Best Plumbing Fixtures & Fittings Guide
Taps, Showers, Toilets, Basins, Baths, Kitchen Sinks, Radiators & Cylinders - Will's Professional Picks
Welcome to Part 2 of our Best Plumbing Kit series. This is the guide I wish every homeowner would read before choosing bathroom and kitchen fixtures. These are the visible parts of your plumbing system - the taps you touch every day, the shower you stand under each morning, the toilet your family uses a dozen times daily. Get these right and your home feels quality. Get them wrong and you'll be cursing that dripping tap at 3am.
After fitting thousands of fixtures across Andover, Marlborough, Hungerford, and surrounding villages, I've developed strong opinions on which brands deliver and which are all marketing. This guide gives you my honest professional recommendations with real-world pricing, so you can make informed decisions whether you're renovating a bathroom, refitting a kitchen, or replacing a single radiator.
Best Plumbing Kit Series
1. Bathroom Taps
The fixtures you touch most often
Taps take more abuse than any other fixture in your bathroom. They're opened and closed thousands of times per year, exposed to Hampshire's notoriously hard water, and they set the visual tone for your entire bathroom. Here are the three tiers I recommend to every customer:
Bristan ~£50-£150 per pair
Bristan is the workhorse of British bathrooms. They're not flashy, but they're reliable. Five-year guarantee as standard, massive range of styles from traditional to contemporary, and crucially - parts are available everywhere. When a Bristan cartridge fails in 8 years, I can get a replacement the same day from any plumbing merchant in Andover or Marlborough.
Will's Pick: Bristan 1901 range for traditional bathrooms, Bristan Hourglass for modern. Both are proven performers with great valve mechanisms that handle hard water well.
Grohe ~£100-£300 per pair
German engineering at its finest. Grohe taps have a weight and precision that you notice immediately - the lever action is smooth, the chrome finish is flawless, and their SilkMove cartridges genuinely last longer than most competitors. This is what I fit in my own home and what I recommend to most of my customers across Hungerford, Pewsey, and Tidworth.
Will's Pick: Grohe Eurosmart for everyday bathrooms. Incredible value at around £120-150, with the same SilkMove cartridge technology as their premium range. This is my default recommendation.
Crosswater ~£200-£500+ per pair
When a customer tells me they want brushed brass, matt black, or brushed nickel taps, Crosswater is where I look first. This British-designed brand offers architect-grade finishes that genuinely transform a bathroom from nice to stunning. Their MPRO range in brushed brass is the most requested premium tap across our Marlborough and Stockbridge projects.
Will's Pick: Crosswater MPRO for luxury bathroom renovations. The brushed brass finish is absolutely gorgeous and holds up beautifully even in Hampshire's hard water - though I always recommend fitting an inline scale reducer upstream to protect the finish.
| Brand | Price Range | Guarantee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristan | £50-£150 | 5 years | Budget-conscious, rentals, reliable everyday use |
| Grohe | £100-£300 | 5 years | Most homes, best value-to-quality ratio |
| Crosswater | £200-£500+ | Lifetime (cartridges) | Luxury renovations, architect projects, designer finishes |
What to Avoid: Unbranded taps from Amazon and eBay. They look identical to branded options in photos but use inferior materials that corrode fast in hard water areas like ours. When the cartridge fails in 18 months, you won't find a replacement - you'll replace the entire tap. I see this constantly across homes in Andover and Ludgershall.
2. Showers
Where most homeowners notice quality (or lack of it)
Showers are where the plumbing system truly reveals itself. A great shower needs the right combination of water pressure, temperature control, and spray quality. The brand you choose should match your system type - there's no point spending £1,200 on a digital shower if your combi boiler already limits flow rate. Here's my honest breakdown:
Mira ~£150-£500
Mira dominates the UK shower market for good reason. They're made in Cheltenham, they carry the biggest parts catalogue in the country, and their electric shower range is genuinely unmatched. When a shower element fails on a Mira electric in a cottage outside Great Bedwyn, I can source parts the same day. Try doing that with a random Chinese brand from Amazon.
Will's Pick: Mira Evoco for thermostatic mixer showers (~£300-450) - gorgeous design with EcoFlow water saving. Mira Sport Max with Airboost for electric showers (~£200-350) - the best electric shower on the market, bar none.
