The Lutyens bench: a classic garden bench explained
Few garden benches are as easy to recognise as the Lutyens bench. That sweeping, arched back and those generous curved arms have become a shorthand for the classic English garden. Here's where the design comes from, what to look for, and the details of our own teak Lutyens garden bench.
Who was Lutyens?
Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869–1944) was one of the best-known English architects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He designed country houses across England, and later some of the country's most significant public works, including the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London. He is also closely associated with the garden designer Gertrude Jekyll. Together they created many celebrated gardens, with Lutyens designing the houses and the built structure of the garden and Jekyll the planting.
Lutyens designed furniture as well as buildings, and his garden bench is the piece most people know today. The original, properly called the Thakeham bench, was designed around 1902 for the garden of Little Thakeham, a house Lutyens designed near Storrington in West Sussex. Since then, the design has been made and adapted by many makers, so "Lutyens bench" now describes a style rather than a single maker.
What makes a Lutyens bench a Lutyens bench?
The style is recognisable from across a lawn:
- The arched back. The top rail rises in a gentle curve towards the centre, with stepped or shaped sections at each side.
- The curved, rolled arms. The arms sweep outwards and down, which gives the bench its broad, welcoming look.
- A long, generous seat. Lutyens benches are usually made as two or three seaters. They work as a focal point rather than a bench tucked out of sight.
Because the shape is so architectural, a Lutyens bench suits all sorts of spots: on a patio, at the end of a lawn, against a hedge, or as the place you walk towards along a path.
Our teak Lutyens garden bench
Our Lutyens bench follows the classic design in solid sustainable plantation teak.
- Size: 168cm wide, 104cm high and 62cm deep
- Seats: 3
- Construction: mortise and tenon joints, glued and dowelled for strength
- Finish: finely sanded
- Price: £379
At 168cm, it's a full-size three seater. Before you order, it's worth marking out 168cm x 62cm where you'd like it to go, so you can see how it sits in the space.
Why teak suits an outdoor bench
Teak suits outdoor furniture in the UK and can stay outside year-round. Left untreated, it weathers to a soft silver-grey, which many people love on a Lutyens bench because it softens into the garden. If you prefer the original honey colour, it can be cleaned and oiled. Our Teak Care & Oiling Guide explains how, and our winter storage tips cover the colder months.
Adding a cushion
A bench you'll sit on for a long morning coffee is even better with a cushion. Our green Bench Cushion (£59) fits the Lutyens bench. It's shower proof and washable, so it copes with typical British weather, and you can take it in when it isn't being used.
Complete the set with a coffee table
The Lutyens Coffee Table (£249) is based on the same Lutyens design. It's 130cm long, 50cm wide and 45cm high, with a double tier, so there's space for drinks on top and a book or two underneath. It's made from SVLK certified plantation teak with mortise and tenon joints.
Together, the bench and coffee table come to £628. That's over the £595 threshold for free local delivery within about 40 miles of our Copthorne depot in West Sussex. Elsewhere in England and Wales, courier delivery for the bench costs £89. See how our delivery works for the full details.
Is a Lutyens bench right for your garden?
If you want a bench that becomes a feature rather than background, the Lutyens style is hard to beat. It's a design that's been around for more than a century and still looks right in gardens big and small, modern and traditional.
Have a question about the size or where it would sit best? Message us. You can also browse our full garden benches collection.