Who doesn’t love the look and scent of freshly cut flowers in their home?
Natural decoration from Mother Nature, the gift of fresh flowers is a present that’s universally welcomed. They work for everything from anniversaries, weddings, graduations, get well wishes, condolences, birthdays and even literal birth days when exhausted mums are surrounded by lovely floral arrangements as they cuddle their bundles of joy.
In recent times when coronavirus lockdown has left many of us feeling lacklustre – particularly those without gardens of their own patch of outdoor space – sending and receiving flowers can be a powerful way to stay connected with loved ones as well as nature.
It’s always wise to send flowers that are in season, to keep costs down as well as lessen the environmental impact. Aside from that, you should look out for national brands that use local florists to create their bouquets so that they arrive in-bud or fresh and as a result, will last for longer.
Whether you’re looking for big bouquets, letterbox flowers or want to set up a subscription to have flowers delivered on a monthly basis (why not?) scroll on to discover the best flowers to have delivered in the UK.
See our favourites below
Arena Flowers
Fairtrade flowers from an ethical florist, we’ve never once been disappointed with a delivery from Arena Flowers. From yuletide poinsettias to wildflower bouquets in spring, every arrangement we’ve taken from the postman has arrived impeccably wrapped, with a sachet of flower food and helpful instructions on helping the blooms go the distance.
Popular every year, the popularity of the peony has gone through the roof in lockdown. Arena commented: “The seasonal flower of late spring and early summer is a perennial favourite but through lockdown demand has been overwhelming. As we’ve all spent more time at home and more time on social media, there have been daily reminders of the beauty of the peony.”
Arena has recently launched a subscription service on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis – handy, because once you get used to having fresh flowers in the house, it’s hard to go back. Prices start from £20.
They also offer luxury flowers, hand-tied bouquets and letterbox-sized arrangements, as well as a selection of plants and gifts for the home, ideal for sending a birthday package that go one step above blooms alone: think prosecco, posh chocs and room fragrances.
Right now we just can’t get enough of The Blush, the perfect combination of flowers and foliage that will brighten up anyone’s day.
£54.98 | Arena Flowers
Bunches
Send flowers quickly and easily to any corner of the UK with Bunches. The family-owned business has the environment close to heart and aims to cut its impact where it can, from plastic-free letterbox flowers to recyclable paper wrapping and packs of compostable flower food. Their website also states they donate 10 per cent of profits to helping the less fortunate, in the UK as well as the developing world – Bunches are florists with heart.
But what of their flowers? Well, they’re not one of the best online flower shops for nothing. Their offers spans everything from subscription flowers to birthday blooms and petals for your pals. Prices start at a very agreeable £16 for a dozen carnations to £38 for a cheerful sunflower bouquet, designed to paint a smile on your lucky recipient.
All items come with a greeting card bearing your message and include free standard delivery with Royal Mail first class post.
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Appleyard
Not only does Appleyard offer flowers, plants and gifts, but it does hampers too – perfect for ordering for anyone with a big event to celebrate. You can even order fruit and veg boxes, as one-offs or subscriptions, streamlining your fresh produce needs to one handy supplier.
Right now, some of the best flowers on the site can be found in the summer collection, designed by Appleyard’s head florist.
Here you’ll find swathes of seasonal beauties – hello peonies – which can be sent in letterbox-sized parcels as well as hand-tied bouquets. Our heart has been stolen by the Lilac Rose & Peony bouquet (£59.99), destined to bring delicate prettiness to whomever you choose to send it to. Love at first right really does exist.
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Bloom & Wild
One of the pioneers of letterbox flowers, Bloom & Wild now offers flowers for every occasion, and to suit every need: think subscriptions, as well as house plants, dinner party petals, hand-tied bouquets and even dried flowers, perfectly preserved and designed to last for longer than its fresh counterparts.
With peonies in bloom over the summer months, the company is answering stonking demand by dedicating a peony section on its site to the seasonal favourites. The perfect pick-me-up treat – for yourself or someone special.
Flowers last up to 10 days. Order flowers before 10pm for free next day delivery in the UK.
