Looking for spring flowers in London? Don’t worry, I’ve got the low-down. Here are the some of best places to see the London flower scene—from a Londoner!
Not to get too dramatic, but strolling along the flower beds in London’s most famed parks feels like being in a movie.
Whether you’re a Londoner keen for some spring wandering or looking to add something new to your London itinerary, here’s my favorite spots to see the spring flowers in London.
Kensington Gardens
Of course, the royal garden wouldn’t be fit without an equally alluring set of greenery.
Touched with fields of daffodils, orange tulips, wallflowers, and pansies it’s a lovely escape from the city hustle—and a chance to learn about some history too.
Formerly Henry VIII’s playground, the area slowly transformed from an exclusive royal hub to enjoyment for everybody when Queen Caroline came along—turning the 242 acres of green space into what we know today.
I’d suggest stopping by the flower beds at Kensington Palace, the cherry blossoms near the Albert Memorial, the tulips in the Sunken Garden, and the Italian gardens (a film spot from the 2nd Bridget Jones movie!) for your full spring flowers in London fix.
Holland Park
I’m not sure there’s anything that could stop me from coming back to Holland Park—especially in springtime.
The West London park boasts several beautiful greenscapes, but let’s start with the Dutch Gardens.
Inspired by the Netherlands, the garden boasts manicured beds of tulips in every shade and a lovely array of memorial benches to sit down and take it all in.
Taking a lie down in front of the Sibirica Fountain is equally alluring—filled with Londoners, picnic blankets, and good conversation with any hint of sun that comes our way. You can enjoy the Iris Garden, painted gallery, and heaps of varied flower beds here too.
Then you’re off to the Kyoto Gardens, a gift of friendship from Japan to the UK. The scenery is breathtaking—especially in springtime. It’s also one of the only green spaces in London to see Japanese maple trees and of course, enjoy the Sakura cherry blossom trees to the fullest. The Fukushima Garden lies opposite, with pebbled paths, bamboo fixing, and the odd peacock or two.
St James Park
Tucked in Central London and only a stone’s throw away from Buckingham Palace, spending any time in St James Park includes uninterrupted royal views and only the best of London greenery (oh, and some very interesting birds).
I can’t begin to count the variety of flowers I saw here. Plump lavender, yellow daisies, bright bluebells, and pungent red roses to name a few. I guess you’ll have to visit to find out the rest.
Buckingham Palace
If anybody is going to have a proper garden it’s the Queen—and she doesn’t disappoint.
The garden was originally planted as an ode to Queen Victoria, but present-day we can all enjoy the spring beauty Buckingham Palace has to offer.
Maliciously designed by Sir Aston Webb, the Buckingham Palace Flower Beds takes the cake for most spring flowers in London, with over 50,000 red tulips and wallflowers on site.
Green Park
If you’ve ever been to Buckingham Palace, you’re bound to have heard of Green Park.
Adjacent to the royal abode, the green space is particularly peaceful; with not much to do here but sunbathe or have a picnic. But the thousands of bright yellow daisies are still worth the visit for a lazy afternoon.
Victoria Tower Gardens
There’s not much hidden in London anymore, but I’m hoping the Victoria Tower Gardens still makes the list.
A pocket of park behind the Houses of Parliament—this green space attracts a lot of city workers and curious tourists alike. Although it’s not my top choice for seeing spring flowers in London, it’s a great stop off if you’re in Central to see a few spring buds (and the odd palm tree!)
Whitehall Gardens
If you prefer springtime in France, you may want to pop over to the Whitehall Gardens.
The hidden oasis was once a pleasure garden for monarchs and Tudor—but don’t worry, you’re more than welcome here now to sit along the benches, take in the architectural eye candy and watch the spring flowers in full London bloom.
Greenwich Park
Biasedly speaking, this is my favorite park in London, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t beg you to wander the flower scene here.
If you couldn’t tell by your Instagram feed—cherry blossoms in Greenwich are a big deal. The perfectly arrayed blooms met with the backdrop of neatly arranged park benches make it the ideal place to take in spring.
Then, of course, you’ve got the Rose Garden (don’t worry, if this villa looks familiar, you’ve probably just watched Bridgerton). The English Heritage house boasts a wide variety of hybrid tea and floribunda roses…but not until June or July.
But, don’t worry, the flower garden is even more impressive…and ready for the season. Met with grand cedar trees the size of giraffes, dozens of budding spring beds, and nearly every species of flower you could think of, it’s well worth the visit.
Hampstead Hill Garden and Pergola
Hampstead Heath’s best kept secret.
Outside of its stunning views, the extravagantly commissioned terrace has plenty of blooms worth seeing.
Filled with overgrown flowers and vines walking through the Pergola feels like stepping back in time. With wisteria curling around old archways and splashes of greenery on every turn.
Peckham Rye Commons
The South London flower scene is where it’s at!
Leap into the beauty of spring with a jaunt down to Peckham Rye Commons.
The wisteria is sure to have your Instagram feed sorted for the season, but the lilacs, white blossoms, and buckets of meadows will make want to stay a little longer to take it all in.
Isabella Plantation
It’s one of those places that’s hard to simply stumble upon unless you’re in the know.
Tucked in the Isabella Plantation, walk for a while and you’ll find yourself in front of a burst of azaleas and a hidden flowery haven. The whole seems to still be stuck in time, with the pristine pond preserved since the Victorian era.
Bonus: Chelsea Flower Show
I couldn’t end this post without talking about the Chelsea Flower Show (pretty sure other Londoners would have a go at me).
The world’s best flower show takes place every May with every spring flower in London you could think of. Tickets aren’t cheap, but it’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime events, especially if you’re here for spring.
Where to See Spring Flowers in London Map
Frankly, there’s too much beauty to be found in London during spring, so I’ll keep updating this post with my favorite flower finds. In the meantime, let me know where you’ll be hunting out the spring buds on Instagram!
Happy Londoning,