Aqualisa ~£400-£1,500
Aqualisa pioneered digital showers in the UK, and their Quartz range genuinely transformed how premium showers work. The processor sits remotely (in a loft, airing cupboard, or under the bath), meaning you can install the shower unit anywhere without worrying about pipe access. The temperature control is precise to within half a degree, and the remote start feature means you can warm up the shower from your bedroom.
Will's Pick: Aqualisa Quartz for digital control (~£600-900). If you have an unvented cylinder system, this transforms your shower experience. The push-button start and precise temperature are genuinely luxury features that justify the price. I've installed these across properties in Marlborough (SN8) and Stockbridge (SO20) and the feedback is always the same - "Why didn't we do this years ago?"
| Brand | Price Range | Best Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mira | £150-£500 | Electric & mixer | All system types, unbeatable parts supply |
| Aqualisa | £400-£1,500 | Digital & smart | Unvented systems, luxury renovations, multi-outlet |
3. Toilets
Used 2,500+ times per year - choose wisely
A toilet needs to flush reliably, use water efficiently, and be easy to clean. The shift to rimless designs has been the biggest improvement in the last decade - no hidden rim means no hidden bacteria. Here are the brands I trust:
Ideal Standard ~£150-£400
Ideal Standard has been the backbone of British bathrooms for decades. Parts are available absolutely everywhere - every plumbing merchant from Andover to Hungerford carries their flush valves, seats, and cistern components. Their newer i.life range brings modern rimless design at a sensible price point, and the build quality is consistently good.
Will's Pick: Ideal Standard i.life B rimless close-coupled (~£250-350). Brilliant everyday toilet with no hidden cleaning areas. This is what I recommend for 80% of bathroom refurbishments across the SP10, SP11, and SN8 postcodes.
Villeroy & Boch ~£400-£1,200
When a customer wants the best, Villeroy & Boch is the conversation. Founded in 1748, this German-Luxembourg manufacturer produces toilets with a quality of ceramic you can feel the moment you touch it. Their DirectFlush rimless technology is the most efficient flush system I've worked with, and the CeramicPlus coating genuinely repels dirt and limescale - a genuine advantage in our hard water area.
Will's Pick: Villeroy & Boch Subway 3.0 wall-hung (~£500-800 with frame). Stunning minimalist design, the CeramicPlus coating means it stays cleaner longer, and the wall-hung installation makes floor cleaning effortless. Worth every penny for a premium bathroom.
4. Basins
The centrepiece of every bathroom
Basin choice is about balancing style with practicality. A gorgeous vessel basin looks incredible but splashes water everywhere if it's too shallow. A pedestal basin is classic but wastes storage space underneath. Here's my tier breakdown:
Ideal Standard
~£60-£150
Reliable, huge range of sizes, excellent parts availability. The Tempo and i.life ranges cover every bathroom layout. Perfect for rental properties and family bathrooms.
Best for: Family bathrooms, rentals, value renovations
Duravit
~£150-£400
German-designed with Philippe Starck collaborations. The ceramic quality is noticeably better than budget options - smoother glaze, sharper edges, more refined shapes. WonderGliss coating option.
Best for: Quality home renovations, en-suites, modern designs
Villeroy & Boch / Crosswater
~£300-£800
Statement basins that define a bathroom. V&B's Artis countertop basins and Crosswater's range of designer wall-hung basins with integrated waste covers. Premium ceramic with anti-limescale coatings.
Best for: Luxury renovations, architect projects, statement bathrooms
5. Baths
From steel workhorses to freestanding statement pieces
Bath selection depends heavily on your bathroom size, floor structure, and how you actually use the bath. A family with young kids has completely different needs from a couple wanting a luxurious soak. Here's the reality:
Standard Steel Bath ~£100-£250
Pressed steel baths are incredibly durable - they'll outlast most acrylic options. They feel solid, retain heat reasonably well, and the enamel surface is highly scratch-resistant. The downside is they're cold to the touch initially and heavier than acrylic, so installation takes a bit longer.
Best for: Family bathrooms, rental properties, where durability matters most.
