Hard Landscaping Services in London
Soil Sisters designs and builds the structural bones of London gardens. Patios, paths, walls, steps, raised beds, edging, drainage. The permanent elements that give a garden its shape and make it usable twelve months of the year. We work across London and the South East, handling everything from initial concept sketches and 3D visuals through to the finished build. If your garden needs hard landscaping, call us on 0203 834 9807 or get in touch here.
What We Build
Hard landscaping covers every non-living element of your garden. Here is what we deliver for London clients.
Patios and paved entertaining areas. Porcelain, natural sandstone, limestone, York stone, granite setts, clay pavers. We lay on a proper sub-base with falls for drainage, not just slabs dumped on sand. Most London patio projects we handle sit between 15 and 40 square metres.
Garden paths and front paths. From Victorian mosaic tile paths for period properties to clean contemporary stepping stones in porcelain. Paths seem simple but they set the tone for the whole garden.
Retaining walls and raised beds. London gardens are full of level changes, especially in the south and east. We build retaining walls in brick, block, rendered finish, or sleeper construction depending on the look and budget.
Steps and changes of level. Brick risers with stone treads, cantilevered floating steps, railway sleeper steps for a more relaxed feel. Proper drainage behind and beneath so they last.
Fencing and screening. Close-board, slatted cedar, horizontal battens, trellis panels with climbers. We build them to last, not the cheap panel-and-post jobs that blow down in the first storm.
Decking. Composite (Millboard, Trex) or hardwood. We build the subframe properly with ventilation and correct joist spacing. London damp means shortcuts rot fast.
Drainage. Linear channels, French drains, soakaways, permeable paving. London clay soil drains badly. If your patio floods or your lawn turns to a swamp every winter, the hard landscaping needs to address that from day one.
Edging and borders. Steel edging, brick soldier courses, granite sett borders. The details that separate a professional job from a DIY attempt.
Hard Landscaping Costs in London
London runs 20 to 35 percent above national averages for hard landscaping. Access is part of it. Carrying materials through a terraced house in Dulwich costs more than wheeling them through a side gate in Sevenoaks. Labour rates are higher. Skip permits are more expensive. Here is what to budget.
Cost per square metre (supply and labour, London 2026)
| Material | Cost per sqm (installed) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete paving slabs | £65 - £95 | Budget option, many styles available |
| Indian sandstone paving | £95 - £150 | Popular natural stone, warm tones |
| Porcelain paving | £120 - £200 | Low maintenance, modern look, low porosity |
| York stone paving | £150 - £250 | Premium natural stone, period properties |
| Granite setts | £120 - £220 | Driveways, edging, paths |
| Clay pavers | £100 - £180 | Traditional or contemporary, very durable |
| Composite decking | £160 - £280 | Millboard or equivalent, inc. subframe |
| Close-board fencing | £60 - £110 per metre | Supply and fit |
| Slatted cedar screen | £120 - £200 per metre | Premium privacy screening |
Typical project costs
| Project type | Typical cost range | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Small patio (15-20 sqm) | £2,500 - £5,000 | Excavation, sub-base, paving, pointing, basic drainage |
| Front garden renovation | £3,500 - £8,000 | Path, paving, walls, bin storage, planting beds |
| Medium back garden (30-50 sqm hard landscaping) | £8,000 - £18,000 | Patio, paths, fencing, raised beds, steps, drainage |
| Full garden transformation (50+ sqm) | £15,000 - £45,000+ | Design, all hard landscaping, lighting, planting |
| Design fee (concept through to build drawings) | £800 - £2,500 | Scaled plans, 3D visuals, planting plans, specification |
We provide detailed quotes with a full breakdown of materials, labour, groundworks, and waste removal. No surprises.
How We Work
Every hard landscaping project follows the same process. It keeps things on track and means you know exactly where you are at every stage.
1. Free consultation and site visit. We come to you, look at the garden, talk through what you want and what is realistic. We take measurements and photos. No charge, no obligation.
2. Design and 3D visuals. We produce scaled plans and 3D rendered visuals so you can see exactly what the finished garden will look like before a single slab is laid. This is where we work out levels, drainage, material choices and planting integration.
3. Detailed quotation. Itemised costs for every element. Materials, labour, groundworks, skip hire, everything. We do not pad quotes or hit you with extras later.
4. Build phase. Our team handles all the construction. Excavation, sub-base preparation, drainage, paving, walling, fencing, decking, edging. We manage the site, keep it tidy, and communicate daily on progress.
5. Planting and finishing. Once the hard landscaping is complete, we bring in the soft landscaping. Soil, planting, turf, mulch. The two work together, not as separate projects.
6. Handover and aftercare. We walk you through everything, explain maintenance requirements, and stay available if you have questions down the line.
Why London Gardens Need Specialist Hard Landscaping
London throws up specific challenges that most generic landscaping companies underestimate.
London clay. Most of London sits on heavy clay subsoil. It holds water, swells in winter, shrinks in summer. Every patio, path and wall we build accounts for this with proper sub-base depths and drainage.
