Tulips may hail from the Netherlands, but in the UK they're one of the most colourful signifiers of spring, symbolising new beginnings after the winter months.
Bright and cheerful, vibrant rows of crimson, yellow, pink and orange tulips can be seen across the country from late March until May, with the peak bloom period in mid to late April, alongside other spring flowers such as bluebells.
Southwest England is a hotspot for tulips, with impressive flower festivals offering huge displays. Tulleys Tulip Fest in Sussex features a huge 1.5 million tulips and Dutch street food, while Hampton Court Palace is Britain's largest tulip heritage garden.
Typically, the cooler climates of Northern England and Scotland see tulips bloom three to six weeks later than the south.
These are the best places to see tulips across the UK this spring.
Arundel Castle Tulip Festival, West Sussex
Dates: 1st April - early May (exact date TBC)
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Address: Arundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9AB
Arundel Castle, with its fairytale-like grounds, has to be one of the most romantic places to see tulips in the UK, boasting a display of over 120,000 bulbs in themed arrangements.
Visitors can wander through the atmospheric gardens and see over 150 varieties of tulips planted across the castle's 40 acres of historic gardens, curated by Head Gardener Martin Duncan.
While you're there, pay a visit to the gardener's famous 'Stumpery Garden', a Victorian-style, slightly eerie garden formed of ancient oak and sweet chestnut stumps amid shade-loving plants, shrubs and ferns.
Plan your visit to Arundel Castle
Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival, Surrey
Dates: 3 April - 26 April
Address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU
Perhaps the most famous tulip festival in the country, Hampton Court Palace puts on a spectacular display each spring, showcasing over 100,000 tulips in bloom across its 60 acres.
Famous landmarks, such as the Baroque Great Fountain Garden and Tudor courtyards, are dressed in bright florals with displays that take an artistic approach.
Bear in mind that tulip festivals in the UK are very popular, and in most cases it's worth booking tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
Plan your visit to Hampton Court Palace
Tulleys Tulip Fest, West Sussex
Dates: 3 April - 26 April
Address: Turners Hill Road, Turners Hill, Crawley, RH10 4PD
For sheer scale and theatrics, head to Tulleys Tulip Fest at Tulleys Farm in West Sussex. Visitors to the farm can wander through vibrant tulip fields striped with colours, reminiscent of the tulip fields near Amsterdam, for an authentic experience.
There's also a tulip-themed light trail through the woods after dark and Dutch street food vendors offering traditional dishes and snacks.
Plan your visit to Tulleys Tulip Fest
Farmer Copleys Tulip Festival, West Yorkshire
Dates: 4 April - 3 May
Address: Ravensknowle Farm, Pontefract Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF7 5AF
Farmer Copleys Tulip Festival is one of the biggest celebrations of the spring flower in the north, with a giant Ferris wheel offering panoramic views over vast tulip fields showcasing over 100 varieties and a million flowers.
Visitors can also pick their own bouquet to take home, or stop and pose at one of the many photo opportunities.
As tulips tend to bloom later in the north of England, Farmer Copleys Tulip Festival goes on a little longer until 3 May.
Plan your visit to Farmer Copleys Tulip Festival
Strawberry Fields Tulip Fest, Devon
Dates: 28 March to 19 April
Address: Strawberry Fields, Lifton, Devon, PL16 0DH
Head to the Southwest’s largest tulip field in Devon to see more than 500,000 blooms in around 60 varieties, with colourful and artful displays situated in a vast open space.
There's a charming farm shop and cafe on site selling seasonal goods, and it's worth pencilling in a return in the summer months when you can pick your own strawberries.
Plan your visit to Strawberry Fields
Holland Park, London
Address: Ilchester Place, London W8 6LU
Of course, the aptly named Holland Park deserves a place on our list. This beloved London park is particularly beautiful in the spring, when its dedicated Dutch Garden is filled with colourful tulips.
Holland Park is one of London's less crowded parks, offering a more intimate oasis where these seasonal blooms can be enjoyed without the crowds. Stop by the nearby Kyoto Garden while you're in the area to enjoy a contrasting Japanese-style garden with a scenic waterfall and pond.
Plan your visit to Holland Park
Kew Gardens, London
Address: Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB
Kew Gardens always tops lists as one of the most beautiful places to observe flowers in London, and it's well worth a visit in April and early May when tulips are in full bloom.
Tulips are planted throughout the grounds of Kew, surrounding the historic greenhouse-style Palm House and along the Rose Garden.