Ideal Standard Acrylic ~£200-£500
Acrylic baths are warm to the touch, lightweight (makes installation easier in upstairs bathrooms with access constraints), and available in every shape imaginable. Ideal Standard's concept range offers reinforced bases and decent acrylic thickness. Look for 5mm+ acrylic with fiberglass reinforcement - avoid thin 3mm acrylic that flexes underfoot.
Best for: Most bathroom renovations, lighter weight for upper floors, good all-rounder.
Clearwater Freestanding ~£800-£2,500
Clearwater is a British brand that specialises in freestanding baths made from natural stone resin composite. The material retains heat far longer than acrylic, the surface is silky smooth, and the weight gives a sense of permanence and luxury that acrylic simply cannot match. These are statement pieces that become the focal point of any bathroom. I've installed several across larger properties in Marlborough and Stockbridge and they always draw a "wow" reaction.
Will's Pick: Clearwater Formoso for the ultimate freestanding statement (~£1,200-1,800). The organic egg shape is beautiful from every angle, and the stone resin composite keeps bath water warm for much longer than acrylic. Check your floor joists first though - filled with water and a person, these weigh 350kg+.
6. Kitchen Sinks
The hardest-working fixture in your home
Kitchen sinks deal with boiling water, frozen food, heavy pans, and chemical cleaning agents - all day, every day. Material choice here genuinely matters for longevity. Two brands dominate the quality end of the market:
~£150-£500
Swiss quality through and through. Franke offers both stainless steel and Fragranite composite options. Their stainless steel sinks use thicker gauge steel than budget alternatives, meaning less flexing and better sound dampening. The Fragranite composite range comes in gorgeous colours that complement modern kitchens.
Will's Pick: Franke Kubus undermount in stainless steel. Clean lines, massive bowl depth, superb build quality.
~£150-£600
German-engineered with their proprietary Silgranit composite material. Silgranit is 80% natural granite and is genuinely remarkable - it's scratch-resistant, heat-resistant to 280°C, and repels dirt at a microscopic level. Available in a range of natural colours that look stunning in modern kitchens.
Will's Pick: Blanco Subline undermount in Silgranit. The material is incredible - I fitted one for a customer in Pewsey (SN9) three years ago and it still looks brand new.
Hampshire Hard Water Note: Stainless steel sinks show water marks more in hard water areas. If low maintenance matters, a composite sink in a darker colour (anthracite or dark grey) will look better with less effort. Alternatively, a water softener upstream of the kitchen eliminates the issue entirely - see our water filter comparison guide for options.
7. Kitchen Taps
Where function meets daily convenience
Kitchen taps work harder than bathroom taps - you're filling pots, washing veg, rinsing dishes, and cleaning worktops multiple times daily. A pull-out spray function is genuinely useful, not a gimmick. The brand hierarchy mirrors bathroom taps but with a few kitchen-specific additions:
| Brand | Price Range | Key Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristan | £60-£180 | Reliable, great parts supply | Budget kitchens, rentals |
| Grohe | £120-£400 | SilkMove, pull-out spray tech | Most kitchens, best all-rounder |
| Franke | £150-£500 | Designed to match Franke sinks | Coordinated kitchen design |
| Quooker | £900-£1,500 | Instant boiling water | Premium kitchens, convenience |
Will's Pick: Grohe Minta with pull-out spray (~£180-250). The pull-out spray head has a proper locking mechanism (unlike cheaper brands where it retracts on its own), the swivel range is 360°, and the SilkMove cartridge handles the daily abuse of kitchen life brilliantly. This is genuinely the best value kitchen tap on the market.
A note on Quooker and boiling water taps: These are brilliant products but they're complex installations requiring power supply, filtered water connection, and space under the sink for the tank. Budget £150-250 for professional installation on top of the unit cost. I install several of these monthly across Andover (SP10) and Marlborough (SN8) and homeowners consistently rate them as one of the best kitchen upgrades.
8. Radiators & Heated Towel Rails
Where heating performance meets home design
Radiators have come a long way from the ugly beige panel convectors of the 1990s. Modern options range from super-efficient compact panels to designer vertical columns that double as artwork. The key is matching BTU output to room size while choosing a style that complements your interior.
Stelrad ~£80-£250 each
Stelrad manufactures more radiators in the UK than anyone else, producing over two million units annually at their Mexborough factory. Their Compact range is the industry standard for a reason - high BTU output relative to size, consistent quality, and pricing that makes upgrading your entire home's radiators affordable. Every plumbing merchant in Hampshire stocks them.
