Most Common Bathroom Suppliers in the UK

Choosing Where to Buy Your Bathroom Products

Where you buy your bathroom products matters almost as much as what you buy. The same toilet, basin or shower can vary by hundreds of pounds between different suppliers, and the level of advice, delivery reliability and after-sales support differs enormously. Some suppliers excel at low prices but offer minimal guidance. Others provide expert advice and a showroom experience but charge accordingly.

This guide compares the most common bathroom suppliers in the UK, covering online retailers, trade merchants, luxury showrooms and specialist suppliers. If you are looking for information about bathroom product manufacturers and brands rather than retailers, our guide to bathroom and toilet brands covers that ground.

For a full bathroom renovation, your bathroom fitter can often source products at trade prices, potentially saving you money while ensuring compatibility between all components. Our bathroom supply and fit service handles sourcing and installation as a complete package.

Online Retailers

Online bathroom retailers offer the widest selection and often the most competitive prices. The trade-off is that you cannot see or touch products before buying, and delivery logistics for heavy, fragile sanitaryware require careful management.

Victoria Plum

Victoria Plum has established itself as one of the UK’s largest online bathroom retailers, offering an extensive catalogue spanning complete bathroom suites, shower enclosures, furniture, taps and accessories. Their website makes browsing and comparison straightforward, with detailed product specifications and customer reviews.

Strengths: Huge product range across all price points. Regular sales and promotions. Detailed online product information. Nationwide delivery. Finance options available. Their own-brand products offer decent quality at competitive prices, and they stock established brands alongside proprietary ranges.

Considerations: As a primarily online retailer, you cannot physically inspect products before purchase. Returns of large, heavy items can be complicated. Customer service experiences vary according to online reviews, with some buyers reporting smooth transactions and others citing delivery issues. Product quality on their budget ranges may not match established manufacturer brands.

Plumbworld

Plumbworld is another major online bathroom retailer, popular with DIY enthusiasts and budget-conscious renovators. Their product range covers everything from budget bathroom suites to mid-range branded products.

Strengths: Competitive pricing, particularly on complete bathroom packages. Regular clearance sales. Good range of budget and mid-range products. Straightforward ordering process.

Considerations: Product descriptions can be less detailed than specialist suppliers. Budget products may have shorter lifespans than established brand equivalents. As with all online-only retailers, you rely on images and descriptions rather than physical inspection.

Victorian Plumbing

Despite the similar name to Victoria Plum, Victorian Plumbing is a separate company and one of the fastest-growing online bathroom retailers in the UK. They offer a particularly strong range of traditional and period-style bathroom products alongside contemporary ranges.

Strengths: Excellent selection of traditional and vintage-style products that can be difficult to find elsewhere. Strong contemporary range too. Well-designed website with good product photography. Competitive pricing and frequent promotions.

Considerations: Customer reviews are mixed on delivery times and packaging quality for fragile items. Returns process can be slow for damaged goods.

Trade and Specialist Suppliers

Trade suppliers serve professional installers and contractors, but many also sell to the public. They typically stock established brands and offer knowledgeable counter staff who understand product compatibility and installation requirements.

Crosswater

Crosswater specialises in bathroom brassware, offering one of the most comprehensive ranges of taps, shower valves, shower heads and accessories available in the UK. Their products span from affordable ranges to premium designer collections.

Strengths: Outstanding brassware quality. Extensive range of finishes including chrome, brushed brass, matt black and brushed nickel. Products are widely specified by architects and interior designers. Strong trade relationships with professional installers. Our article on choosing bathroom taps features several Crosswater products.

Considerations: Primarily a brassware specialist rather than a full bathroom supplier. Premium products carry premium prices. Not available in high-street shops; purchasing is through online retailers, showrooms or trade merchants.

Bristan

Bristan has been a fixture in UK bathrooms for decades, manufacturing taps, showers and accessories that balance quality with accessibility. Their products are stocked by virtually every trade merchant and many DIY stores in the country.

Strengths: Exceptional UK availability. Strong reputation among professional fitters. Good balance of quality and affordability. Extensive range of replacement parts, which matters for long-term maintenance. The Bristan Frenzy shower mixer features in our top 10 shower mixers guide.

