CHOOSE GARDEN CENTRES BY COUNTY BELOW
This independent review of Farnborough Garden Centre was written by David Marks and was last updated in September 2025.
This is an in depth review by a real human as a result of visiting this garden centre, no Artificial Intelligence is involved! We reviewed the inside and plant sales areas, took pictures (see lower down this article) and checked out the cafe.
Farnborough Garden Centre was acquired by Peter Tims in 1980 and has continued to be run as a family business. It has its own plant nurseries as part of the business called Harefurlong Nurseries.
Farnborough Garden Centre is mainly centered around its plants. You won't find a restaurant or cafe here nor will you find rows upon rows of clothing or kitchen goods.
What you will find are quality plants and gardening goods in very attractive display areas. During the two months approaching Christmas, when gardening begins to be a less attractive hobby, you will see more Christmas goods on display.
Entrance to Farnborough Garden Centre
IS FARNBOROUGH GARDEN CENTRE DOG FRIENDLY? We phoned Farnborough Garden Centre to check if they are dog-friendly. They stated that it is not a dog friendly garden centre. At their discretion, they may allow tiny dogs which can be carried but otherwise entry will be refused. Guide and service dogs however are permitted.
When we visited the garden centre their policy regarding dogs, and the reasons why, were very clear. See the picture below.
Farnborough Garden Centre Dog Policy
The above is in contradiction to what what some AI overviews state - the AI overviews are wrong , the above paragraphs are the correct information.
One AI overview (as at 10 September 2025) even states "Yes, Farnborough Garden Centre is dog friendly; well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the garden and outdoor areas, but are not allowed in the indoor restaurant or cafe areas, except for assistance dogs. This policy is common across Haskins Garden Centres, to which this centre belongs."
The above overview is incorrect on two counts. First Farnborough Garden Centre is not owned or associated with Haskins Garden Centres. Second, Farnborough Garden Centre is not dog friendly!
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This is no ordinary garden centre, remember that when you read this review. The central point of its existence is to supply top quality plants to its customers. It is not to provide a posh cafe, soft play facilities, a butcher's shop, impressive entrances, background music or similar distractions.
Having said that it is clear that the owners are dedicated to displaying their plants in as attractive a manner as possible. A couple of interests which the owners have, aside from plants, are also clear. From their wall art displays to the collectible Teddy Bears area, these are distractions which illustrate how personal this garden centre is to the owners.
When you look at the logo for Farnborough Garden Centre you will see that the name "Harefurlong Nurseries" also appears - see the picture below. This has raised a question in my mind every every time I have seen it, but I never got around to finding out what it referred to until our current visit.
We were told that some of the plants sold in the garden centre (primarily summer bedding plants) are grown on a patch of land to the side of the garden centre and this patch of land has always been called Harefurlong Nurseries. Now I know and so do you! One of life's little mysteries solved.
Farnborough Garden Centre logo
This is the most minimalistic cafe we have ever seen in a garden centre. Five tables with chairs, machine dispensed coffee and tea. Pre-packaged snacks are available. The cafe area, very small it may be, but if you fancy resting your feet with a cup of coffee for half an hour, then the setting is very pleasant.
Cafe area at Farnborough Garden Centre
The cafe at Farnborough Garden Centre was awarded a Food Hygiene Rating of five out of five by Stratford-on-Avon in October 2019. Click here for full details.
SIZE OF PLANTS AREA: The size of the plants area is large. Quite how large this area is we are unable to say. The whole area is is not visible from any one particular point which is part of its attraction.
PLANT SELECTION: We have visited this garden centre on several occasions and at different times of the year. This review shows pictures from when we visited in early September. These pictures would be different in spring as they would be in summer. The plants on display differ considerably depending on season.
LAYOUT: The layout of the plants area makes this a hugely interesting garden centre but it does have flaws for some.
At no point does the layout appear regimented although it is clearly well designed. To appreciate this plants area fully be prepared to stroll around it and look for the plants you may be seeking.
Plants area at Farnborough Garden Centre
Be prepared to be distracted by plants you might not be looking for but find yourself drawn to. That is the nature of this garden centre, a surprise around many corners.
Whatever plant you are searching for you will most likely find it here. Larger, more established shrubs are a specialty of Farnborough Garden Centre.
The condition of the plants is impeccable. You will never pick up a potted plant here and think to yourself, the soil appears dry or the foliage looks past its best. All is as it should be.
The drawbacks to this plants area is that it is undeniably difficult to navigate for wheelchairs. The paths are wide enough but the base is often loose gravel and there is the occasional slope that might be difficult to navigate.
There are covered areas but the majority of the plants area is open to the elements. Some varieties of plants are randomly spread over the plants area.
The car park at Farnborough Garden Centre is likely to be large enough and is very near the entrance to the garden centre. It is however on gravel and pushing a wheelchair from your car to the entance could be problematic for some.
The interior sales area at Farnborough Garden Centre is no less individual compared to the plants area. The sections concerned with garden and plant care are standard and you will find most things you need for your garden.
Where Farnborough excel is in their choice of gifts and decorative homeware. If you are looking for a birthday, Christmas or other occasion present you will find a choice that is not available at most gift shops.
Interior sales area
One particular area of interest to us was the space given over to 'Wall Art'. Anything you can put up on a wall in you home is here from mega clocks to mirrors.
Wall art at Farnborough Garden Centre
Another section of the interior sales area is given over to collectible Teddies. These are no ordinary Teddies, they include well known makes even up to Steiff and Cotswold Bears. A collector of Teddie Bears or not, this is an interesting area to visit.
Collectible Teddie Bears at Farnborough Garden Centre
Although the paths are wide enough for easy access, some of them are loose gravel and this will cause problems for some wheelchair users.
ADDRESS:
Farnborough Garden Centre
Southam Road
Farnborough
Banbury
Oxfordshire OX17 1EL
OWNER:
Peter Tims
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
01295 690479
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Comment From: Mrs Davies | |
| I agree, a nicely set out centre with lovely selection of garden products and goods, but the day I visited, the staff were extremely rude and unpleasant. I decided against making a purchase and left. I won't be going back. | ||