An Edwardian conservatory, also sold as a Georgian conservatory, is a square or rectangular glazed room with a flat front and a hipped roof that slopes back towards the house on three sides. Because there are no angled facets and no rounded end, every corner of the floor is usable, which makes it the style that gives you the most living space for the area you build. It is the shape we recommend most often for dining rooms, family rooms and home offices. This page explains how to size and lay one out, what the roof means for height and light, and the details that separate a good Edwardian from a forgettable one. For all styles side by side, see our conservatories page.
Edwardian or Georgian: is there a difference?
In practice the two names describe the same room. Some suppliers say Georgian when the windows have glazing bars dividing the panes, echoing Georgian sash windows, and Edwardian when the glass is clear. The structure underneath, a square footprint under a hipped roof, is identical. You can add or leave out glazing bars to suit your house.
Why a square footprint gives you more room
Compare two rooms with the same depth and width. A Victorian conservatory cuts the front corners off to form its facets, so some of that floor goes. An Edwardian keeps those corners, which is exactly where a sideboard, a desk or the end of a corner sofa tends to go. The straight walls also mean rugs, tables and storage line up neatly, and standard-sized furniture fits without gaps.
Wide or deep?
A rectangular Edwardian can run across the back of the house or project into the garden. Running it across the house keeps the depth within permitted development limits, which are normally 3 metres for a semi or terrace and 4 metres for a detached house before prior approval is needed (Planning Portal), and gives a long room with lots of garden frontage. Projecting it gives you a squarer room that feels more like a separate space. We usually draw both and let you see how each would sit on your plot.
The hipped roof: height, light and weight
The roof rises from all three outer walls to a short ridge that meets the house. That gives more headroom across the room than a single-slope lean-to, and a fully glazed version lets in light from three directions overhead. The flip side is that the ridge needs height on the house wall, and under permitted development the extension cannot be taller than the highest part of the house roof, nor its eaves higher than the existing eaves (government technical guidance).
The hipped shape is also well suited to a solid or part-solid roof, because the load spreads evenly onto four corners. Many owners choose a tiled roof with a glazed roof lantern or glass panels in it. Changing to a solid roof normally brings the room under Building Regulations, which we explain at survey.
Gutters on three sides
A hipped roof drains to gutters on every outer wall, which means more downpipes than a lean-to. Decide early where they will run, so they land at a gully or water butt rather than across a patio.
Ways people use an Edwardian conservatory
- Dining room: a rectangular table fits along the centre with chairs on all sides. Put the doors on the long side facing the garden so you can step straight out to the patio.
- Family room or playroom: straight walls take storage units and a TV, and an aluminium frame lets you bring in wide bifold doors.
- Home office: a desk tucked into a corner gets good light without glare on the screen if you choose solar-control glass or blinds.
- Kitchen extension feel: if you plan to open the room up to the kitchen, remember the Planning Portal says a conservatory must be separated from the house by external-quality walls, doors or windows to stay exempt from Building Regulations, and any new structural opening needs approval (Planning Portal). At that point an orangery may be the better route.
Frames, glass and finishing touches
Edwardian rooms look good in white UPVC on 1930s and post-war semis, and in grey or black aluminium on newer homes. Our UPVC conservatories use the Selecta Advance 70 system, available in woodgrain finishes as a timber-look alternative, and our aluminium comes from Cortizo and Alunet. For opening windows, outward-opening casements in the style of Reynaers SL68 keep sightlines slim; ask us and we’ll confirm what can be used in your design. Glazing in doors and low-level panes must be safety glass where it falls in the critical zones, such as within 800 mm of the floor or within 1500 mm in and around doors (building control guidance, under Approved Document K).
A few details lift an Edwardian from ordinary to smart: matching the dwarf wall brick to the house, aligning the frame transoms with your existing window heights, and choosing glazing bars only if your other windows have them.
What an Edwardian conservatory costs
As a market guide, not our prices, Checkatrade’s cost guide (price table last updated June 2026) gives £10,500 to £12,000 for a 3.5 m by 3.5 m uPVC Edwardian, averaging around £11,250, between its lean-to and Victorian figures (Checkatrade). Larger rectangular rooms, solid or lantern roofs, aluminium frames, bifold or sliding doors and electrics all add to that.
Common mistakes with Edwardian designs
- Making the room square when the garden would suit a wide, shallow rectangle.
- Placing doors on the short side wall, so everyone walks through the dining area.
- Choosing clear roof glass on a south-facing room and then fitting heavy blinds.
- Forgetting sockets in the dwarf walls for lamps, chargers and a heater.
Get a free Edwardian conservatory survey
We will measure up, draw a layout with your furniture in it and talk through roof and frame options. We cover Windsor, Maidenhead, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, west Kent and north West Sussex. Ring 01753 965 005 or ask for a quote online.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an Edwardian and a Georgian conservatory?
They are essentially the same design: a square or rectangular room with a flat front and a hipped roof. Some companies use the name Georgian when the windows have glazing bars dividing the panes, and Edwardian when the glass is clear. The structure, size options and roof are the same, so choose the look that matches your house.
Which conservatory style gives the most space?
An Edwardian or Georgian conservatory gives the most usable floor area for its footprint, because it keeps all four corners square. A Victorian loses some floor to its angled facets. If you need even more space with separate zones, a P-shaped or L-shaped layout combines two sections in one room.
Can an Edwardian conservatory have a solid roof?
Yes. The hipped shape spreads the weight evenly, so it suits a tiled or part-solid roof, often with a glazed lantern or panels to keep the light. Fitting a solid roof normally means the room must meet Building Regulations for insulation and structure. We survey the base and frames and explain what approval is needed.
How big can an Edwardian conservatory be without planning permission?
Under permitted development, a single-storey rear conservatory can usually project 3 metres on a semi or terrace and 4 metres on a detached house, up to 4 metres high. Running a rectangular room across the back of the house is a good way to gain space within those limits. Check with your council in conservation areas.
Is an Edwardian conservatory good for a dining room?
It is one of the best styles for dining, because a rectangular table fits along the centre with room for chairs on every side. Put the doors on the long garden-facing wall so people step straight onto the patio, and consider solar-control glass or a solid roof to keep the room comfortable at mealtimes.