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The prettiest garden parasols for all budgets
As the joys of long summer evenings, warm nights and outdoor dining lie just around the corner, you may be starting to think about readying your garden for you and your guests. British summer time is notoriously unpredictable so it can be difficult to know exactly what it is you need. Garden furniture, from the top garden furniture shops, such as tables and chairs, will naturally be at the top of your list, but it is the details that make for a truly special experience; anyone who has attended a garden event in the scorching sun with little shade will know that.
What are the benefits of a garden parasol?
A garden parasol is one of those items that can elevate an outdoor space wonderfully. On sunny days, a parasol umbrella can offer UV protection and enable you to lunch outside without worry of getting burnt. On windy days, you can use a cantilever garden parasol to offer some protection from the elements.
What's the best garden parasol to buy, at a glance?
Don't have time to read our full guide to the best parasols? No problem. We've rounded up the very best below.
- Best decorative garden parasol: Suzani Embroidered Garden Parasol, £425 from Faro Home
- Best affordable garden parasol: Anyday Metal Pole Garden Parasol, £29, John Lewis.
- Best adjustable garden parasol: Brushed Aluminium Sand 2.5 Round Parasol with Crank Handle, £109, Bramblecrest.
- Best portable garden parasol: Business and Pleasure Co. Premium Umbrella in Navy, £249, from Amara
What is the best garden parasol to buy?
Before purchasing your garden parasol, try to consider what its primary purpose will be. Perhaps you wish to take your parasol out and about with you on a picnic or a trip to the beach? A lighter number that folds down neatly will do the trick. A cantilevered, overhanging parasol will allow you to move it around until you’re aptly protected from the elements, or until your dining table is well covered. However, they’re often more cumbersome with a larger base. If you want thorough sun protection, look for one with a UV resistant canopy to block harmful rays.
Scroll on for our edit of the best garden parasols for all budgets, from the decorative to the practical.
The best garden parasols for all budgets
Why we love it: For under £30, this Anyday pick is definitely the most affordable in our edit. It comes in two colours, a grey and a blue, and measures 2m, so it provides a fair amount of shade. The canopy is shower resistant and UV50+ protected too. You'll need to buy a 9kg base from John Lewis.
Why we love it: The Kyoto parasol offers UV50+ protection and a weather resistant canopy, so you're well protected sitting under it (though it doesn't mean you can forgo the suncream). The parasol is designed to be adjustable, with its nifty crank and tilt mechanism, so you can angle it to wherever best suits.
Why we love it: This classic design makes for a great sun umbrella for lazy days at the beach or by the pool. The cotton canvas material provides 95% sun protection from UV rays, and is also removable and washable.
Why we love it: This quintessential parasol from Sumner is a great piece to have on hand for beach days and picnics alike. At £22.99, it's on the more affordable end of the scale, so it's a great one to have in the garden shed in case of rainy days.
Why we love it: Made by a creative community of women in Jodhpur, these parasols are testament to their skill. Launching this year, Jaipur Garden Parasols have a really lovely offering of handmade pieces- even the bases of the parasols are hand carved by craftsman in the Alwar district.
Why we love it: This highly affordable, adjustable parasol has 18 built-in LED lights that are solar-powered by a panel on the umbrella, creating an atmospheric glow during summer evenings. The crank-mechanism allows for easy opening and closing of the umbrella, and a button can be used to adjust the angle as the sun moves during the day.
Why we love it: The Aretha is another wonderful piece from the East London Parasol company. With a 2 metre canopy, it is perfect for providing shade over a leisurely lunch outdoors.
Why we love it: This stylish parasol has a water resistant canopy that offers UV50+ protection, so it can shelter you no matter what the British weather is doing! It is available with or without a base depending on your requirements.
Why we love it: The East London parasol company mainly sell garden umbrellas (the clue is in the name) so their pieces are really special and well made. Handcrafted in the UK, the waterproof canvas is printed using 24 screens and can be easily removed using the velcro attachments.
Why we love it: Why we love it: With a retro feel, this high-quality, portable number comes with its own matching carry bag and can be set up in under a minute, making it perfect for lounging on the beach and impromptu garden lunches.
Why we love it: This excellent-value parasol would be a good choice to set up on the garden patio or decking. It can be tilted and has a polyester canopy, and a heavy-duty base needs to be bought separately.
Why we love it: For use in the centre of a garden table or standing alone, this beautiful garden parasol for outdoor living has been handmade in south west Burma.
Why we love it: This parasol has a wind-up mechanism which makes it easy to operate. The shower-resistant canopy also offers UV50+ sun protection so you can happily sit underneath it without worry of getting burnt.
Why we love it: Faro Home's parasols are double layered with contrasting prints on either side. This style comes with a stainless steel pole and an adjustable mechanism which allows you to tilt and angle the canopy for maximum shade coverage. They aren’t waterproof so should be used only for sun shade.
