecote , and hitchin, Have a look at my pics and if you look closley, yep they have a kids area climbing areas and heres one for mom and dad? A small railway that takes you through the wooded area ,, Go enjoy, we did.

  • 4/5 nicholas T. 7 months ago on Google
    This used to be the go to parc and garden centre my aunt's always wanted to go here so when we were passing today we thought we would pop in. (No longer local.) We were very disappointed as the entry area and the walk between the bottom and top green houses was really run down and unkept. The top plant green houses and plant area was clean and tidy and had a good variety of plants. The area was clean and tidy and the toilets were spotless. There's a children's play area to the side and the children were enjoying the facilities. There was a small ride on railway it was unclear if this is ever run now. On the path between the top and bottom there's a large duck pond with ducks Canadian geese and other water fowl that you can feed. There's also a few nice wooden carvings on the site, and some beautiful old trees. There's plenty of parking at the bottom and top carparks.

  • 5/5 Frank C. 9 months ago on Google
    As a Garden centre the prices the prices are competitive if not cheaper and a greater selection of goods on offer. They Ofer a loyalty card so even greater savings

  • 5/5 COLCESTER INTERNATIONAL OO Gauge Model R. 11 months ago on Google
    Wonderful vanilla Latte, a very hot jacket potato with lashings of tuna mayo, and a delicious Victoria sponge for a treat..!! What more could you ask for?

  • 3/5 Adnan M. 10 months ago on Google
    Garden Centre is nice but overly priced. We also visited the cafe which had several dogs in there. One of the dogs put its paws on the table and the owner did nothing. Not everybody loves dogs and many would say having animals in an eating establishment is unhygienic. Will not be eating there again.

  • 3/5 Pauline C. 8 months ago on Google
    The shop side is very good so was the staff and the cloths are very reasonably priced. If you want outdoor plants then it is not very good, the plants are poor quality and the whole area where they are in is scruffy, dirty and full of weeds. B&Q even wilko have better outdoor plants than Vanstones. Bitterly disappointed. I definitely WOULD NOT go there for plants.

  • 5/5 Touseef S. 11 months ago on Google
    Beautiful garden centre, great variety of plants and a nice cafe too.

  • 1/5 lighting1999 1 year ago on Google
    Worst customer service I’ve experienced in a long while. Very good quality plants and products however very limited range. Staff where very rude, arrogant, gave conflicting information and weren’t at all helpful. I was really looking forward to visiting them but it’s unlikely I will again. Poor customer service, dated and unfriendly atmosphere. Not Cutts garden centre in St Albans is so much better by miles and it’s further away but I’ll go there instead anytime.

  • 5/5 Jeremy R. 1 year ago on Google
    Really like this place. Friendly staff, fair prices and good quality plants. Plus the ride on train is fantastic for young kids

  • 5/5 Les F. 1 year ago on Google
    An above average garden centre in an attractive setting with plenty of parking. Well stocked with everything you could possibly need fir the garden. Very helpful staff.

  • 5/5 Anthony F. 1 year ago on Google
    This was our first visit and we were blown away. What a great garden centre. It has everything you need. We bought plants pots and had lunch. We will be going back even though we live in Hogh Barnet. Absolutely great place.

  • 5/5 Kathryn R. 1 year ago on Google
    The staff could not have been more helpful on my visit today: sorting out an issue with my vouchers, advice on the plant I was buying and to use root treatment to get it established. Also helped with loading the car :) Great selection of plants too, found just what I was after.

  • 5/5 Stephen W. 1 year ago on Google
    Always find what I need here, whether plants, gardening accessory or a gift/game. Staff always helpful and knowledgeable. Hope they find someone to take on the restaurant/cafe as its sad that's not open any more (closed Sept 13th 2022).

  • 5/5 Alina G. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely garden centre for both shopping and a day out. My toddler enjoyed a train ride and the playground, as well as the ducks and geese. It's a lovely place, can easily spend a few hours and then grab a bite at the Orchards café.

  • 4/5 Diane l. 6 years ago on Google
    Large Land with 2 centres..one of the smaller is a short walk over a bridge where Ducks geese roam freely. Lively place has so much stock. Theres also a great fun train for all ages..a bouncy castle (FREE) and swings...climbing frame for the children if they get bored..Ive added photos to show you. The only negative thing is the cafe the prices are quite expensive. So bring your own bicuits when you have a cuppa!

  • 5/5 Richard S. A. 4 years ago on Google
    It a pretty good way to spend an afternoon even if you don't buy anything (good luck with that). There's a play area for kids and a mini train. It's very well laid out and the store has something for just about everyone.

  • 4/5 Lewis G. 2 years ago on Google
    The site is lovely and has a great cafe. But, dare I suggest it feels a little unloved? My impression was of a site that needed a lick of paint here and there. It's not dreadful but feeling a bit tired.

  • 5/5 Neil G. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice garden centre with all of the usual types of products available. Lots of nice plants in good condition. Good cafe on site and plenty of free parking. Staff are friendly and helpful.

  • 5/5 Lyn R. 2 years ago on Google
    Really pleasant visit, spacious, outdoor plants and display items are a little walk away, from the indoor centre. There is a children's play area, with train ride if you have children to please. Very good stock and variety of all garden plants, easy to find what you are looking for as clearly labelled... sunny or shaded. Car wash there as well, very comprehensive range of Christmas trees too.

  • 4/5 Mary M. 2 years ago on Google
    A lot more organised & smartened up since we last visited. Plants are better cared for with a good variety & well presented. Large & varied selection of pots & as always gravel, chips, paving & statues. It's also a good place for cards & gifts if you live in the villages and don't want to pay for parking in town


Call +44 1438 820412 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ In-store shopping

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