Will's Pick: Stelrad Compact K2 for bedrooms and living rooms. The double-panel double-convector design delivers excellent BTU output from a compact footprint. For a standard bedroom, a 600x1000mm K2 typically costs around £120-150 and provides plenty of heat. These are the radiators I fit most often across Andover, Tidworth (SP9), and Pewsey (SN9).
Milano / Reina ~£200-£800
When standard panel radiators won't do, Milano and Reina offer stunning designer options. Vertical column radiators, flat panel designs, and bold anthracite finishes that transform a room from functional to fashionable. These work particularly well in hallways and living rooms where the radiator is visible and contributes to the room's aesthetic.
Heated Towel Rails
A heated towel rail is one of those upgrades that costs relatively little but makes a big daily difference. Warm, dry towels after every shower - once you have it, you'll wonder how you lived without it. The key is choosing one with enough BTU output to actually warm the bathroom, not just the towels.
Will's Pick: Reina Diva chrome towel rail (~£100-£200 depending on size). Available from 800mm to 1800mm tall, chrome finish that looks great in any bathroom, and the wider bar spacing actually holds towels properly. For a standard bathroom, the 1200x500mm model provides around 1,500 BTU - enough to take the chill off a small bathroom while warming your towels.
| Type | Brand | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Panel | Stelrad | £80-£250 | Bedrooms, living rooms, max BTU/pound |
| Designer Vertical | Milano / Reina | £200-£800 | Hallways, living rooms, visual statement |
| Heated Towel Rail | Reina Diva | £100-£200 | Bathrooms, en-suites, cloakrooms |
| Cast Iron Column | Various | £300-£1,200 | Period properties, heritage renovations |
9. Hot Water Cylinders
The engine behind your shower pressure and hot water supply
If your home has an unvented hot water system (which I recommend over combi boilers for any house with more than one bathroom), the cylinder is arguably the most important fixture in your entire plumbing system. It determines your water pressure, your hot water recovery rate, and how many showers you can run before the hot water runs out. There are really only two options worth considering:
Megaflo Eco
~£600-£900 (unit only)
The Megaflo Eco is the most fitted unvented cylinder in the UK. Every plumber knows how to install and service it, every merchant carries the parts, and the build quality is proven over millions of installations. The Eco range added improved insulation (reducing heat loss to less than 1.5kWh per day) and a stainless steel tank that resists corrosion.
Mixergy
~£1,200-£2,000 (unit only)
Mixergy is the Tesla of hot water cylinders. It heats from the top down (instead of from the bottom up like traditional cylinders), meaning you get usable hot water in minutes rather than waiting for the whole tank to heat. The app control learns your usage patterns, integrates with smart tariffs, and can work with solar panels to maximise renewable energy use.
Will's Honest Take: Megaflo Eco for 95% of installations. It's proven, it's reliable, and when something does eventually need replacing (usually the temperature/pressure relief valve after 10-12 years), I can source parts within the hour from any merchant in Andover or Hungerford. Mixergy is brilliant for tech enthusiasts, especially those with solar panels who want to maximise self-consumption - but it's twice the price and the smart features add complexity that most homeowners don't actually need.
Will's Golden Rules for Choosing Fixtures
Parts Availability Trumps Everything
The fanciest tap in the world is worthless if I can't get a replacement cartridge when it fails. Stick to established brands (Bristan, Grohe, Mira, Ideal Standard) where parts are a phone call away from any Hampshire merchant. You'll thank me in 5 years.
Respect Hampshire's Hard Water
Our water is seriously hard - 300+ mg/L calcium carbonate in most of the SN8, SP10, and RG17 postcodes. This affects every fixture decision. Budget taps fail faster, shower heads clog quicker, and limescale builds up everywhere. Invest in quality fixtures and consider water treatment upstream.
Match Fixtures to Your System
An Aqualisa digital shower is wasted on a combi boiler that maxes out at 12 litres per minute. A powerful shower pump is pointless with a mains-pressure system. Understand your system type first, then choose fixtures that work with it - not against it.
