When you think about flowers in spring, which ones come to mind? For me, it’s all about daffodils –but for many people, tulips are the stars of the season. These colorful bulbs pop up in gardens and beds around the world; maybe you’ve always dreamed of seeing them in the Netherlands or have heard of the unique tulip festival in Washington State.
But did you know there are also loads of tulips in London? While you won’t find huge fields like other tulip destinations, tulips are an essential part of the colorful spring patchwork across the city… you can find them without even trying just by visiting London’s top sights!
If you have your heart set on seeking them out, you might wonder about the best places to see lots of tulips, and that’s where this post can help. Below, you’ll find some of the top spots for tulips in London, from the beds of Buckingham Palace to the manicured fields of Holland Park. Just remember: don’t pick ’em as a souvenir –they’re for everyone to enjoy!
This post was originally published in January 2022 and was updated in March 2024 for the spring season.
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Where to Find Tulips Across London
Before delving into the list, I’d like to show you a map to give you a visual overview of the spots you can find in the city. Of course, this list is not exhaustive, but it’s a good start if you want to tiptoeing through the tulips in London.
Similar to daffodils (and unlike magnolias or cherry blossoms), there aren’t as many spots for tulips in London as you might expect. That’s partly because of the types of flowers you’re seeing; cherries and magnolias are trees – so they’re planted all over London, especially in West London. Tulips, on the other hand, require more structure and are usually found in flower beds of specific locales.
Now, let’s explore the list. Have your camera ready, as these places will be in full bloom before you know it!
Buckingham Palace
Like most royal buildings and parks, Buckingham Palace boasts some of the loveliest spring blooms in London, especially the Memorial Gardens flower beds.
Created in 1901 in honor of Queen Victoria, the Memorial Garden becomes a blaze of color when its 50,000 yellow wildflowers and red tulips are in full bloom. There are also scarlet geraniums in the center of the garden, which are red to match the tunics of The Queen’s Guard at Buckingham Palace.
Eltham Palace
You can go to Eltham Palace any day or season of the year, and they’ll have the most beautiful blossoms. Unsurprisingly, it is one of the best places to admire tulips in London in spring.
Every April, Eltham Palace hosts the Eltham Palace Tulip Festival, which takes place in the 19-acre grounds of the art deco-slash-Tudor mansion. The festival goes beyond Hanami (the traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers), offering visitors tours with the gardeners to learn about the different types of tulips.
Golders Hill Park
Golders Hill Park is the definition of a sensory delight. Located in North London, this park is a delightful destination for those who appreciate the beauty of flowers. The floral display kicks off in February with the vibrant hues of crocuses. As April arrives, the park’s ornamental gardens come alive with a dazzling array of colors, featuring tulips, daffodils, and various bulbs that steal the spotlight.
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is another excellent alternative to get the best of London blooms. During autumn, the Palace gardeners plant over 100,000 bulbs at Hampton Court Palace to be in full bloom for their Tulip Festival in April. The courtyards and the Lower Orangery Garden present a stunning tulip display with over sixty varieties, including heritage and modern types like Parrot, Triumph, Rembrandt, and Darwin tulips.
Holland Park
If you can’t go to the Netherlands to admire tulips in all their glory, you can satisfy your floral craving by going to Holland Park. Besides being home to the Kyoto Garden, Holland Park also houses the Dutch Gardens, which become a vast sea of color, with red and yellow tulip flower beds forming different patterns.
Regents Park
When it comes to flowers, Regent’s Park in Westminster is the place to admire roses. The park hosts Queen Mary’s Garden – the largest rose garden in London! It features an impressive collection of over 12,000 roses.
But, in addition to the 85 varieties of roses, the park showcases picturesque fields of tulip bulbs. From March to April, expansive displays of tulips embellish the vicinity of Avenue Gardens. Queen Mary’s Garden also boasts the sight of snowdrops and bluebells during this period.
Peckham Rye Park
Nestled in Southwark, Peckham Rye Park is home to one of London’s most enchanting gardens: the Sexby Garden. This lovely garden was crafted by and named after Colonel JJ Sexby and is popular for its captivating wisteria pergola.
Nonetheless, the park delights visitors with seasonal delights. You have the emergence of crocuses in early spring and a stunning display of tulips, and fragrant roses in the summer. Delve into the park’s diverse array of gardens, including the ‘Oval’ just inside the main entrance, the Japanese Garden, the American Garden, the Community Wildlife Garden, and the ornamental pond gardens.
St James’s Park
If you want to see spring bulbs in all their glory, oh, boy, you’re up for a treat in St James’s Park. March and April feel like stepping into a springtime reverie, seriously.
The park is adorned with one million daffodils meticulously planted by the Royal Parks. But, it’s not just the vibrant daffodils; tulips and crocuses are also making their presence felt, making it a great spot for all of spring’s blooms.
Have any questions about where to see tulips in London? Let me know in the comments below.
