Christmas at Gordon Rigg Garden Centre, West Yorkshire
Garden Centres are great places aren’t they? Cream teas and coffee catch-ups, gifts and local artisan products. I rarely go to buy compost, plants or anything for my actual garden. As a child I used to get dragged round a variety of garden centres by my parents as they searched for the perfect bulbs or garden tools. Only when I became a member of the RSPB as a teen did I start enjoying such trips as I searched for the ideal bird bath and squirrel proof feeders. However, these days diversification has turned the average garden centre into a mini shopping haven! Now I visit for the fine foods, delectable delis and a cheeky hot chocolate or two. And one of my faves is Gordon Rigg Garden Centre in Walsden, West Yorkshire.
One thing I love in the run up to Christmas is how garden centres get taken over by fairy lights and festive frivolities, but none go to town as much as Gordon Rigg in Walsden, and I just love it!
Walsden is a large village near Todmorden in Calderdale, West Yorkshire; very close to the border with Greater Manchester and Lancashire (historically it has been part of Lancashire.)
It was a family tradition for as long as I can remember that in December we made the annual pilgrimage to Gordon Rigg Garden Centre enroute to visit family in West Yorkshire to procure poinsettias and hyacinths (usually at fantastic prices) and the materials for wreath making for my Gran. Even after I moved out at the age of 30, I still joined my folks on the annual trip.
The entrance used to be through a fairy-lit tunnel, all magical and mystical, opening into a colourful winter wonderland with Christmas trees, lights and decoration everywhere. The layout and entrance has since changed but the Christmas shop at Riggs is still tremendous and extensive and I love choosing a new bauble for our tree every year from their huge range.
Their room selling Christmas lights is dark to show off the massive array of lights and it makes me want to buy new ones every time! There’s always something different and exciting to see.
In the year that I originally wrote this, I fell in love with their central main display. The huge Christmas tree was surrounded by Santa on his ‘sleigh’, reindeer, a telephone box, lampposts, bird houses, a traditional wooden sign-post – all inundated with hanging decorations. The colour scheme was very autumnal which gets my vote every time.
Alongside was Mrs Rigg’s Sweet Emporium and a Miniature World display, all festively decorated! Looking at the sweet shop, I was slightly disappointed the door didn’t open to an actual sweet shop, but it does mean that they did a good job building this set piece and making it look realistic and inviting.
You’d think it would just be the Christmas shop area that would be decorated, but no… literally everywhere in the garden centre is Christmas-ified, adorned with fairy lights, trees and wreaths. The roof bars are all covered in tree greenery, lit and baubled!
The main entrance and exit to the store has been newly built in a conservatory style which currently conjures up a snowy scene with white lights and reindeer. Everything is bright, white and very classy. No tacky inflatable 10ft Santa’s here!
On leaving, see if you can resist the smell of hot dogs and burgers from the onsite fast food van. Or for more salubrious surroundings, there’s Bottom’s Mill Shop opposite Gordon Rigg with a restaurant on the first floor. Their hot chocolate is excellent!
If you didn’t have any when you arrived, you’ll certainly leave with oodles of festive spirit!
And it’s just as fun visiting after Christmas when you can bag yourself a few bargains in the sale!
Gordon Rigg Garden Centre Walsden Site Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 9am – 8pm / Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm / Sunday: 11am – 5pm
Get in Touch!
What’s your favourite garden centre? Do they go as mad for Christmas as Gordon Rigg does? Let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you!
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Further Reading
If you are travelling around Yorkshire, you may like to take a look at these places I’ve also written about.
Beningbrough Hall Bluebell walk – definitely a place to visit in April and May.
Walk to Lumb Hole waterfalls from Hebden Bridge.
Take in the Ingleton Waterfalls trail.
Explore Wakefield Cathedral or visit during their annual Rhubarb Festival.
Check out the magical Brimham Rocks in the snow.
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