Spring wonders at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst: Cherry blossom, magnolias and tulips

Witness Kew Gardens and Wakehurst burst into life this spring with a spectacular display of colour, scent and sound. From sweeping vistas blanketed with emerging tulips to the first sightings of the cherry blossom, visitors of all ages are invited to come explore, learn and connect with nature. 

Spring is the perfect time to visit Kew Gardens with the whole family, with plants blooming around the UNESCO World Heritage Site and within Kew’s historic glasshouses. Start your day out with a walk along Camellia Walk where the flowers of Camellia japonica meet those of Magnolia stellata besides new interpretation panels delving into the rich and complex history of tea.

Peep inside the Palm House, where a Heliconia longiflora is in flower and the Arabica Coffee bushes (Coffea arabica) have set fruit alongside the tall banana trees. Inside the Temperate House, Rhododendron macgregoriae has set orange flowers, neatly contrasting against the white blooms of R. Scopuloram. 

And whether it’s to capture the first blooms of the season or the slow dance of petals on the breeze, take a wander beneath the magnificent cherry blossom behind Kew’s Palm House where the Yoschino Cherries (Prunus × yedoensis) lining the Rose Garden have started to emerge and will look their best in the next few weeks.

On the banks of the Palm House Pond, just outside the Botanical Brasserie, a Higan Cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’) has erupted with stunning pink blossom. From there, head on around the corner and towards the flowering Edgeworthia chrysantha near the Temple of Aeolus and the bright pink Larch Roses of the European Larch near Ginko Lane and the Duke’s Garden.

For magnolias, head on to lawns around Elizabeth Gate and The Hive where the trees are yet to hit peak flowering, whereas it’s your last chance to see the magnolia collection by Princess Walk before the flowers drop. Nearby you can spot the yellow Forsythia viridissima, providing dreamy backdrops for photography and video.

Meanwhile in the Rock Garden, look out for the blue and yellow flowers of Narcissus, the striking blue petals of Tristagma uniflorum and Pseudomuscari azureum, and the small but impressive Arum creticulm with its arrow-shaped leaves and bright inflorescence. And be sure not to miss the impressive Bergenia at the garden’s south corner. 

Dip into the Davies Alpine House next, which celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year, and look out for tiny fritillaries, the Iris warleyensis and various other Juno Irises.

Expand your visit further with a trip to the Natural Area, where bluebells and daffodils have transformed the lawns into a kaleidoscope of colour.

These colourful displays and seasonal trails make Kew Gardens a joyful outing for all ages, with Family tickets starting at £32 and children under the age of 4 enter for free. £1 tickets are also available to recipients of Universal Credit and Pension Credit, with the option of purchasing up to four additional tickets for the same price. For the full list of available tickets and concessions, click here.

🎶 Enjoy the Sounds of Blossom Festival: 

This year’s festival, curated in partnership with the Royal College of Music, adds a sensory layer to the season. Artists and musicians have created bespoke sound installations across the gardens, inspired by the blossoming trees themselves that bring each bloom to life in a unique way. In addition, be sure to join one of the live weekend performances by an array of enchanting musical ensembles. 

As well as live weekend recitals, a blossom-inspired afternoon tea will also be available in The Botanical Brasserie for the duration of the festival. Pre-booking is recommended, particularly for Mother’s Day and Easter weekend.

Sounds of Blossom is included in the price of entry and is on from 14^th March to 6^th April.

Read more: Sounds of Blossom - Celebrate spring with uplifting music among the blooms

View the Sounds of Blossom map and guide (PDF)

🌸 Be amazed by the seasonal highlights at Wakehurst:

With its world-class collection of rhododendrons soon to hit peak-flowering (mid-March to the end of May), visitors are guaranteed to experience a horticultural treat this spring. With about 400 different species and varieties on display, stroll through the flora of the Himalayas, China, Japan and North America. 

The oldest rhododendrons in Wakehurst’s collection are more than 100 years-old and form one of the most important, hardy collections in Europe. Within the collection you will find 90 rare and endangered species including the critically endangered Rhododendron griersonianum and R. hemsleyanum.

Next, be sure to visit the Asian Heath Garden and Westwood Valley and stop to admire the magnolias by Slips along the boardwalk. Head on to the idyllic Iris Dell with its pink display of Rhododendron ‘Hatsugiri’ in late April, followed by a wander through the woodlands to catch the last of the bluebells. 

From May, beds full of Primrose (Candelabra primula) will look their best in the Water Gardens and as the calendars rapidly approach the start of summer, Wakehurst’s beautiful meadows will start to come to life.

All children under the age of 16 enter Wakehurst for free, with young person tickets from and adult tickets from £18.50. See the full list of tickets and concessions here.

Read more: 

• Top 4 beautiful flowers to see at Wakehurst this spring
• Families invited to explore, rescue, protect on an Octonauts: Above and Beyond adventure at Wakehurst this spring
• Henry Moore and more premieres at Wakehurst this summer, bringing evocative sculpture together with innovative contemporary art
• Celebrate British Science Week at Wakehurst with exhibitions and trails