A garden centre in Lancashire has been named among the best in the UK in a list by the Daily Mail.

A trip to a garden centre is a popular activity throughout the year and while shopping for new garden bits is great, some even have cafes so you can make it a longer outing and grab a bite to eat.

Introducing the list, the newspaper said: “Who doesn’t love a trip to the garden centre? Whether you’re after colourful winter bedding plants for a hanging basket, a new evergreen shrub for the front garden, or simply a nice cup of tea and a scone, a trip to a horticultural haven is one of the nation’s favourite days out.

“So, from Cumbria to Cardiff, Essex to Inverness, we’ve scoured the nation's garden centres and rated their plant selections and coffee shops to bring you the very best in the UK.”

Barton Grange in Preston has been recognised in the list and scored high across all categories, earning an overall rating of 8.5/10.

It ranked in 13th place and the Daily Mail said: “This huge garden centre in Lancashire opened its doors in 2008 and has been named Destination Garden Centre of the Year multiple times.

“Its history began 70 years ago when Edward and Ada Topping bought a small mansion in Barton and turned it into a hotel.

“Their son Eddie trained as a horticulturist and in 1963 opened the North West’s first-ever garden centre.”

You can see the full list of the best garden centres via the Daily Mail website.

The plant selection at Barton Grange has been scored 9/10. The newspaper said: “With some 3 million plants growing at any one time at its nearby propagation unit, Barton Grange offers something for every garden situation.”

Its houseplant selection was also given a 9/10 as “the centre has a separate nursery just for growing houseplants and bedding plants.”

When it comes to the other items on sale, the garden centre scored 8/10. It offers a cookshop, farm shop and Christmas shop with “plenty of retail opportunities”.

If you’d like to enjoy a brew here, it’s good to know the coffee shop was rated 8/10 with the Daily Mail saying: “Choose between the Riverside Café and the Willow Restaurant for freshly cooked, seasonal dishes.”

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Customers have enjoyed their experience at the garden centre with one sharing it on Tripadvisor: “Hands down the best garden centre I've ever been to. Amazing visual displays, a great range of products. Will definitely be back to sample the cafe and spend some more money!!”

Another commented: “What an amazing place! Only had time for the garden centre and restaurant. Both could not be faulted. Such a wide selection and such good quality. All well laid out and presented. Staff are so helpful, polite and friendly.”

A third visitor said: “This is one of the best Garden centres I have ever visited. The cook shop was large and well stocked as were the other shops. The farm shop stocked some lovely food and drinks.

“All in all an amazing place. We didn't use the restaurant so can't comment on that.”