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England · Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces

Patios and paving in London

Typical time on site: 3–7 days on site. Guide price in London: £3,200–£7,200 including VAT.

Light grey porcelain patio outside French doors

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A patio is a paved outdoor area next to the house or in the garden, laid in porcelain, natural stone or concrete slabs on a compacted sub-base and mortar bed, with falls that direct rainwater away from the house.

From Brent, Islington, Westminster and Bexley to the quieter corners of London, homeowners can book a free survey for a new patio. We look at the building, agree the scope, then send a quote in writing that fixes the cost of that scope. Work follows the rules for England, and our published range for London, £3,200–£7,200 with VAT, gives you a sense of budget before we visit.

Guide price
£3,200–£7,200 inc VAT
Time on site
3–7 days on site
Planning rules
England
Price level
About 30% above the national guide
Towns listed
90
Survey
Free, with a written quote

Patios and paving prices in London

Budgeting for a new patio in London? The numbers below include VAT and are adjusted for London, where costs are about 30% above the national guide. The headline range is £3,200–£7,200. Nothing is final until we have measured up at a free survey and agreed the specification with you.

Type of jobWhat it usually involvesGuide in London
Small patio or pathAround 10m² of concrete slabs or a garden path.£1,300–£3,200
Typical 20m² patioSandstone or porcelain on a full sub-base with jointing and edging.£3,200–£7,200
Large or multi-level patioBigger areas, steps, retaining walls or premium stone.£7,200–£15,500

Your price depends mostly on:

  • Slab material, size and laying pattern
  • Ground levels, slopes, steps and retaining walls
  • Drainage needed to keep water away from the house
  • Access for materials and removing spoil

Scope of the work

  • Survey of levels, damp-proof course, drainage and access
  • Excavation and removal of turf, soil or old paving
  • Compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base
  • Primer on porcelain slabs for a strong bond
  • Edging and neat cuts around drains and walls
  • Site cleared, waste removed and paving cleaned
PorcelainHard-wearing, stain-resistant slabs that stay looking clean and need little upkeep.
Indian sandstoneNatural stone with varied colours and a riven or sawn finish.
Concrete slabsA lower-cost, practical option in a range of colours and textures.
Steps and raised patiosMulti-level patios with steps and retaining walls for sloping gardens.

Housing across London

London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often in yellow London stock brick, with Georgian terraces in central districts and mansion blocks across many inner areas. Outer boroughs have large belts of interwar semis, and there are extensive post-war council estates. Many houses have been split into flats, and conservation areas are widespread.

Terraces suit side-return extensions and rear dormer loft conversions; interwar semis commonly take hip-to-gable lofts. Shared party walls, restricted parking and conservation rules often shape the plans and the programme.

London Clay shrinks and swells with the seasons, and street trees close to houses can contribute to movement, which affects foundation design.

Planning and building rules in London

Which rules apply depends on where you live. For London, the answer is England, and the points below reflect that; we verify them with the council before quoting.

A ground-level patio in a back garden does not usually need planning permission in England. Raised decks or platforms more than 30 cm high do.

Building Regulations do not normally apply to patios, but levels must stay below the damp-proof course and drain away from the house.

Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.

How does the job run?

  1. Free site survey

    We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a new patio, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.

  2. Your fixed price

    After the survey we send a quote for a new patio that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.

  3. Booking the work

    Preparation matters as much as the build. We agree access, parking and working hours with you, order materials in good time, and confirm any permissions so the job isn't held up once it starts.

  4. On site to finish

    The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.

How we work

Guide prices shown upfrontYou can see typical price ranges, including VAT, before you contact us, so you can judge whether a project fits your budget.
Tidy, protected work areasFloors, furniture and access routes are covered and protected while we work, and the site is tidied at the end of every working day.
Changes agreed in writingIf something needs to change once work is under way, we explain why and confirm the cost or saving in writing before carrying on.
Plain-English adviceWe explain options, materials and trade-offs without jargon, so you can make decisions about your home with a clear picture of what each choice means.

Frequently asked questions

Is the price fixed?

Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.

How much does a new patio cost?

A typical 20m² patio in sandstone or porcelain costs £3,200–£7,200, including excavation, sub-base, laying and jointing. As a guide, allow roughly £100–£220 per square metre plus fixed costs for set-up and waste. Concrete slabs cost less, while slate, granite and large-format porcelain cost more. Steps, walls and drainage add to the total. We confirm a fixed price after the survey.

What happens if my garden slopes?

A sloping garden can still have a level patio by cutting into the slope, building up with retaining walls, or creating terraces with steps between them. Retaining walls must be built to hold back the soil and allow drainage behind them. This adds cost but creates usable, level space. We look at the slope during the survey and suggest the most practical design.

Do you cover Brent, Islington and Westminster?

Yes. As well as London, we cover Brent, Islington and Westminster and the rest of London. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.

How do you make sure water drains away from the house?

A patio needs a gentle fall, usually a little over 1 in 80, so rainwater runs away from the house towards the garden, a drain or a soakaway. The surface should also sit well below the damp-proof course. If the patio meets a door threshold, a channel drain may be needed. We set levels with string lines and check falls as we lay each section.

Towns in London

Below is our list of London towns for a new patio. If yours isn't shown, we may still cover it, so it is worth asking us directly.

Ready for a written price?

Get a written quote for a new patio at your London home. The survey costs nothing, and there's no obligation to go ahead once you have seen our figure.

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