I visited the UK’s best garden centre… it’s Christmas display is insane – you can’t get the decorations anywhere else
A MUM visited the UK’s best garden centre selling exclusive decorations, winter wonderland villages as well as magical Santa meet and greets.
A self-professed “Christmas mad” shopper, took a trip to the famous Barton’s Garden Centre in Wigan, with her kids.
She described it as one of the “most magical places you can take your children for free”, and claimed it will take hours to browse through everything.
In a video posted to TikTok, the happy customer said: “Every year they have the biggest Christmas display on here, you can spend hour in here, buying or just looking at the decorations.
“I’m sure they have a Santa here as well for a meet and greet.
“Some of the decorations you can’t get anywhere else. I’ve not seen some of the stock anywhere else at all and I’m Christmas mad, I go everywhere.”
In addition to baubles and ornaments, visitors can buy clothes, traditional garden centre products and even complete a food shop.
After wondering around endless festive displays, shoppers can take a break at one of three cafes on site – or a tapas bar if they’re feeling slightly more peckish.
Others might prefer the all day breakfast eatery, although the TikToker did admit this “isn’t cheap”.
She recommended grabbing a coffee or hot drink before walking around the venue – which she claimed was a whole day out in itself.
There are also a selection of festive stalls outside offering mulled wine, hot chocolate and other Christmas treats.
And, visitors won’t struggle to find what they’re looking for, with all decorations organised into colour categories.
“They’ve got vintage looking decorations and newer ones, I won’t lie the prices can be extortionate but the quality is so good, and so much of this you can’t get anywhere else,” she said.
“You’ll be browsing for hours, there’s something for everyone, you could even have an orange colour theme and there would be something for you.
“There’s never ending variety. When I bring my kids they absolute love it.”
The savvy mum recommended making the trip on a weekday as the Christmas displays are so popular you won’t get a seat in any of the cafes unless you book ahead.
While speaking of the decorations, she added: “The quality really lasts.
“They have a huge toy collection too, as well as Christmas food, hot chocolate kits – you could do your whole shop.
“And, they set up loads of little villages, you can buy each piece individually.”
The content creator showed rows of huge displays including miniature grottos, winter wonderlands with fake snow, and electronic figurines ice skating.
“Even if you live far it’s worth the trip,” she added.
“You can even make your own wreath, you choose what you want and they will make it in store.
“This is really one of the most magical places you can take your kid for free and they have all the Christmas sweets you could buy.
“If you’re like me and change your decorations every year but you can’t think what to buy, I guarantee if you come here you will find what you’re looking for.”
Barton’s Garden Centre offer a wide range of products from plants and gardening, houseplants, pet care and wildlife, home decor, their gift shop and the famous Christmas display each year.
They are open Monday to Saturday from 9am until 5.30pm and from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays.
But, from Tuesday, November 14 until Saturday, December 16, thery are open until 8pm Tuesday to Saturday for late night Christmas shopping.
The garden centre is located on the main A6 stretch between Preston and Garstang.
This comes as another couple claimed to find the greatest garden centre for festive decorations.
Jilly Cross and her fiance Andy Halliday, who played for Rangers before signing for rivals Hearts, headed along to Silverbirch over the weekend.
Silverbirch Garden Centre was established in 1976 and is situated in Scotland’s picturesque Clyde Valley at Crossford, Lanarkshire.
Jilly showed off the garden centre’s epic Christmas decorations – with three separate themed rooms.