Looking on Google, I found a couple of dozen garden centres plus the bigger national DIY stores such as B&Q, Focus and Homebase in Cambridge. There will certainly be local shops that sell compost and other gardening items, and may deliver, too. There will probably be bargain shops with a small range of cheaper seeds (often from the US!), and we have several mail order seed companies as well as T&M. You won't need to bring any seeds with you.

What's a "winter garden"? All gardens here are open-to-the-sky, but a garden with a wall that retains heat is a bonus.

Mid-October isn't the best time to see British gardens - it's autumn, and most of the outdoor flowers are over.

To give you some idea of what's usually grown here, it might be worth you joining the Royal Horticultural Society and visiting some of the gardens they recommend. There's a list of a dozen in Cambridge on their website: Gardens in Cambridgeshire

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Centres in Cambridge

Thanks, crazylady,

Your info is already copied and in my travelbag! Am one of those gardeners who really treasures fall/winter non-blooming 'gardens.'

Winter garden is the term the realtor gave my Cambridge family. This particular garden is on the main floor/patio of the townhome. The four walls are three stories high. Am wondering if any insects would get into this area...ie, will it be possible to raise tomatoes? There is also an open balcony on the townhome's 3rd floor, so probably it will house any tomato ambitions. Will be perusing those sites you provided.

Thanks again. kyjane

I realise it is too late now but I would recommend visiting Anglesey Abbey, which is NOT in Anglesey but just outside Cambridge. It's a National Trust property, so easy to find on the web. Many of the colleges also have lovely gardens.

I'm intrigued as to how an estate agent managed to sell a space with 4 walls 3 stories high as a 'garden'. Sounds more like a light well to me.

I hope you went to the Botanical Gardens and saw the Jade Vine in the glass house. It's fantastic.

Thanks for your info. Home from the lovely city of Cambridge. Wanted to bring the Botanical Garden and the Farmers' Mkt home to KY! With rain, our only side trip was to Ely to walk about the town and visit the wondrous Cathedral.

The 'winter garden' on the main floor is about a 10' square: two story brick wall on one side and door windows on the other three sides that access the kitchen, DR and guest BR. On the second floor is a 'perimeter patio' with railing on three sides. Access to this area is from the two second floor BRs. The third floor is another BR above one of the second floor BRs. As a result, there is much more light than I was led to believe on the main floor patio/winter garden. Just now, a lime plant, two grape vines (planter undersized IMO), and assorted potted evergreens seem pleased with their new home. Family plans to seed some greens for winter salads.

Here on our ridge site in KY, I have to erect wind shields to reduce dehydration for the fall crops. Now enjoying late summer seeded lettuces and French breakfast radishes.

Our Lexington (KY) Botanical Garden is beautiful to us in all seasons and interesting with its new 'childrens garden' project. Please visit! kyjane