Don't Mix Brands Randomly
Chrome from Grohe looks different from chrome from Bristan. Matt black from Crosswater won't match matt black from a random Amazon brand. Choose one brand family per room for colour consistency. Your bathroom will look intentionally designed rather than thrown together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tap brand do plumbers recommend?
Most professional plumbers recommend Grohe for the best balance of quality, durability, and value. For budget-conscious projects, Bristan is the go-to with excellent parts availability. For luxury or architect-led projects, Crosswater offers stunning finishes and lifetime guarantees. Avoid unbranded imports - parts availability will be zero when something fails.
Are expensive showers worth it?
It depends on your system type. If you have a combi boiler, a mid-range Mira mixer (around £200-400) is perfect - spending more won't improve water pressure. If you have an unvented cylinder, a digital Aqualisa (£500-1,500) genuinely transforms the showering experience with precise temperature control and multi-outlet capability. The technology justifies the price.
Wall-hung or close-coupled toilet - which is better?
Wall-hung toilets look stunning and make floor cleaning effortless, but they cost more to install (£200-400 extra for the concealed frame) and are harder to maintain if the cistern mechanism fails. Close-coupled toilets are more practical for most homes - cheaper to install, easier to repair, and modern rimless designs like the Ideal Standard i.life B look great. Wall-hung is best for modern bathroom renovations where you're re-doing everything.
Is a freestanding bath practical?
Freestanding baths are a gorgeous statement piece, but consider the practicalities. You need a bathroom large enough (minimum 2.5m x 2m clear space around the bath), strong floor joists to support the weight when full (a stone resin bath with water and a person can exceed 400kg), and separate shower facilities since most freestanding baths aren't practical for daily showering. If you have the space and a separate shower, a Clearwater freestanding is magnificent.
What kitchen sink material is best?
Stainless steel remains the most practical and durable option for most kitchens - it's hygienic, heat-resistant, and virtually indestructible. Granite composite sinks (like Blanco Silgranit or Franke Fragranite) look beautiful and resist scratches, but they can stain with certain foods and aren't as heat-resistant as stainless steel. For Hampshire's hard water, stainless steel shows water marks more easily, so a composite sink may actually look better long-term with less maintenance.
How do I choose the right radiator size?
Radiator sizing is based on BTU (British Thermal Units) output, which depends on room dimensions, insulation level, number of windows, and floor type. A typical bedroom (3m x 4m) needs roughly 3,000-4,000 BTU, while a living room (5m x 4m) needs 5,000-7,000 BTU. Always get a professional heat loss calculation rather than guessing - an undersized radiator won't heat the room, and an oversized one wastes energy. We provide free heat loss calculations with all radiator installations.
Should I buy fixtures myself or let the plumber supply?
This is one of our most common questions. If you buy yourself, you may save 10-20% on the product cost, but you lose the plumber's trade warranty (we can often get extended warranties through our suppliers), and if the product is faulty or damaged, sorting returns becomes your responsibility while the plumber waits. We recommend letting your plumber supply key items (taps, valves, cylinders) where warranty matters, and you supply decorative items (basins, baths, tiles) where personal taste is the priority.
Do expensive taps really last longer?
Yes, significantly. Budget taps (under £50) often use cheap ceramic disc cartridges that fail within 2-3 years. Mid-range brands like Grohe use higher-quality cartridges with 200,000+ open/close cycle ratings. Premium brands like Crosswater offer lifetime guarantees on their cartridges. In Hampshire's hard water area, this difference is amplified - limescale destroys cheap cartridges much faster. Spending £100-200 on a tap that lasts 15+ years is far better value than replacing a £30 tap every 2-3 years.
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Professional fixture installation across Andover, Marlborough, Hungerford & surrounding villages. All brands supplied and fitted with a 12-month workmanship guarantee.
Trade Pricing
We supply brands at trade prices - often cheaper than retail
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All installation work fully guaranteed for 12 months
Honest Advice
We recommend what's right for your home, not what's most expensive
Continue the Series & Related Guides
Best Plumbing Kit: Complete Overview
The big picture guide to everything your home needs - from pipes to fixtures to heating systems.
Hidden Infrastructure Guide
Pipes, valves, fittings & everything behind the walls that makes your plumbing system work.
Water Filter Comparison Guide
Complete comparison of water filtration systems for Hampshire's hard water - protect your new fixtures.