A garden arbour is the best place to curl up in the shade with a book or sip your morning brew and listen to the birds. With plenty of new and contemporary garden furniture on the market, arbours are back in style. They are the must-have garden piece of the season. We have rounded up the best garden arbours in the UK - from our favourite garden furniture brands - that can be transformed into modern sanctuaries to escape and relax.
Arbours are the perfect way to be surrounded by nature in your garden but still have protection from the sun. Essentially, they're garden benches with shelter. From corner arbours to metal shelters - there are many gorgeous designs. These sleek new designs are heavily inspired by this year's cottagecore trend. All things cottage-related have been contemporised for your modern garden.
The best part about garden arbours is that they are small and easy to assemble. All you need are some DIY skills and a screwdriver, and you're good to go. Plus, they are the perfect addition to any size outdoor space. Whether you are looking to fill out an empty corner (consider a corner sofa set) or for somewhere to sit in the shade on your generous-sized plot, this compact structure can be positioned just about anywhere and does not take up much space.
Best garden arbours at a glance:
• Nautical shelter: Seaview Wooden Arbour - View on Wayfair
• Shaded sanctuary: Penncross Wooden Arbour - View on Wayfair
• Rose arch: Valleywood Metal Arbour Bench - View on Wayfair
So with that in mind, let's take a look at our pick of the best garden arbours in the UK today.
The best garden arbours UK
Nautical shelter
www.wayfair.co.uk
The Seaview Wooden Arbour has a convenient under-seat storage compartment for stowing small garden items and a beautiful solid finish for a nautical-themed piece.
Customer Review: "A very good piece of garden furniture. Painted very well and looks really good."
Pros
- Arbour fits two people
- Underseat storage
- Pressure-treated against rot
Cons
- Assembly is required
Enchanted corner
www.wayfair.co.uk
Add a welcoming nook to a garden, backyard, conservatory and more with this Aarondeep Wooden Arbour.
Customer Review: "The arbour arrived quickly after ordering. The quality of the materials is great."
Pros
- Comfy integrated seat
- Made from pretty spruce wood
- A perfect nook for any place
Cons
- Some customers find it tricky to assemble
Wonderful wheel
www.cuckooland.com
Providing shade from the sun or shelter from the rain - this Unique Garden Wheel Bench will allow you to enjoy your garden yet stay protected from the elements. It is ideally designed to be placed against a wall, fence or as a stand-alone picnic bench. This cylinder Wheel Bench is built with stainless steel, polycarbonate and timber, and for extra comfort, seat pads are supplied in a choice of three different colours; charcoal, green and burgundy.
Pros
- Luxurious water-resistant interior
- Seating capacity for up to six guests
- Stainless steel roof for shade and reflect heat
Cons
- No customer reviews
Lovely lattice
www.cuckooland.com
Create the ultimate reading alcove in your garden with this right-angled Rowlinson Balmoral Corner Arbour in Natural Timber - ideal for that unused nook of the garden or patio. With lattice detail around the sides, you can decorate the arbour with climbing flowers or even fairy lights.
Customer Review: "Very sturdy and attractive. The only downside was the screws provided were not really strong enough so a quick trip to a local hardware shop for some thicker wood screws solved the problem. Now in place in a sunny spot, it provides just enough shade when the weather is hot. Definitely recommended."
Pros
- Easy to assemble from FSC-certified timber
- Garden arbour fits in any corner
- Pressure treated to protect against rot
Cons
- Only suited to the corner of the patio
- Needed some new screws when assembling
Shaded sanctuary
www.wayfair.co.uk
The Penncross Wooden Arbour has a contemporary design and features a lattice back with half solid half-open side panels, perfect for resting in the shade.
Customer Review: "Really lovely arbour. Looking forward to using it."
Pros
- Contemporary design
- Pretty lattice back
- Budget garden arbour
Cons
- Basic and simple
Clean slate
www.wayfair.co.uk
The Berry Wooden Arbour pictured has been painted in Ronseal Slate Grey; however, it comes with a solid wood finish to do as you please. Some customer photos have painted it baby blue or have kept the wooden finish.
Customer Review: "Brilliant. Been looking for one for a while and found this one. It's unpainted, but at over £100 cheaper than the painted ones, I just did it myself. Easy to assemble and arrived on time."
Pros
- Good quality arbour
- Solid wooden finish
- Takes paint well
Cons
- Not painted grey, like pictured
Rose arch
www.wayfair.co.uk
This simple, modern Valleywood Metal Arbour Bench is a stylish steal at this price. The integrated bench adds a touch of romance to any garden or terrace.
