Step inside the new LEKA Garden Room Village at the NSBRC in Swindon

Dreaming of a home office at the bottom of the garden, a gym you'll actually use or a quiet studio of your own? The new LEKA Garden Room Village opens at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon at 2pm on Friday 9 October, during the Autumn Show, which is free when you book ahead.

The way we use our homes has changed. Many of us now need somewhere to work that isn't the kitchen table.

Others want a home gym, a games room for the kids or simply a quiet place to escape. For a growing number of Wiltshire households, the answer is at the bottom of the garden.

This autumn, anyone weighing up a garden room can see the options for real. The new LEKA Garden Room Village officially opens at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC) in Swindon at 2pm on Friday 9 October. The grand opening is part of The National Self Build & Renovation Show, which runs on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October and is free if you book in advance (£12 on the door).

A village of ideas

The Garden Room Village brings together a range of stylish garden rooms designed for use all year round. Rather than flicking through brochures, visitors can step inside, get a feel for the space and picture how a room might work in their own garden.

Each one is packed with ideas for creating extra living space at home, whether that's a home office, a gym, a studio or a hobby room.

Built differently

LEKA Systems is best known for its patented tiled conservatory roof, launched in 2015. The company has since completed more than 10,000 installations across the UK and works with a network of over 300 trained installers.

Its LEKA Xi garden rooms use the same thinking. They are fully composite, built around a GRP (glass reinforced plastic) frame with no timber or metal. That means no rot, no rust and fewer worries about condensation.

Insulation runs through the roof, walls and base, so the rooms stay comfortable in winter as well as summer. 
Installation is quick and tidy. Most projects take two to four days, and ground screws can replace traditional concrete foundations. The structural components carry a 40-year warranty.

There's plenty of choice on looks, too. Wood-effect cladding comes in finishes including oak, walnut, cedar and grey oak, with options for canopies and decking.

Why visit the show

The NSBRC is the UK's home of self-build and renovation, with a permanent exhibition of suppliers at Lydiard Fields, just off the M4. For the Autumn Show, more than 200 exhibitors join in, along with over 25 talks across both days from 10am. There are masterclasses, live demonstrations, guided tours of life-size exhibits and free one-to-one expert advice. Architects, designers, planners and project managers will all be in the Professional Services Hub. TV presenter Georgina Burnett, aka The Home Genie, is the special guest, and parking is free.

For anyone thinking about a garden room, it's a rare chance to compare finishes, ask practical questions about groundworks and planning, and leave with a much clearer idea of what's possible.

The LEKA Garden Room Village will stay on display in the NSBRC's Piazza & Outdoor Living Zone after the show, so you can visit any time the centre is open.

You can book tickets to the Autumn Show here.