Outdoor Awnings London: The Complete Guide

A quality outdoor awning turns your garden or terrace into a genuine extension of your living space — and in London, where outdoor space commands a premium, it is one of the smartest upgrades you can make.

Manual vs Motorised Awnings

Manual awnings use a hand crank and are reliable, low-cost to install and require minimal maintenance. Motorised awnings extend and retract at the press of a button — or automatically via a wind sensor or smart home schedule. For most London homeowners, motorisation is worth the upgrade for convenience alone. We recommend motorised for any awning over 3m wide.

Awning Materials

Awning fabrics come in acrylic, polyester and solution-dyed options. We recommend solution-dyed acrylic for UK conditions — it holds colour under UV exposure, resists mould, and dries quickly after rain. Frames are powder-coated aluminium for corrosion resistance and long-term durability.

Smart Home Integration

Our motorised awnings integrate with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit and Somfy TaHoma. Wind sensors automatically retract the awning in high winds, protecting the mechanism and fabric — and saving you from having to monitor the forecast yourself.

Sizes and Coverage

Awnings are available from 2m to 6m+ in width, with projections (depth) of 1.5m to 4m. We survey your outdoor space and recommend the right coverage — maximising shade without dominating the garden or blocking natural light into the property.

Maintenance

Annual servicing keeps motors and mechanisms running smoothly and extends the life of the fabric. Forbes Blinds provides ongoing maintenance for all awning systems we install, with swift repair call-outs across London and the Home Counties.