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Flowerstation
This North London florist delivers perfect petals all over the city – and beyond. From generous bouquets to whimsical wildflowers and potted plants to bring the beauty of the outdoors into the home, browsing the options on Flowerstation is like taking a leisurely walk through an online garden. They run promotions too – most notably Bouquet of the Week – in which you can scoop up a pretty arrangement for a limited time only.
Head to Flowerstation’s Luxury Flowers for blooms that will make the biggest impact; we like Park Avenue (£115) which strikes the right balance between elegance and daintiness.
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Freddie’s Flowers
This west London florist is part of a new guard getting younger shoppers excited about everything from alstroemerias to solidagos.
Freddie sees flowers as an everyday necessity rather than something to enjoy solely on special occasions, so the site is subscription only. It costs £25 per delivery and once you’ve set up your account you can pause or suspend delivery at any time, letting you choose exactly how much to splash on fleurs.
Each bouquet is an exclusive design, curated by the company’s expert team of florists and handled with the utmost care. They deliver by bicycle and van all over the country.
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Floom
Shop flowers, plants, gifts, hampers and groceries all in one place at Floom. The option of bouquets available depends on the postcode of your recipient, so check first before you set your heart on any design in particular.
While roses, peonies and tulips are perennial favourites, we like the easy, country feel of the Pastel Love bouquet in particular: the eclectic varieties will suit a variety of decor styles.
There’s free delivery for first-time Floomers if you spend over £50.
£65 | Floom
Flowerbx
More of an interior floral designer than a florist in the traditional sense, Flowerbx has a loyal following thanks to its reputation of delivering premium stems in stunning arrangements. Offerings include flavour of the month, peonies, in shades ranging from blush to burgundy, but you can find clutches of dainty ghost whisper allium and cloud-like hydrangeas elsewhere too.
If you’re looking for a particular kind of flower or have an arrangement in mind, there’s also a bespoke option where you can work with the company to make your vision a reality.
Free standard delivery with UPS or click and collect. Find more info here.
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M&S Flowers
Proving it’s more than a place to buy multi-packs of black briefs or flaky, golden croissants, M&S offers a solid flower delivery service, transporting feelings by way of florals to everywhere, from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
The high street favourite has rolled out a subscription service on a weekly, fortnightly and monthly basis with all flowers being delivered on Wednesdays. It’s a nice option to set up for those who enjoys fresh flowers delivered regularly, or if you want to bestow a particularly generous gift on a friend or partner.
As well as flowers of all occasions, there’s a ‘Just Because’ section too, a great place to start if you want to send petals to a mate that you haven’t seen IRL in months.
We like the wild, rustic aesthetic of the Protea Posy (£20), a chic compilation of cerise rose, cape mix and protea flowers, which represent change and hope. You can include add-ons like chocolate boxes and fizz if you want to send a more substantial gift.
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Serenata Flowers
Need cheerful, bright flowers that won’t put a serious dent in your finances? Head to Serenata, which stocks blooming gorgeous wildflowers and luxury petals for less than you would expect.
If you’ve been neglecting your mum or nan on Zoom chats (video call-fatigue is real folks), make it up to them with a lovely bunch of stems – we think Country Fields would go down an absolute treat.
As well as UK-wide, Serenata also works with partners in other countries to deliver flowers as far afield as Ireland, America, Australia and South Africa.
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Waitrose Flowers
Peony season is in full swing, and with the majority of weddings on hold for the time being, florists have more of the pretty petals than ever to fill your home. The powdery, blousy flowers have pride of place on Waitrose’s Flower Delivery website, available in stem form so you can arrange them to your liking, or ready placed in vases and ribbon-tied jugs. Send them to friends, send them to family, send them to yourself as a massively pleasing act of self-love.
Seasonal stems aside, there are plenty of other options at Waitrose: think bouquets, same-day delivery and indoor and outdoor plants – there are even potted trees for those who want something that will last for much longer than a bunch of roses. Prices are palatable too, with many bouquets sitting around the £30 mark.
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ESBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.
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