The best garden pods are super chic and are the perfect type of garden furniture for lounging, dining, and cosying up. In fact, garden pods are a near-instant way to gain invaluable extra living space and enjoy time in your garden too. Rounded and mostly made from tinted but transparent polycarbonate, these striking beauties are happy to take centre stage so you can relax inside. If you want to uplevel your best garden furniture, these pods will help you to stay sheltered from the elements while enjoying a 360-degree view of your gorgeous garden.
From snug dens to more generous oval designs to fit a party of 12, garden pods come in many sizes. The average pod takes up no more room than a typical garden dining set. Also, being largely transparent, they can sit comfortably in the smallest of plots.
Best garden pods at a glance
• Best garden pod for flexible living space: Farmer’s Cottage Oval Garden Pod - view on John Lewis
• Best garden pod for rotating design: Luxury Rotating Lounger Garden Pod - view on Cuckoo Land
• Best garden pod for extra living space: Large Oval House - view on Lime Lace
• Best garden pod for safe and secure: The Grande Deluxe Chic - view on John Lewis
Because they don’t need to be put in a corner like your best outdoor sofa or banished to the end of your garden, there’s much more versatility when it comes to positioning it. They’re quicker, cheaper, and less hassle than building an extension, offering an easy solution to gain extra living space.
So without further ado, let's take a look at the best garden pods to uplevel your garden and create the ultimate hosting space for your guests.
Best garden pods for your outdoor space
Best garden pod for: Futuristic feature
www.johnlewis.com
Description
Curvy walls in stainless steel and acrylic, enclosed by sleek timber ribs, make this compact Farmer’s Cottage 7-Seater Rotating Garden Pod is a striking garden addition and home extension. This pod can fit seven people and is crafted with curved walls in stainless steel and acrylic, bound by timber ribs, making this compact pod as eye-catching as it is functional. Plus, the front canopy shields you from temperamental weather.
Customer review: "We've had one for over a year now and we've been able to use it all year round. It had survived all that a Scottish winter can throw at it - wind, rain and -15 degrees. Also, it protects from the dreaded midges. Much nicer that the usual summer house."
Pros
- 360-degree views of your garden
- Get the full benefit of the sun or the shade - rotates up to 180 degrees
- Weather-resistant stainless steel exterior
Cons
- Not much leg room
Best garden pod for: Flexible living space
www.johnlewis.com
Description
This Farmer’s Cottage Oval Garden Pod is not only a striking architectural feature but will give you a panoramic view of your outdoor space. Featuring an adjustable coffee-to-dining table, heater, electric socket, and lighting, this fully waterproof pod fits eight people. Crafted from stainless steel, plastic, fabric, FSC-certified wood this outdoor capsule will keep you cosy and warm year long. Plus, you have a choice of upholstery colourways so you can match the hues to your garden style.
Customer review: "The pod is so much roomier inside than it looks It comfortably allows six people to dine. The delivery was really swift and the installers were very experienced and knowledgeable. The whole installation took less than four hours. Additionally, the lighting and heating are efficient and the pod is a very enjoyable extra room."
Pros
- Dining table for up to eight people
- 360 degree views
- 700W heater and interior lighting
- Fully weather-resistant
Cons
- Requires mains electricity
Best garden pod for: Rotating design
www.cuckooland.com
Description
This gorgeous Ornate Garden Rotating Lounger Garden Pod seats up to seven people. The central table can be lowered to the same height as the seats to create a relaxing daybed. This attractive garden building seats up to seven people and comes with a rotating lounger with a rechargeable light that provides eight to ten hours of light. It is made with a stainless steel roof to offer shade and reflect heat.
Customer review: "We love our Pod, and it serves so many functions. Great to sit in with the table, and easy to swap to the lounger. Totally waterproof (important in an English summer), and handy to be able to rotate it away from a breeze."
Pros
- Rotates 360 degrees
- Small area footprint
Cons
- Lighting requires recharging
Best garden pod for: Minimal footprint
www.limelace.co.uk
Description
This outdoor sanctuary seats eight people and can fit into the smallest of garden plots. The Rotating Lounger comes fitted with a front canopy for a tent-style entrance. The pod has ambient interior lighting so you can sit inside day and night. The pod has the ability to rotate 360 degrees into the sun, shade or out of the breeze, and can fit up to eight guests into the smallest of garden spaces. It is produced with sustainable materials such as spruce timber arcs and stainless steel.
Pros
- 360 degree rotation
- Designed with the UK climate in mind
Cons
- Could be too compact for some
Best garden pod for: Office space
www.limelace.co.uk
Description
This stylish and innovative Summerhouse Garden Pod is the perfect place to soak up some evening sun or can be doubled as an office room. The pod contains two sofas and can sit up to 10 guests. It features an 80cm lockable double-glazed single door entrance that ensures that your outdoor pod is secure and two 80cm slides up and over polycarbonate side windows for ample ventilation. You can enjoy 360 degree panoramic views of the garden are provided by multiple tinted windows for a more spacious feel. In addition, all the materials used are fully waterproof, making the summerhouse a weather-proof capsule.
