My Favourite Succulent and Cacti Shops in East London 🌵

Not everyone is blessed with green fingers. Even succulents, which are supposed to be forgiving, rarely survive more than a few months in some of our homes. That doesn’t stop us trying, though, and there is something irresistible about bringing one of those little green characters back to a flat. East London is well served for anyone hunting succulents and cacti, from cheap market stalls to specialist shops that sell beautiful pots and run workshops. Here are the best places to look. ## Columbia Road Flower Market, Bethnal Green If you want something cheap and unmistakably London, Columbia Road is the obvious starting point. A stall on the east side of the market sells everything from tiny succulents to medium-sized cacti. Approaching from that side also saves you pushing through the worst of the crowd, though the crush is part of the experience. Sunday morning, then. If a market isn’t for you and you’d rather browse a proper shop, expect to pay a little more. The following places also sell attractive pots, run workshops and make for good photographs. ## Conservatory Archives, Bethnal Green Found by accident while wandering down Hackney Road, Conservatory Archives is one of those plant shops where every inch is taken up by leaves. It was busy on that first visit, so a full exploration is still pending, but the look of the place is striking: white walls, a high ceiling with hanging lights, plants in every direction and a lovely selection of succulent pots. It feels like somewhere that might only appear at certain times of day. ## Grace & Thorn, Bethnal Green and Brick Lane Grace & Thorn specialise in bouquets, but they also keep a good selection of succulents and cacti. The Bethnal Green branch sits on the walk to Hackney City Farm, which is worth a visit in its own right, while the Brick Lane branch is handy for a Sunday mooch. ## Botanique Workshop, Exmouth Market Botanique Workshop was a go-to for succulents even before it took that name, largely because it happened to be a ten-minute walk from a first job in London. It used to sell plenty of gifts from small brands inside and succulents outside; now it is mostly given over to plants. The staff are consistently lovely, the range is wide, and the branding and shop front are worth a look. They do weddings, too. ## Prick, Dalston Prick is a small shop and, by some standards, on the pricier side, but the owners are lovely and it is the place to go if you like a funky cactus. Some of them are enormous, to the point where you fear tripping into them. It is said to be the first shop in London to sell cacti and succulents exclusively. ## Flower Warehouse, Hackney The Flower Warehouse has something in every category and has had a bit of a revamp since it was first discovered. Alongside a variety of cacti and succulents, including some giants, there are plenty of other plants and flowers. The shop has a big doorway, windows in the ceiling and displays of flowers and herbs outside along Cambridge Heath Road. It doesn’t have the Instagram presence of some of the others, but the staff will help you find the right plant, and there is a huge selection of beautiful, affordable pots. ## Botany, Hackney Botany is a newer addition to the neighbourhood and describes itself as “a curated selection of homeware, skincare & plant life. Inspired by nature & beautiful living.” It looks extremely pretty inside. If the combination of plants and skincare appeals, it is well worth a look. ## Arma Glassworks, Netil Market A bonus entry, since it only opens on Saturdays and plants aren’t the main event. Arma Glassworks sits in the small, rustic Netil Market, close to Broadway Market. The focus is glasswork, including succulent terrariums and frames for displaying single pressed leaves, alongside a small selection of pots and plants. Happy hunting, and may you find your perfect plant friends.