10 Paving types for English Gardens

This article contains affiliate links 

---

---

​English gardens are famous for their rustic charm and combination of both formal and informal landscaping.

English garden paving can be as varied as the gardens themselves with many suitable choices available. From traditional flagstones to quaint cobblestones your paving choice can greatly affect the character of your project.

​Whether your English garden is a classical and formal design or a more modern interpretation there is something for all tastes. In this article I list and summarise 10 great paving materials suitable for English garden designs. 

​1. Yorkstone

​York stone has been used as a paving material within English gardens for centuries. This natural sandstone has a beige colour and was used extensively across Britain as a paving material. Quarried in Yorkshire, this paving is still produced today. Although with much cheaper foreign imports the use of traditional York stone has significantly declined. This versatile stone was often laid around large country houses and stately homes. 

​2. Indian sandstone

​Indian sandstone has grown in popularity to now become one of the most popular natural stone pavers. Some of the reasons for its popularity is the radiant colour combinations and reasonable price. Indian sandstone looks similar to York stone making it a suitable alternative for English gardens. Like York stone it often comes in four sizes which when laid together has a pleasant visual texture 

​3. Slate

​Slate is a natural stone found within the mountains of western and northern Britain. Its presence within the geology of the country has led to its use for both roofing and paving. Slate can be used both as a more contemporary of traditional garden style. In country cottages slate is often laid as random crazy paving. Whereas in contemporary schemes calibrated slate pavers are more popular.  

​4. Brick paving

​Bricks have been a popular building material in English gardens due to the countries brick making traditions. With abundant clay subsoil’s, a whole range of different bricks have been produced over the decades. Many English gardens lay bricks as a paving material in various arrangements and patterns. Although very labour intensive brick paving provides a rustic feel and great visual texture. 

​5. Terracotta tiles

​Terracotta has always been popular within English gardens especially in more classical garden styles. Large terracotta pots are often seen either side of pathways and doorways. Terracotta has also been an extremely popular paving material is such gardens. Terracotta tiles and pavers are used to surface pathways, patios and courtyards. 

6. ​Traditional block paving

​Block paving is a pre-cast concrete block used to pave driveways and other landscape surfaces. This paving is relatively modern with no real historical use within English gardens. However more traditional block paving such as tegula and Alpha trio have a more traditional ‘cobble effect’ this makes them very suitable for English garden pathways and patios. 

​7. Setts & Cobbles

​Setts and cobbles have been a traditional feature within English towns and villages for centuries. Natural stone setts such as granite setts can be found surfacing traditional paths and roadways across the country. In English gardens cobbles and setts are great for creating paths and seating areas. The setts can be laid in multiple, decorative patterns and arrangements. 

​8. Limestone

​Limestone paving is a very refined paving product favoured for its light tones and smooth texture. Historically in England limestone paving was quarried from the county of Lincolnshire. The limestone was formed millions of years ago from the shells and skeletons of dead sea creatures. It is very common for paving slabs to display small fossils and shells within their grain. 

​9. Porcelain

​Porcelain paving has grown to become one of the most popular paving products available. Far from being a traditional English garden paver they are particularly effective within contemporary English gardens. Porcelain is extremely hard wearing and water resistant making it an all-round effective paving solution.  This paving comes in a range of different colours and styles. 

10. ​Crazy Paving for English gardens

​Crazy paving is a method of paving which lays down multiple broken or jagged pieces of paving. In England, crazy paving was extremely popular during the 1970s where old broken paving slabs were used for paving. In English gardens crazy paving can be created using a whole host of different paving materials. Broken York or Indian sandstone is particularly effective laid as crazy paving. 

​Thank you for reading our article on the best paving for English gardens! Below I will link to some other articles you may find useful. 

---

---

'As a Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases'