I know what you’re thinking – ‘Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.’ But honestly, when Springtime arrives in London, and the city is suffused with colour and blooms, it’s hard not to fall in love. Now that the days are getting longer – and we’re even getting some moderately warm and sunny days – we’re dreaming of gorgeous blue skies and a walk amongst the flowers. So, we’ve put together a handy flower guide with London’s best blooms in one beautiful bouquet of an article. Get inspired, and then head to your local florist to grab some to take home – buy enough, and we may add your collection of floral-filled vases to our list! These blooms are sure to brighten up your day!
Spectacular Snowdrops
These delightful, clustered blooms are among the first to poke their (drooping) heads up when the new year rolls around, and they always inspire plenty of cheer. You’ll typically find them in the last few weeks of winter, and they often indicate a turn towards Spring-ish weather.
When: Snowdrops, despite looking rather frail, are a pretty hardy bloom, and can be found between January and March. They’re always a welcome sign of Spring’s impending arrival.
Where: Arguably the most popular spot to spot these is at the Chelsea Physic Garden, which hosts an annual snowdrop festival where visitors can find a whole host of snowdrop varieties growing in the gardens and pots. It’s a wonderful sight when hundreds thousands of snowdrops blanket the garden grounds. Snowdrops can also be found all over Osterley Park, and at Kew Gardens. But they’re pretty easy to find, particularly in woodlands and meadows, so go for a walk, and you’re likely to stumble across some!
Dashing Daffodils
They inspired Wordsworth to great poetry, but if you can’t muster a verse or two, at least come up with a witty hashtag. It’s the very least you can do after they’ve put in all the effort to make a showing.
When: Daffodils are at their peak blooming period in March and April.
Where: The Royal Parks plant one million daffodil bulbs across their gardens each year, and St James’ Park gets the majority of them. But Hampton Court Palace’s display isn’t too shabby either! You’ll also find them in Kensington Gardens, Victoria Embankment Gardens, and, unsurprisingly, Kew Gardens.
Beautiful Bluebells
I have a love-hate relationship with London’s bluebells. On the one hand, they are ridiculously beautiful. On the other hand, I grew up in a village where bluebells were the major tourist attraction, meaning a raging horde of “bluebell w*nkers” brought chaos every Spring weekend. Hopefully, your experiences will be less stressful. It’s not like I’m holding a grudge or anything… But we could hardly exclude them from our London flower guide.
When: Bluebells typically bloom between March and May, but this can vary pretty widely from year to year.
Where: You’ll find carpets of bluebells in pretty much every corner of London. Out west, your best bet is Osterley Park, a picture-perfect reason to visit Zone 4. Up north, Highgate Wood is your spot of choice, whilst Wanstead Flats will satisfy east Londoners. South of the river? You could check out Oxleas Wood, or take a quick jaunt to the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park.
Terrific Tulips
If you can’t get over to Amsterdam to see them, you’ll still find tulips blooming all over London, patiently waiting to prettify your Instagram feed.
When: Tulips are typically in peak bloom in late April and May, but early-flowering varieties can also bloom as early as March.
Where: You’ll find tulips pretty much anywhere with a royal connection. Hampton Court Palace is a good place to start, as they maintain a beautiful display and even host their own tulip festival. You’ll also find tulips blooming each spring outside of Buckingham Palace. Similarly lovely tulip fields can be seen in St James’ Park, Regent’s Park, and Kensington Gardens
One of the most incredible tulip scenes can be found just outside of London, at Tulley’s Farm. There, you’ll find a tulip field with over a million of the blooming flowers. It’s a truly spectacular sight.
Bangin’ Blossoms
A frustratingly fleeting bloom, but our flower guide gives you a chance to catch magnolia and cherry blossoms before they’re gone.
When: Cherry blossoms typically bloom in late April and early May, but mild weather can see them blooming as early as March. Magnolia season is less predictable. They can be at their absolute peak in March, or they mightn’t open up until as late as June. Some trees might even sporadically bloom throughout the summer.
Where: You’ll find magnolia trees in bloom on St Leonard’s Terrace in Chelsea, Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath, outside St Mary Le Strand church, and generally scattered around Notting Hill, Kensington, and Chelsea.
Kew Gardens is famous for its avenue of cherry blossoms, but you’ll also find a tunnel of the pink trees in Greenwich Park. Similarly gorgeous blooms can be found on Chester Road in Regent’s Park, a cracking example outside St Paul’s Cathedral, and the jaw-dropping Redcliffe Road in Chelsea.
Keep your eyes open, though, as these blooms can pop up in the most unexpected places around London. One of our favourite surprise spots is right outside Swiss Cottage station!
Awesome Azaleas
Unlike the other blooms in our flower guide, there’s only one spectacular spot in particular that makes an azalea adventure worth your time…
When: Azaleas flower at their peak between April and June.
Where: The special place for azalea-spotting in London is the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park. Vibrant azaleas create a proliferation of pink, earning it a well-deserved spot on our list of London’s most colourful places. Fans of fuchsia better head down whilst they’re in bloom.
Wonderful Wisteria
Billed as “the thinking man’s blossom” by one member of the Secret London team, wisteria is a Big Deal in this town. Whatever you want to call it, the capital goes crazy for wisteria each year, as the all-consuming wisteria hysteria wins over hearts, minds, and Instagram feeds.
When: London’s wisteria season usually falls in late April or early May, with the blooms only around for a short while after developing.
Where: It grows pretty much everywhere that we can’t afford to live, with Chelsea, Kensington, and Notting Hill being top viewing spots. In particular, check out houses along Kynance Mews (where Joe purportedly managed to live on an educator’s salary in You Season 4). Also be sure to trek down Abingdon Road, Gordon Place, and Cheyne Walk for a good snap of the wisteria.
Wisteria can also be found covering the gorgeous pergola on Hampstead Hill. If you head there for some snaps, you’re sure to be satisfied as it’s an absolutely stunning part of London!
Luscious Lavender
Looks like a dream, and smells like one too. Posing in a lavender field is Summer’s must-have profile pic, and we know all the best spots. What kind of flower guide would this be without a rundown of lavender fields, after all?
When: Lavender often blooms as early as May, with further blooms in June and then subsequently in the late Summer or early Autumn.
Where: The undisputed lords of lavender are a trek down south, but it’s more than worth the journey. Mayfield Lavender Farm has made repeated appearances on Secret London, for the simple reason that it’s really, really, ridiculously good-looking. A rolling field of purple lavender, with the quaint addition of a red telephone box in the centre, it’s a must-see in the summer. Closer to home, you can find smaller patches in Vauxhall Park and Kennington Park.
Stunning Sunflowers
Nothing says Summer in the UK countryside quite like fields of towering yellow flowers in bloom. Luckily for you, dear reader, there are plenty of spots close to our beloved capital where you can see these big old blooms.
When: Sunflowers really get going during the balmy Summer months of August and September.
Where: Hitchin Lavender Farm is unsurprisingly most famous for its beautiful lavender fields, but it’s also home to dozens of sunflowers during the blooming season. Garson’s Farm in Surrey and Meopham in Kent – which is only open on Saturdays and Sundays – are also both great bets for sunflower sightings. Slightly further afield lies The Patch MK in Milton Keynes, which also has a barrel train to take you around the grounds, and the Cotswold Farm Park in Gloucestershire.
So there you have it – a flower guide to help you spot the best blooms in the Spring and Summer months. So if you’re looking to put a smile on your face, now you know where to go!