Considerations: Design aesthetic tends toward the functional rather than the fashionable. Premium product ranges exist but are less well-known than their standard offerings.

Manufacturer Showrooms and Direct Suppliers

Some manufacturers operate their own showrooms or sell direct, offering the most immersive product experience and expert brand-specific advice.

Roca

Spanish manufacturer Roca operates a flagship showroom in London and supplies through an extensive network of UK dealers and trade merchants. Their product range covers complete bathroom solutions: sanitaryware, baths, taps, furniture and accessories.

Strengths: Comprehensive product ecosystem where everything coordinates. Outstanding ceramic quality across all price points. The Gap and Inspira ranges are among the best-selling in the UK. Strong trade supply network with excellent parts availability. See our top 10 toilets guide where Roca features prominently.

Considerations: Flagship showroom is London-based; outside London, you experience Roca products through dealers rather than dedicated showrooms. Entry-level products are good but not the cheapest available.

Ideal Standard

Ideal Standard (including the Armitage Shanks brand) has the longest heritage of any bathroom manufacturer operating in the UK. Their products are available through trade merchants, showrooms and online retailers nationwide.

Strengths: Unmatched UK parts and support network. Products widely stocked by every major trade merchant. Range spans from budget commercial lines (Armitage Shanks) to premium residential (Concept, Connect). Professional installers are universally familiar with their products.

Considerations: Design evolution has been slower than some European competitors, though the Concept range has addressed this. Some showrooms display limited product ranges.

Porcelanosa

For luxury bathroom renovations, Porcelanosa operates dedicated showrooms across the UK, offering a curated range of tiles, sanitaryware, furniture and bathroom accessories. The showroom experience is designed to inspire and guide customers through high-end product selections.

Strengths: Stunning showroom presentations that help visualise complete bathroom schemes. Premium product quality across tiles, furniture and sanitaryware. Expert design advice available in-store. Products not easily found through other suppliers.

Considerations: Premium pricing reflects the luxury positioning. Showroom locations are limited to major cities. Not suited to budget renovation projects.

Duravit

German manufacturer Duravit targets the premium end of the UK market, with designer bathroom ceramics, furniture and wellness products. Available through specialist showrooms and select trade suppliers.

Strengths: Exceptional design quality from collaborations with renowned designers. HygieneGlaze and Rimless technology are excellent. Products that genuinely transform the look and feel of a bathroom.

Considerations: High price point across the range. Limited UK showroom presence outside London. Best suited to high-end renovation projects.

Hansgrohe

Hansgrohe (which owns both the Hansgrohe and AXOR brands) is a global leader in shower systems, taps and bathroom accessories. Their products are available through specialist bathroom showrooms, trade suppliers and selected online retailers.

Strengths: Industry-leading shower technology and engineering quality. The AXOR brand offers designer-level products. Extensive range of taps and showers in multiple finishes. Strong professional reputation. Features in our shower mixer guide and basin mixer guide.

Considerations: Premium pricing, particularly for AXOR products. Shower systems and taps are the core strength; sanitaryware (toilets, basins) is sourced from partner manufacturers.

How to Choose the Right Supplier

The best supplier depends on your project scope, budget and how much guidance you need.

For budget renovations, online retailers like Victoria Plum and Plumbworld offer the widest range at the most competitive prices. Compare prices across multiple sites and read customer reviews carefully, particularly for delivery and returns experiences.

For mid-range projects, a combination of trade supplier pricing (through your bathroom fitter) and online research gives the best results. Established brands like Roca, Ideal Standard and Bristan are available through both channels.

For premium renovations, showroom visits to Porcelanosa, Duravit or Roca are worthwhile. Seeing and touching products, and receiving expert advice, helps avoid expensive mistakes at the top end of the market.

For professional installations, your bathroom fitter likely has trade accounts with multiple suppliers and can source products at prices that are often better than retail. Our bathroom supply and fit service takes care of sourcing, delivery and installation as a seamless package.

Past Projects