Best Places to Enjoy Spring in London

The first signs of spring flowers in London are a welcome sight after the grey, dreary days of winter. From March, the parks and gardens around the city come to life with vibrant crocuses and daffodils, followed by blossoms, magnolia, tulips and more through May. It’s a beautiful time of year to start looking forward to warmer weather and days spent exploring the outdoors and picnicking at the parks.

I’ve put together a list of our favorite places to visit during spring in London along with some tips to help with planning a day out whether you’re local or are visiting on holiday.

Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens is a pleasure to visit year round and one of the best places to see spring flowers in London. There are over 300 acres to explore, with some highlights including the Palm House, Treetop Walkway, Princess of Wales Conservatory and the Natural Area.

Depending on when you visit during spring, there’s plenty to spot: crocuses and daffodils, magnolia trees (near the Azalea Garden), cherry blossoms (behind the Palm House, heading towards the Temperate House), bluebells (at Queen Charlotte’s cottage and the Natural Area) and beautiful flower beds along the Great Broad Walks Border.

Keep an eye out for Kew Gardens’s spring updates and map on their website. I also have a look at their Instagram account, @kewgardens for inspiration to help plan our day.

Tip: Check the “What’s On” page on Kew Gardens’s website for the latest walks, activities and exhibitions running to help plan your visit.

There are several restaurants dotted around, however, I’d recommend bringing along a picnic to enjoy anywhere as you walk around the gardens. The area around the Children’s Garden makes an excellent base for families. The Children’s Garden itself is outstanding, based in a natural setting the size of 40 tennis courts, with tall slides, a sandy area with playhouses, a water play area with a paddling pool, a treetop walkway and more. There’s also an indoor Climbers and Creepers play area, plus a cafe and ice cream parlour nearby.

The Natural Area, located near the Redwood Grove at the far end of Kew Gardens, is another fantastic spot for picnics and outdoor fun with a log trail and human-sized badger sett to explore.

Read more about our previous visits to Kew Gardens through the seasons: Spring at Kew Gardens, Wandering around Kew Gardens; Autumn Foliage at Kew Gardens

St James’s Park

Daffodils are one of the first signs of spring and usually from early March, you can start to see the spring flowers in London parks. St James’s Park receives the majority of bulbs planted by the Royal Parks, and when in bloom, its thousands of daffodils create a vibrant display of yellow.

Tip: If you’re visiting with children, there’s a playground located across the Wellington Barracks with a large sand pit, play equipment and a climbing area with a slide.

Read more about one of our springtime visits to St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace: Spring Flowers at St James’s Park

Chiswick House & Gardens

The annual Camellia Flower Show at Chiswick House features 33 different displays of camellias at its conservatory. It’s one of the oldest collections in Britain with many of the camellias descended from the original planting in 1828.

This year, the Camellia Show is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and will be running daily from 27 February to 22 March 2020 between 10am – 3pm. For more details, visit the Chiswick House & Gardens Camellia Flower Show page.

Kensington Gardens

On the Lancaster Gate side of Kensington Gardens, and near the Italian Gardens, there are is a grove of blossom trees and at least one magnolia tree which are beautiful to see when they’re in bloom. I wrote about a post about our day out in Kensington Gardens, which included a stop at one of our favorite places – the Princess Diana Memorial Playground.

You’ll also find several pink blossoming trees near the Albert Memorial on the East Albert Lawn.

Hyde Park

And across the Serpentine, close to the Knightsbridge side of Hyde Park, there’s this beautiful, tranquil spot with a magnolia tree.

Tip: Visit the LookOut Discovery Centre in Hyde Park for family and well being activities to connect with and learn more about nature, such as yoga, nature discovery days and sunset safaris.

Buckingham Palace

One of the best places to see tulips during spring in London is at Buckingham Palace, where around 28,000 tulips are planted in the Memorial Gardens each year – a riot of colour that was stunning to see when I visited last year on a sunny day in April.

Read more about one of our springtime visits to St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace: Spring Flowers at St James’s Park

Richmond Park

I found visiting the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park when its azaleas and rhododendrons are in full bloom (around late April to early May) one of the most gorgeous experiences to see spring flowers in London. The woodland garden bursts with color, these beautiful shades of pink and red.

Tip: Richmond Park typically have a minibus operating from April – October with stops at all car parks and Isabella Plantation. Have a look at the current minibus timetable here.

I use the location tag on Instagram to check the most recent photos of Isabella Plantation, since the window to see this beautiful woodland in garden in full bloom is fairly short. Also make sure to visit the Royal Parks’s website for a detailed month-by-month guide of what plants you can see at the Isabella Plantation.

Regent’s Park

Another popular spot for spring flowers is Regent’s Park, where you’ll find beautiful displays of tulips (Avenue Gardens) and cherry blossom trees (Chester Road). It’s the perfect place for a picnic, a stroll through its gardens, a visit to one of its four playgrounds or its outdoor sports area – the largest in London.

Tip: The fab Marylebone Green playground is located within Regent’s Park and features a natural trail and climbing area, tall slide and huge sandpit.

Where’s your favorite place to experience spring in London or anywhere else in the world?

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This post was updated on 1 February 2020 with the latest information and tips for the upcoming spring season.