Pros
- Available in eight colours
- Heat, Wi-Fi and lighting
- Delivered and assembled for you
Cons
- Upholstery isn't real suede
Best garden pod for: Relaxing vibes
www.limelace.co.uk
Description
A great alternative to summer houses, this high-spec pod boasts two comfy sofas, heating, lighting, a dining table, a super-slick sliding door and a stainless steel roof. The Luxury Summerhouse Garden Pod features a dining table and two sofas that will sit up to ten people. This large garden pod requires an area of 310cm diameter to fit into your outdoor space.
Pros
- Available in eight colours
- Heat, Wi-Fi and lighting
- Delivered and assembled for you
Cons
- Large footprint
Best garden pod for: Extra living space
www.limelace.co.uk
Description
Need extra living space? This elongated Large Oval House has two seating areas, wide double doors and five upward sliding windows, making it a spacious and versatile room. Crafted from sustainable spruce timber, this pod can offer you living space for up to 14 people. Plus, it comes equipped with an ambient interior, coloured mood and LED lighting, electrical power, and Bluetooth facilities, making it both comfortable and versatile.
Pros
- Like adding another room to your property
- Heat, Wi-Fi and lighting
- Delivered and assembled for you
- Spacious
Cons
- Polycarbonate windows
Best garden pod for: Safe and secure
www.johnlewis.com
Description
With locking French doors and two sliding windows, The Grande Deluxe Chic doubles as the perfect office pod. Roomy enough to fit 12, it boasts an adjustable table, heating, ambient lighting and USB slot. Constructed with a stainless steel exterior that reflects heat and 16 laminated treated sustainable timber arcs, this is really a first-class garden pod.
Pros
- Adjustable table makes space dynamic
- Create your own interior
- Electrical and heating features
- Lighting and Bluetooth audio
Cons
- Only one electric socket
Best garden pod for: Alternative open design
www.limelace.co.uk
Description
Providing shade from the sun or shelter from the rain - this The Wheel Bench Garden Shelter 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
- Contemporary design
- Reasonably priced option
Cons
- A little exposed to the elements
How we chose the best garden pods
All of these garden pods have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered safety, stability, and construction in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching garden pods to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
FAQs: Best garden pods UK
What are garden pods?
The distinct, rounded shape of garden pods makes them a stunning feature in any outside space. Also, with their pronounced timber ribs and futuristic covering of stainless steel and curved acrylic, they are impossible to ignore. Inside they provide a cosy and intimate spot where you can sit and, thanks to the glazed walls, enjoy an uninterrupted view.
These alfresco escapes come fully equipped with heating, lighting, and optional USB points, so they make a useful garden office as well as a quiet area to chill. Far more stylish than the average garden shed or studio, these gems also make the perfect place to gather with friends. Finally, most feature curved built-in seating with a central table that can be removed or lowered to create a flat lounging area. It makes a contemporary and weather-proof alternative to entertaining under the garden pergola.
Things to consider when choosing garden pods
Perfectly formed garden structures
Garden pods come either as neat spheres or roomier oval designs. Smaller, round models will seat up to six or seven people around a central table and start at around £7,000. They have an enclosed but transparent polycarbonate and stainless-steel shell, usually with a 60- to 90-degree opening for easy access.
Some of the compact models have no closing door. Instead, they often have a small overhanging canopy that sits above the door and provides some protection from the occasional shower. To enclose them, an outer canopy cover clips over the front and features a full-length zip for access.
Rotating garden rooms
Some spherical designs sit on a rotating base, which is great when you fancy a change of scene, wish to escape the sun or a chilly breeze or just want to wow your garden guests. Rotating pods tend to seat around seven to eight people. Manually operated, they’re designed to turn 360 degrees by simply pushing on the external timber ribs.
Room for more
The larger pods are oval in shape and, due to their extra weight, are static. With enough space for up to 12 people, they feel super luxurious and add a real sense of occasion to any get-together. They also command more attention in the garden too. In addition, they are available with closing doors. You can choose from conventional bifold, French-style doors or curved panels that slide neatly up and over the pod’s outer shell.
No-fuss features
As a large proportion of the pod’s shell is designed to be seen through, but also beautifully curved, high quality UV-protected polycarbonate or acrylic sheets. Tough and fully waterproof, the windows seamlessly flow around the curvy shape without the need for unnecessary joins.
Choose either clear or bronze-tinted glazing, which will reduce the glare from the sun and add to the futuristic vibe. A stainless-steel roof helps to control the temperature by reflecting heat, while stainless-steel louvres above and below each window offer cooling ventilation. The temperature can be further controlled by warm air heaters and side-opening windows, available as upgrades on some models.
Simple installation
A level paved patio or area of concrete is the perfect base for a garden pod. It will need to be around 30cm deep and roughly 60cm wider on all sides than the base of the pod. Finally, do read the small print on the manufacturer’s product specifications as the base measurements of each design vary.
Then with all the groundwork in place, installing your garden pod is speedy, usually taking around four to five hours to complete, depending on its size and spec.
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Jill Morgan writes regularly for Modern Gardens, and loves everything to do with gardens, plants and outdoor living. Her long thin, town garden is the setting for many family and creative projects from bird feeding and veggie growing to den building and mini-pond dipping.