THERE’S a heatwave coming and we’re finally allowed to meet friends and family in the garden.
Temperatures are set to soar to 24C next week, meaning we’ll enjoy weather more typically seen in Southern Spain and France.
Even better, from tomorrow either up to six people or two households of any size can gather outside – including in private gardens.
If you’re looking to make sure you’ve got some shade, now is the moment to invest in a parasol or gazebo.
To make life easier we’ve rounded up the five cheapest of each that we can find online.
Before you spend any cash, remember to always do a check to see if you can get a better price at another shop.
Google’s price comparison tool, Google Shopping, is free and easy to use.
Also make sure you factor in delivery costs to your calculations as these can significantly increase the amount you pay. Remember that delivery times may be longer due to the pandemic.
The five cheapest gazebos
Eurohike Gazebo
The cheapest Gazebo we could find online costs £22 from either Blacks or Go Outdoors. It measures 3m x 3m and says it will shelter you from the sun and rain.
The recommended retail price is £44 so both websites are selling it at a heavily discounted price.
But be warned, one reviewer said that in heavy rain the water collected and damaged the poles, so you may want to bring it in in poor weather.
At Blacks, UK standard delivery takes 3-5 days and costs £5.99. But if you go for Go Outdoors standard delivery takes the same time and costs just £3.95.
RosemaryRose Pop Up Gazebo Party Tent
This gazebo from Amazon is made of waterproof fabric with a bottom oxford cloth, so there’s no need to worry about getting wet on rainy days.
The retailer says it is easy to install with a tie rope on the side of the cloth that is tied to the tent bracket to complete the installation.
It can be used for camping, home gardens, balconies and for windproofing and sun shading.
It measures 3m x 3m.
Easy Build Party Gazebo
This gazebo was the next cheapest we could find online at just £24.99 reduced from £60.
It measures at 2.4m x 2.4m and comes with securing ropes and a roof panel so you can enjoy the sunshine or cooler months of the year.
This deal will only be available on Wowcher until March 31, so you might want to move quickly.
Argos Home Garden Gazebo – Green
Argos’ gazebo is decently sized for its price, measuring 2.7m x 2.7m.
Argos says it’s easy to assemble and showerproof, but that you shouldn’t erect it in windy conditions.
It’s one of the most highly rated affordable options, reviewers give it four out of five stars.
vidaXL Party Tent
While this gazebo is slightly more expensive at £34.99, it comes with free delivery which makes the price more reasonable.
The party tent is made of UV- and water-resistant polyethylene material and is therefore very practical for outdoor use.
The frame is manufactured from rust-resistant steel, making the outdoor canopy stable and durable.
The manufacturer warns that this product should never be used under bad weather, such as strong wind, heavy rain, snow, storm, etc.
How to compare prices to get the best deal
JUST because something is on offer, or is part of a sale, it doesn’t mean it’s always a good deal.
There are plenty of comparison websites out there that’ll check prices for you – so don’t be left paying more than you have to.
Most of them work by comparing the prices across hundreds of retailers.
Here are some that we recommend:
- Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results.
- Price Spy logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and the supermarkets. Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock.
- Idealo is another website that lets you compare prices between retailers. All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one.
- CamelCamelCamel only works on goods being sold on Amazon. To use it, type in the URL of the product you want to check the price of.
The five cheapest parasols
Parasol
Premier Camping and Outdoor were selling the cheapest parasol we could find at just £7.95.
Available in six different colours, the hinged parasol offers valuable protection from the sun’s rays.
Standard delivery costs £4.95 and takes 3-5 days.
Multi Coloured Parasol With UV Protection
- Price: £10 – buy now
This Nalu UV protected parasol is perfect for adding some extra protection for when you are on the beach or in the garden, sheltering you from the wind.
Delivery is £2.99 and takes three to five working days or you can get next day delivery for £4.99.
KandyToys Wiltonbradly 1.6m Adjustable Beach Multi coloured Parasol
This beach parasol is made of UV protective fabric to help keep your skin safe, as well as making the fabric more durable.
It comes with a PVC carry bag, making storing and transporting super simple.
The tilting, adjustable pole, means you get shade and protection from the sun no matter the time of day.
PRIMA Garden Parasol – Black
This Parasol costs just £12.99 and measures up 193cm tall and 150cm in diameter.
It packs down small into two pieces, so it’s easy to store and transport.
Sun Shade Parasol Umbrella Cover
- Price: £12.99 – buy now
This parasol is specifically designed to remain durable through all weather conditions.
It includes an adjustable drawstring to secure cover at all times.
It measures 265cm x 50cm x 70cm x 40cm and postage and packaging costs £6.99.
Here’s our roundup of cheap patio garden furniture for under £100.
In other garden news, we’ve rounded up the cheapest outdoor pizza ovens with prices starting from £40.
Plus, you may also want to check out our guide of the cheapest BBQs.