Most bathrooms fail at the joins, not the tiles. The floor, walls and shower get chosen separately, grout lines don’t align, and the shower looks bolted on. The best bathroom tiles store in London will plan all three zones as one scheme. Here’s how to arrive at a bathroom tile shop in London with that plan already in hand.
Plan Wall and Floor Tiles as One Scheme
Choose a hero tile first, usually the one covering the largest area. Then adapt it zone by zone.
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Floor: 9 to 10mm porcelain with a matt or textured finish for grip. Our guide to bathroom floor tiles covers slip ratings in detail.
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Walls: free to go lighter, glossier and larger. 600 x1200mm formats keep grout lines to a minimum.
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Shower: non-porous on the walls and, on a tray-free floor, laid to a fall towards the drain.
The most cohesive bathrooms use one design across all three, changing only the format or finish. Shops offering specialist floor and bathroom tiles in London stock ranges built this way: a matt floor tile, a gloss wall tile and a matching mosaic.
Check two figures on every spec sheet before you commit. A PEI rating of 3 or above confirms the glaze can handle domestic foot traffic. Water absorption of 0.5% or less confirms the tile is true porcelain, which matters most in the shower.
Line Up the Details Before You Order
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Shared dimensions: if floor and wall tiles share a 600mm side, the joints can run unbroken from floor to ceiling.
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Rectified edges: machine-cut edges allow 2 to 3mm joints, giving a sharper finish and less grout to maintain.
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Set-out: plan the layout so cut tiles fall in corners, not across the main shower wall.
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Niche sizing: size the shower niche to whole tiles, so it needs no thin slivers.
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Trims: decide early between brushed steel, matt black or mitred edges for niches and half-height walls.
Large-format tiles need more care at installation. Your tiler should back-butter each tile for full adhesive coverage and use a levelling clip system to prevent lippage, where one tile edge sits higher than the next. Ask whether your chosen range is flat enough for a 2mm joint, because a slight bow in long tiles shows quickly in raking bathroom light.
Best Shower Tiles: Porcelain or Natural Stone?
Porcelain is the best shower tile for most homes. It absorbs almost no water, so it resists staining and mould and needs no sealing.
Natural stone gives a warmth and depth that’s hard to copy, but in a shower it needs regular sealing and gentle cleaners. Stone-effect porcelain is the practical middle ground. It gives you the look of natural stone without the upkeep.
If you choose natural stone, a honed finish suits a shower better than polished, as it grips better and shows fewer water marks. Treat it with an impregnating sealer before grouting and reseal every 12 to 18 months.
Use a large format on the shower walls. On a tray-free floor, use tiles of 100x100mm or smaller, which follow a two-way fall and add grip. If you’d prefer large tiles underfoot, fit a linear drain, so the floor slopes in one direction only.
Whatever the tile, the waterproofing sits beneath it. A tray-free shower needs a tanking membrane across the floor and at least the lower walls, with a fall of around 1:50 to the drain. The tile finishes the shower. The tanking is what keeps it watertight.
Shower Floor Tile Ideas
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Mosaic in, large format out: a 50x50mm mosaic in the shower against 600x600mm tiles elsewhere defines the zone.
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Linear drain, continuous floor: large tiles run uninterrupted to the wall.
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Textured stone effect: grips well and disguises water marks between cleans.
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Wood-effect planks: warmth without timber’s swelling risk.
Modern Tile Shower Ideas
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Floor-to-ceiling large format to add height to compact London bathrooms
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A marble-effect back wall with plain side walls, so the veining stays the focal point
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A lit recessed niche in a contrasting mosaic or deco tile
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Vertical stack bond: long tiles laid in a straight grid for a clean, architectural look
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A dark shower zone in charcoal or deep green against pale walls
What to Bring to the Best Tile Stores for Bathroom Renovation
Bring room measurements (including window reveals and boxed-in pipes), daylight photos, your sanitaryware choices, and whether you’re adding underfloor heating or a wet room floor. Then ask the shop:
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Does this range include a shower-floor format?
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Are the tiles rectified?
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Which trims suit them?
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Can I take samples home?
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Can the full order come from one batch?
Looking for a Bathroom Tile Near Me?
If you’re searching for a bathroom tile near me in North West London, visit our Stanmore showroom at Devonshire House, 582 Honeypot Lane, HA7 1JS. You’ll see specialist floor and bathroom tiles in London laid side by side, from natural stone looks to marble and deco.
Elsewhere in the UK, order free samples online, with free delivery on orders over £500.
Explore the Axar Tiles Collection
Browse our full tile collection of wall and floor tiles, including marble, stone and deco ranges, or call 0203 355 1197 to talk through your plan.
FAQ
What are the best tiles for a shower?
Porcelain. It absorbs almost no water, resists mould and needs no sealing. Use large format on the walls and small tiles or mosaics on a tray-free floor.
Is natural stone a good choice for a shower?
It can be, but it needs regular sealing and pH-neutral cleaners. Stone-effect porcelain gives a similar look with far less maintenance.
Can I use the same tile on the shower floor and walls?
Yes, if it’s floor-rated with enough grip. Many people use one design in two sizes: mosaic on the shower floor and large format on the walls.
What are rectified tiles?
Tiles with machine-cut edges that can be laid with 2 to 3mm joints. They give a sharper finish and leave less grout to clean.
Where can I find a bathroom tile near me in London?
The Axar Tiles showroom at Devonshire House, 582 Honeypot Lane, Stanmore, HA7 1JS has wall and floor tiles on display, or you can order free samples online.
