Need a Christmas tree? Here’s where you should head for the ultimate PYO Christmas tree day out (and a few spots in the city to grab one last minute).
Christmas is coming and it’s time to think about getting the tree that’s going to be the centre of your decorations over the festive period. In London, you’ve got heaps of options, but for us, the choice almost invariably falls on picking your tree at a local farm.
There are some great options around, including one on the farm where Darwin wrote On the Origin of Species and another that dishes out free mince pies and mulled wine over the weekend.
Of course, muddy (and probably wet) isn’t everybody’s cup of tea so we’ve included a few inner-city options at the bottom for places you can go and grab a tree from a reputable, quality supplier.
Let’s get stuck in, and happy Christmas folks!
Best Places to Pick Your Own Christmas Trees
Xmas Tree Farm
Bromley
Want to be able to say you got your tree at an iconic location? Well how about this: The Xmas Tree Farm in Orpington is where Charles Darwin penned On the Origin of Species.
These days it’s less of a scientific hotspot and more like a great place to grab a Christmas tree. They specialise in Nordmann Firs and can offer sizes in everything from four to seven ft (and on occasion, taller).
The farm is full of animals which makes it a lovely place to mooch about while you pick your tree. What’s more, if you’re going big they’re also happy to organise a delivery service for you.
Christmas Tree Farm Enfield
Enfield
Christmas Tree Farm Enfield has been in business for 33 years and that business shows no signs of dropping off, which brings us nicely to their Christmas trees. Their Nordmann firs are a special breed that boasts non-drop needles, meaning you’ll get the most out of your pick.
You’ll pay around £30 for a five ft tree but you can get a quote on their website for trees of all sizes.
The opening times running from 8:30am – 6pm seven days a week means there are plenty of options for when you can visit, but it’s worth noting that for Christmas 2023 they’ve said that they are only accepting cash, so make sure you’ve got a few notes in your pocket.
Kingsley Farm
Surrey
The nice thing about Kingsley Farm is that they offer you the opportunity to dig your tree up, meaning you can replant it and use it again in the future. You will need to bring your own digging tools and they ask that you fill the hole in afterwards.
If getting muddy in a field doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, know they dish out free mince pies and mulled wine at weekends over the festive period and that you can pick from a selection of pre-cut trees if you want to.
Crockford Bridge Farm
Surry
A short drive out of southwest London you’ll find Crockford Bridge Farm. They’ve got a lovely piece of land where you can go and pick out your own tree and cut it down yourself.
You’ll have a choice of trees ranging between four and ten feet so there’s something here to fit every living room. You just need to book ahead and bring your own handsaw and you’re good to go.
It’s probably worth booking as far ahead as you can because they limit the number of trees cuttable each year to ensure a good rotation and lush, healthy trees.
South London Christmas Tree Farm
Orpington
South London Christmas Tree Farm is a favourite for people all over London. They grow lovely luscious trees and tend them all year round to make sure they’re the highest quality they can be.
Because of that, stocks do go quickly so get stuck in fast. You’ll find sizes for all kinds of domestic trees and even larger options should you really want to impress (and you’ve got the space).
You can either bring your own saw and cut your tree on site, or pick it out and let them come and cut it for you. Though if you do the latter you might have to come back another day to pick your tree up.
Where Else to Get Christmas Trees in London
So you need a Christmas tree but you don’t want to trek out into the countryside and cut it down yourself. Here are a few places you can find pre-cut trees in London.
Columbia Road Flower Market
Hackney
Columbia Road Flower Market is our go-to place for greenery all year round. Whenever you go the plants and flowers on sale are impressive, but around Christmas time they start to mix in the Christmas trees too.
The good thing about buying your tree here is that you can shop about between the different salesmen to find the best bargain. Haggling is permitted but don’t push your luck, these geezers drive a hard bargain.
Our top tip if you want a good deal, arrive around 1pm when the market is closing up and the traders are trying to get rid of their stock.
Shoots and Leaves Christmas Trees
Shepherd’s Bush
Shoots and Leaves is a great option because they essentially do the work of driving out to the nearby Christmas tree farms and picking the trees for you, meaning you get fresh, quality trees without the hassle of going and cutting them down yourself.
To find their stock they trawl the nearby Christmas tree farms, you can then pick them up from one of their six west London locations or buy them online and have them delivered straight to your house.
What’s more, they even run an installation service so you don’t need to go through the bother of making the tree stand up if you don’t want to…
They sound like nice helpful folk, right? Wait till you hear that they donate a fair whack of their income from the trees to schools and charities around the city. How’s that for Christmas spirit?
Alexandra Palace Garden Centre & Café
Muswell Hill
Where better to find a tree than at one of north London’s biggest garden centres? The charming Alexandra Palace Garden Centre & Café sits on a rise on the northern edge of the park, a short walk from the palace itself.
They have a massive selection of plants on offer here so their horticultural knowledge really shows. As for the trees themselves, they don’t stock anything too massive, but if you’re just looking to fill a living room corner you’ll find what you’re looking for here.
After a job well done, treat yourself to a take-away cup of something warm and peruse the rest of the garden centre or take a stroll up to the Ally Pally to put a bit of magic in your tree-shopping trip.