Access constraints. Many London properties have no side access. Materials go through the house, over a wall, or through a neighbour's garden by agreement. We plan logistics before we quote so you are not paying for wasted time on site.
Conservation areas. Parts of Islington, Camden, Chelsea, Fulham, Dulwich and dozens of other areas have conservation restrictions. Front garden walls, boundary treatments, and even paving materials may need approval. We know what is and is not permitted.
Small spaces, big expectations. A 20 sqm back garden in Battersea needs just as much thought as a 200 sqm plot in Kent. In tight spaces, every centimetre of hard landscaping matters. Material choice, bond pattern, proportions, the relationship between paved and planted areas.
Areas We Cover in London
We work across Greater London and into the surrounding counties. Recent hard landscaping projects have included work in:
South London: Dulwich, Peckham, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Beckenham, Crystal Palace, Herne Hill, Brixton, Clapham, Battersea, Wandsworth, Mottingham
South West London: Fulham, Chelsea, Hammersmith, Barnes, Putney, Richmond, Twickenham, Kingston
North London: Islington, Camden, Highgate, Hampstead, Muswell Hill, Crouch End
West London: Kensington, Chiswick, Ealing, Notting Hill
Beyond London: Kent, Surrey, Essex, Buckinghamshire
Hard Landscaping Materials We Work With
We are not tied to a single supplier. We source materials based on what is right for each project.
Natural stone: Indian sandstone (Raj Green, Autumn Brown, Kandla Grey), Brazilian slate, York stone, limestone. Best for traditional and transitional gardens. Requires sealing on some stone types.
Porcelain: Extremely popular for London gardens. Low porosity means less staining, less moss, less maintenance. Brands we use regularly include PorcelPave, London Stone, and Stonemarket.
Clay pavers: Beautiful ageing character. Works brilliantly for paths, driveways and herringbone patterns. More labour-intensive to lay but worth it for the right project.
Brick: London stock brick for walls that match the house. Engineering brick for copings and capping. Reclaimed brick where character matters more than uniformity.
Timber and composite: Western red cedar for fencing and screening. Composite decking from Millboard, Trex, or Eva-Last for decking that does not need annual maintenance.
Steel and corten: Steel edging for clean lines between paving and planting. Corten steel planters and water features for a contemporary finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between hard landscaping and soft landscaping?
Hard landscaping is the built structure of your garden: paving, walls, fences, steps, decking, drainage. Soft landscaping is the living elements: plants, trees, lawns, hedges, soil. A well-designed garden needs both working together. We handle the full scope from design through to build.
How long does a hard landscaping project take in London?
A small patio takes 3 to 5 days. A medium back garden with multiple elements (patio, paths, fencing, raised beds) usually takes 2 to 3 weeks. A full garden transformation can run 4 to 6 weeks. Weather and access in London can affect timelines. We provide a project schedule at the quoting stage.
Do I need planning permission for hard landscaping?
Most rear garden hard landscaping falls under permitted development. Front gardens are different. If more than 5 square metres of your front garden is being paved with non-permeable materials, you may need planning permission. Conservation areas and listed buildings have additional restrictions. We advise on this at the design stage. See our guide on garden planning permission for more detail.
Can you work with my existing garden designer?
Yes. We regularly build from plans provided by independent garden designers and architects. If you already have a design, we can quote from the drawings and specification. If you need a designer, our in-house team can handle that too.
What happens to the waste from excavation?
London hard landscaping always generates waste. Spoil from excavation, old paving, rubble, green waste. We arrange licensed skip hire or grab lorry collection and the cost is included in your quote. We never fly-tip.
How do you handle drainage on London clay?
Every project we build includes proper drainage planning. That might mean linear channels connected to a soakaway, permeable paving over a sub-base reservoir, French drains along boundaries, or connections to existing surface water drainage. The solution depends on your site. We survey drainage as part of the initial consultation.
What is the best paving material for a London garden?
It depends on the look you want and your maintenance appetite. Porcelain is the most popular choice right now because it handles London weather well, does not stain easily, and cleans up quickly. Natural sandstone is warmer and more traditional. York stone suits period properties. We bring samples to the design consultation so you can see and feel the materials in your own garden. Read our patio ideas guide for more on material options.
Related Services
Hard landscaping is one part of what we do. Depending on your project, you might also be interested in:
- Full landscaping services in London including both hard and soft elements
- Garden design and build from concept through to completion
- Garden renovation for tired or neglected outdoor spaces
- Our garden design service for bespoke plans, planting schemes and 3D visuals
- Garden design budget guide to help you plan your investment
Get a Quote for Hard Landscaping in London
Ready to get started? Call us on 0203 834 9807 or fill in our contact form to arrange a free site visit. We will come to you, assess the space, talk through your ideas, and follow up with a detailed, itemised quote. No hard sell, no vague estimates.
Soil Sisters has been designing and building gardens across London and the South East for over a decade. We are fully insured, our team holds City and Guilds and RHS qualifications, and we are members of the Association of Professional Landscapers. Your garden is in safe hands.