Customer Review: "Perfect for my garden. Easy to assemble, would recommend."
Pros
- Made of metal with water-repellent paint
- Adds a touch of romance with rose arch
- Easy and detailed assembly
Cons
- Not the comfiest, requires a cushion
Swinging in style
This Dartmouth Swinging Seat Garden Arbour meets swing not only looks fantastic but provides a gentle swaying motion, making it the best place to kick back and relax in the warmer weather.
Customer Review: "I had one of these seats before in my previous garden, and I loved it. It is difficult to assemble; you will need a handy person to do it."
Pros
- Pleasant, swinging seat
- Galvanised rust-resistant base fittings
- FSC Softwood, pressure-treated
Cons
- Some customers claim that is tricky to put together
Spacious retreat
www.wayfair.co.uk
Level up your garden and create your own peaceful haven with this handcrafted garden Archdale Wooden Arbour which fits three people - bigger than most arbours.
Customer Review: "Very sturdy, well built, and easy to assemble."
Pros
- Generous seating for three people
- Peaceful, well-designed
- Made from pressure-treated redwood
Cons
- Assembly is required
Open plan
www.diy.com
This open Forest Firenze Corner Arbour will instantly transform a dull corner of your plot. Go the full-on cottagecore trend by growing climbing roses for a scented sanctuary, or keep it contemporary with some solar lanterns and stylish cushions.
Pros
- Stylish and contemporary addition to any garden
- Easily seats up to 4 people, making it great for entertaining.
- Slatted roof and sides let plenty of light through.
Cons
- No customer reviews
Diamond openings
www.diy.com
This Blooma Elegant Corner Arbour will make an attractive garden feature and the centrepiece of your outdoor space. Choose cushions that mirror the colours of your favourite flowers for a chic, coordinated look.
Customer Review: "We love our garden arbour, it was fairly easy to erect, it took us about 3 hours. We painted it the following day in three different shades of garden paint. I would recommend painting the roof before you erect it."
Pros
- Made using responsibly sourced timber
- Attractive diamond openings in side panels
- Serves as an attractive garden feature
Cons
- Trickier to assemble than others on this list
Verdict: What is the best garden arbour?
The Seaview Wooden Arbour has a convenient under-seat storage compartment for stowing small garden items. Plus, it has a beautiful solid finish for a nautical-themed piece. It fits about two people and is pressure-treated against rot.
It's beautifully contemporary and will pair well with some outdoor cushions.
Garden Arbour FAQs
What material is best: Wood vs metal
Wooden arbours are easy to paint and customise to make your own. However, they take a little more time to install as they should ideally be placed on a solid base.
Choose an arbour made from pressure-treated wood to protect from wood rot and decay rather than dip-treated. Products made from dip-treated wood are generally cheaper as the process is more straightforward, but they won't last as long.
Metal arbours, on the other hand, are more open and better suited for growing climbing plants to create a shady sanctuary. They bring an instant touch of modernity to a garden and act as a piece of garden art.
They are also quick to construct and easy to install too. Make sure you go for a product made from powder-coated steel so it doesn't rust or paint with a rust-proof metal stain. If you plan to grow climbers around the frame, ensure that it is robust enough to support the weight once the plant is fully developed.
What is the difference between garden arbour and pergola?
A pergola is an outdoor room, whereas an Arbor is more of an outside arch or doorway. Arbours are typically freestanding, but they can also come attached to a wall or gate too.
What do you stand the garden arbour on?
No matter where you choose to place your garden arbour, you must put it on level ground. Whether it is made from wood or metal, it's best to fix your arbour to the ground, so it doesn't blow over in strong weather and wind.
If you fit your arbour on grass and gravel, use post spikes to make this easier. Just measure and mark where the posts of the arbour will go. Then, hammer the spikes into the ground, slot the posts of the arbour into them, and screw them in place.
If you are placing it on decking or paving, use bolt-down post bases to keep your arbour in place. Just put the foot of each corner post of the arbour into the metal sleeves of the post bases and move into position on the surface.
Mark the fixing holes onto the decking or paving, then remove the structure and post bases. Drill and plug the holes, then screw the post bases into place. Raise the arbour frame into the sleeves and tighten the bolts, and you are good to go.
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Ellen Kinsey is a Senior Health & Wellness Product Writer for Modern Gardens, specialising in sustainable living and health. She lives and breathes all things natural health, cooking and nature.