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Written By Hannah Kroes
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Spring is in the air and what better way to celebrate the arrival of the new season than by immersing yourself in the beauty of tulips? London and the South East of England are home to some of the most stunning tulip gardens and fields in the UK, and with tulip festival season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to plan your visit. From the iconic tulip beds at Embankment Gardens to the picturesque fields of the countryside, there is no shortage of places to see these vibrant flowers in all their glory.
I never expected England to be such an ideal place for tulip gardens, but once I discovered the amazing displays (many of them even in free London parks) I realised that there is no need to go to the Netherlands for tulip season if you live in the UK. Whether you’re a local or visiting in April, this guide covers the best tulip gardens in London and nearby in South East England.
Tulips at Victoria Embankment Gardens
In the heart of central London, Victoria Embankment Gardens is a strip of green space along the north side of the river, and surprisingly one of the most incredible public tulip gardens in London. I was so surprised to find such a beautifully tended tulip park because it went under the radar from me—it had never crossed my mind to visit in April. Each area of the park has different colour schemes, so make sure to visit each spot for the full experience.
Hampton Court tulip festival
Hampton Court Palace is the place to go if you want to see tulips in formal gardens with a historic past. There are beautiful tulip displays throughout the walled gardens and in the main grounds, often accompanied by wisteria nearby. My favourite spot for tulips at Hampton Court is the sunken garden, where they frame a small water feature in a picturesque scene.
Find a ticket to Hampton Court Palace here.
Cannizaro Park tulip gardens
Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon is another springtime hidden gem in London. I haven’t made it yet, but it’s at the top of my list for this year’s tulip spotting. The park has a rich history, dating back to the 18th century when it was part of the Cannizaro House estate. The house was built for the Duke of Cannizaro, and the park was created as part of the estate's landscaped gardens. Because of this history, the park has a formal garden which is home to a beautiful tulip display.
Tulips at Ham House
Ham House in Richmond is one of my all-time favourite spots in London as it is wonderful in all seasons. One of the best is tulip season, because there are formal tulip rows in the kitchen garden, but also wild tulips which grow on the lawn behind the historic National Trust house. If you’re lucky, wisteria will also be blooming on the walls of the cafe. Last time I visited in tulip season, I was even able to buy a fresh bouquet of tulips for a few pounds. There are so many things to do in Richmond, so make a whole day of it.
Tulips in St James’s Park
St James’s Park in central London is my ultimate daffodil destination, but it also does a beautiful display of tulips in the garden in a rainbow of colours, towards the Horseguards Parade side of the park. The tulips are planted in intricate patterns, creating a beautiful tapestry of colors that can be enjoyed by visitors strolling through the park. Near to central London and the many museums to visit in the area, it’s a perfect stop in a busy London day.
Tulips in Holland Park
Holland Park’s Dutch Gardens hosts a beautiful display of tulips in April. They are arranged in a formal garden in diamond shapes. Don’t miss the Japanese garden while at Holland Park, it is always a special place to visit.
Hyde Park Tulips
There are several places to see tulips in Hyde Park. One is in the Princess Diana Memorial Gardens next to Kensington Palace, which is open to the public when the palace is open. This is a sunken garden with springtime borders. There are also tulips planted along the Italian Gardens which also features pools and fountains.
Tulips in Surrey: Dunsborough Park
Dunsborough Park is a private estate that opens twice a year for its tulip festival and dahlia festival. This is through the Open Gardens scheme or tickets can be bought through their website. What a hidden gem! I absolutely love my biannual visits to Dunsborough Park and the tulip planting is exquisite, especially the tulip meadow pictured above. It’s a stunning garden and relatively quiet to explore. Dunsborough Park is in Ripley, Surrey, not far from South West London.
Read more about Dunsborough Park
Tulips at Guildford Castle
Guildford Castle is an innocuous location for a tulip garden. The castle grounds are free to wander but is not necessarily a place worth traveling to, except in tulip season. I have family living close to Guildford so this is why I was in the area and decided to check out the tulip planting one evening in April. I was stunned at the beauty of the garden and its formal arrangement, and especially loved the white and pastel colour scheme of that particular year.
Arundel Castle tulip festival
Arundel Castle is the ultimate tulip destination in the UK. The gardens are truly the be-all-end-all of UK tulips. There are several different areas with formal or spontaneous planting styles, but most stunning of all is the spiralling tulip maze that frames a view of the cathedral. There were so many glorious pockets of tulips to discover that I was surprised and delighted at every turn. Arundel Castle is not cheap to enter, around £30, but is truly a showstopper when it comes to tulips.
The UK is a surprising but wonderful destination for tulip gardens and fields, with tulips gardens to be seen in London’s parks as well as more formal gardens in the South East. If only the month of April was long enough to see them all!
Read more about the tulip festival at Arundel Castle
Tulley’s Farm tulip fields
Tulley’s Farm in Sussex is a new one on the tulip scene — I haven’t been able to visit yet, but it promises tulip fields to rival those in Holland. I am often asked about tulip fields in London, and of course there is nothing quite like that in the city, but Tulley’s Farm might be the answer to this query. Over 500,000 tulips are set to bloom in the fields in April, with dates to be announced depending on weather.
Tulley’s Farm is a 10 minute cab ride from Three Bridges Station in Sussex, which is about 40 minutes from London Bridge via train.
Hopefully the fields live up to the promises!
Do you have a favourite tulip garden or field in the UK? Let me know in the comments!
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Hannah Kroes
