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From creative newcomers to the capital's most iconic mainstays, these are the ultimate florists for a grand gesture Christmas Wreath
Whatever the occasion (there's a big one approaching, we hear) sending flowers to friends and family is a timeless way to show your love – and now, you've got plenty of options that lie outside the traditional bunch of roses.
Today, there's a new wave of creativity rippling through the floristry industry, with cool new start-ups making waves on Instagram and traditional London florists enjoying a major resurgence.
Below, we’ve curated a list of the best online flower delivery services that are guaranteed to bring some joy to someone's day. Whether it’s a romantic statement or a ‘just because’ gift, these luxury florists are guaranteed to deliver something memorable.
Before you pick your bouquet, consider the latest floristry trends:
As the name suggests, these flowers will fit through your letterbox, making them a wise choice if your recipient may not be home to receive them. Most arrive as buds, meaning they'll get to enjoy watching them bloom – and they'll likely last longer than a traditional hand-tied bouquet, too.
No longer the sole preserve of Valentine’s Day roses (although those are still a fail-safe move), single-variety bouquets make a sophisticated statement. Showcasing one species at its best, a bunch of single stems is a simple way to enjoy seasonal flora, from peonies in late spring to hydrangeas in summer. FlowerBx is the chicest example (which is unsurprising when you learn the brand was founded by Tom Ford alumni, Whitney Bromberg Hawkings).
If you want to give a gift that will truly last, dried and faux flowers offer a statement alternative to their fresh counterpart. Many of today's best flower delivery services now offer them – including our favourite, Bloom & Wild, which carries everything from colourful arrangements to pared-back pampas grass.
A flower subscription allows you to schedule regular deliveries to you or your loved one’s home. Simply select how frequently you’d like them delivered and, in some cases, also the style of bouquet.
There are a few simple steps you can take to make sure your flowers thrive for as long as possible. Firstly, check the care instructions that accompany your delivery – roses, for example, often arrive with protective outer guard petals, which are left on to prevent bruising in transit. Removing these will make your flowers truly shine.
Next, before placing them in water, trim stems by an inch or two, cutting at a diagonal angle so they can absorb more water. Strip away any leaves that sit below the waterline too, and remember to refresh the water every couple of days, trimming the stems a further centimetre when you do this.
Finally, consider where you display your flowers – placing them away from radiators and direct light will prevent delicate blooms from drying out early.
One of the very best florists in the country, Moyses Stevens has been creating show-stopping floral arrangements since 1876.
A true London institution (and the Royal's florist of choice) the brand now offers online delivery both nationwide and internationally. Dramatic, room-filling bouquets are the order of the day here, and you can add a bottle of Ruinart champagne or Trudon candle to make your order even more memorable.
Of course, the traditional red rose can be found in abundance here: the brand's Love To Tango bouquet contains 100 of them. For something that signals the joy of Spring, head to the Seasonal section and find a host of pastel-hued petals, from hydrangeas to mimosa.
Whether you want something to match an interior colour scheme or have a specific, sentimental stem in mind, Flowerbx's single-variety bouquets are always a chic choice.
The brand's contemporary arrangements arrive fresh from the growers, and the options are plentiful: this season, don't miss the ephemeral mimosa collection.
Subscriptions, dried flowers and letterbox packages are also all available, and same-day delivery is available within certain postcodes.
With whimsical arrangements and an intuitive ordering experience, Bloom & Wild makes both buying and receiving bouquets effortless, wherever you are in the UK (and no matter how late you've left it).
While next-day services aren't available on all arrangements, delivery is fast and reliable, and the brand's signature letterbox flowers are always a fail-safe choice – especially if you don't know when your recipient will be home.
Consider one of the brand's potted lemon trees or a pot of fragrant white jasmine for new homeowners, and for truly special sends, add a little extra something: the retailer offers Cowshed hand creams, vegan Coco chocolate, and even afternoon tea from London favourites Cutter & Squidge.
Floom is clever floristry directory, through which you can shop independent businesses from your local area. The artisanal bouquets are delivered by hand, and there's a host of styles to explore.
Input your postcode first and search according to flower species, occasion, colour or delivery date. We love the contemporary festive arrangements currently on the site by London favourites Edie Rose, (pictured) and the artisanal Anja Floral.
Your London Florist masterfully combines traditional blooms with contemporary arrangement techniques to create bouquets guaranteed to be remembered.
A modern Valentine's Day option, the Falling For You bouquet combines lilac fronds with peachy roses and blood-red orchids.
For especially fresh stems, head to sustainably minded florist Bloom: the service's 'market-fresh' option allows you to send seasonal stems, cut-to-order, to any home in the UK.
The single-variety bouquets are especially lovely – for Spring there's a rainbow of frothy flamingo-pink fringe tulips and antique lisianthus.
Even better, the packaging is entirely plastic free, and you can even design your own custom bouquet using the online service.
Flower Station is the best delivery service for big, classic bouquets that promise maximum impact. From vivid brights to classic white and green arrangements, there's something to please everyone here.
In London, the service caters for last-minute orders with a same-day delivery service, and you can also contact them around the clock. If you’re sending flowers further afield, they'll deliver Tuesday to Saturday, and the customer service team will assist with international delivery too.
Appleyard London's Valentine's collection has arrived, and it's a fabulously romantic edit of roses and fragrant lilies. Classicists will love the timeless bunches of blood-red blooms, while those after something a little different will love the Rose Pearl bouquet, which is peppered with cheery daisies.
Same day delivery is often available in London, while next-day delivery is nationwide.
Family-owned floristry business Bunches began as a market stall over twenty years ago. Now, the site will send a huge range of bouquets anywhere in the UK – and 10 per cent of the proceeds are donated to charity.
For that green-fingered friend, the brand also stocks a wide array of house plants – we'll be sending the sweet coffee plant this season.
While flowers aren't always the most sustainable gift, there are ways you can shop them more ethically. Arena offers eye-catching bouquets and potted plants sourced from Fairtrade-certified farms or suppliers, and for every order two trees are planted through a partnership with the Eden Reforestation Projects. The packaging doesn't contain any single-use plastic either.
A supermarket may not be the first place you'd turn to for luxe blooms, but Waitrose impresses with its high-quality, seasonal arrangements. The service is built for spontaneous sends, too: delivery is available seven days a week across the country.
Letterbox and dried arrangements are available, but for maximum impact on February 14, we'd recommend this Luxury Red Roses bouquet.
Forgotten a special date? Haute Florist offers next-day delivery across the UK for all orders placed by 10pm the night before. Letterbox options are also available, so your recipient doesn't have to be at home to take delivery.
Not just a practical option, the bouquets are beautiful too: try one of the brand's statement hat boxes for something truly memorable, or add a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne to get the celebrations started.
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