Lady’s Colorful Guide to the Best of Spring in London

Spring is in the air. After a long winter London is coming alive with color and life. The coming months are some of the best times of year to be in London, not least because the city is in bloom and there’s an energy that comes with it. If you’re in London over the next few months, read on for A Lady in London’s guide to spring in London.

Spring in London

There are a lot of great things to do in London in spring, from exploring the parks and gardens to attending annual events and festivals.

The city’s green spaces fill with magnolia trees, tulips, and daffodils, and there’s a sense of anticipation in the air for warmer days and lighter skies.

Whether you’re in the mood for wisteria watching or boat racing, there’s something for you in the city this season.

London Parks and Gardens

I’ll start with the city’s parks and gardens since they’re the highlights of spring in London for me. My favorite parks to see spring blooms are St James’s Park, Golders Hill Park, and Holland Park.

St James’s Park bursts with cherry blossoms on the trees and purple crocuses on the ground in spring. Daffodils trumpet the arrival of the season, and the baby ducks and swans are just adorable.

Nearby Green Park is also beautiful as the daffodils bloom each year.

Golders Hill Park in north London is my favorite place for crocuses. For some reason they seem to grow bigger and brighter here than anywhere else, and I love walking around and taking in the yellows and purples.

The park also has manicured gardens where tulips bloom later in the spring, and I love going back and watching the season unfold.

But Holland Park is my favorite place for tulips in the spring in London. This place has some of the most immaculate flower beds in the city, and seeing them in full color each year is a dream.

Later in the season the rose garden comes to life with color, too.

London Spring Festivals

It’s not just the parks and gardens that bring London to life in spring, either. There are plenty of annual events and festivals to get people in the spirit.

The Chelsea Flower Show is one of the most important. Every May it takes over the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea with big blooms and prize-winning garden displays.

The Chelsea Flower Show is the place to be in London in the spring and it’s a sell-out every year (seriously, buy tickets now). It makes London one of the best places to visit in the UK in spring.

Chelsea in Bloom is another of the best festivals in spring in London. A spin-off from the Chelsea Flower Show, it sees shopfronts and squares around the neighborhood come alive with fresh floral displays in a celebration of the season.

Boat Races in Spring in London

With the weather warming up (or so we hope), boaters take to the Thames in two annual boat races.

The Head of the River Race is a rowing race from Mortlake to Putney. It takes place annually in March and sees over 400 crews of eight participate.

The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge universities has been going strong in London since 1829. This spring event goes from Putney to Mortlake and is a great spectator occasion on the Thames.

St Patrick’s Day in London

St Patrick’s Day is another fun event in spring in London. An annual parade and performances take place in Trafalgar Square, and lively pubs with lots of Guinness ensure it’s a great day all around.

London Wisteria

Wisteria watching is another craze that’s taken London by storm in the Instagram era.

When the vines start to bloom purple in April or May, the streets of Kensington and other areas fill with people scouting out the best houses, walls, and pergolas to sigh over (and photograph).

I’ve written about some of the best places to see wisteria in London, but when it’s in bloom it’s hard not to spot some.

Easter in London

Another big event on London’s spring calendar is Easter. Well, not the holiday. After all my years in London I still can’t believe it’s such a non-event.

But the four-day weekend and the excitement around having extra time to get outdoors and enjoy London make it an important part of the season.

There’s plenty to do in London over the Easter bank holiday weekend, from spring-themed events at London attractions to special egg hunts for families.

On years when the weather is warm, the city comes alive with outdoor dining, picnics in parks, and riverside fun.

London Spring Events

Beyond holidays, there are plenty of annual events to get excited about in London in springtime.

The London Marathon is a great race to watch, and Museums at Night sees London’s museums open their doors for several evenings of special events, late openings, and general revelry.

London May Bank Holidays

The spring season wraps up in May with the two May bank holiday weekends. One comes at the beginning of the month, and the other at the end.

Both see Londoners and visitors alike flocking to the city’s outdoor spaces (weather permitting). Whether it’s a bank holiday barbecue or paddle boating in Hyde Park, there are a lot of things to do in London over these big weekends.

The May bank holiday weekends are also good for taking spring day trips from London. There are a lot of places near the capital that are worth exploring at this time of year, and with an extra day it’s easy to reach them.

And that’s one of my favorite things about spring in London. There’s no shortage of things to do and places to explore. I hope this post has given you some good ideas for how to make the most of the season. Let’s just hope the weather is on our side.

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