London in Bloom: Kew Gardens and Wakehurst Come Alive with Color and Festivals

Spring has arrived at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (RBG Kew) and Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex that hosts the Millennium Seed Bank, bringing a fresh wave of colour, scent and life. From blooming tulips and magnolias to the first cherry blossoms, both gardens are entering one of their most beautiful seasons.

At Kew, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, visitors can stroll past camellias and magnolias in full bloom, explore the iconic glasshouses, and catch early cherry blossoms beginning to open near the Palm House. Seasonal highlights continue across the gardens, from bright forsythia and daffodils to quieter corners filled with alpine plants and emerging spring flowers.

Kew gardens. Photo; Shutterstock

The experience goes beyond visuals this year with the Sounds of Blossom festival, created with the Royal College of Music. Visitors can enjoy sound installations and live performances inspired by the blooming trees, adding a new layer to a spring visit.

Wakehurst, East Sussex, England. Photo: David Dennis / Shutterstock.

Meanwhile, Wakehurst is preparing for peak rhododendron season, with hundreds of species set to flower in the coming weeks. The landscape is already coming alive with magnolias, bluebells, and early spring colour, with more to follow as the season progresses.

Wakehurst is highly appreciated for its "ancient and beautiful landscapes" that span across 535 acres covered with a "diverse collection of plants from Britain and around the globe thrive within a tapestry of innovative gardens, temperate woodlands, meadows, and wetlands." Its oldest rhododendrons are over a century old. The collection also includes 90 rare and endangered species, including the critically endangered Rhododendron griersonianum and R. hemsleyanum.

Other highlights of your visit could include the Asian Heath Garden and Westwood Valley, with stops at the magnolias by Slips along the boardwalk, and the eye-catching pink Iris Dell that fills with Rhododendron ‘Hatsugiri’ in late April. 

In May, walk toward the Water Garden to admire the beds full of Primrose in anticipation of the start of summer, when Wakehurst’s gorgeous meadows will come back to life.

Kew Gardens. Photo: Charles Bowman / Shutterstock

Both destinations offer an easy way to reconnect with nature, whether for a relaxed walk, a family day out, or simply to enjoy the shift into warmer, brighter days.

Plus, starting March 28 until April 12, 2026, Kew Gardens will also host Octonauts: Above & Beyond, an exciting interactive outdoor trail aimed at children ages 3 to 6, next to Brentford Gate.

Pricing and Access

Kew Gardens

Adults: £24 online / £27 gate (peak), £16 / £19 (off-peak)

Children (4–15): £6 / £8 (peak), £5 / £7 (off-peak)

Children under 4: Free

Young people (16–29) & students: from £10 (peak), £7 (off-peak)

Family tickets: from ~£32 (peak), ~£23 (off-peak)

Concessions (65+ / disability): from £22 (peak), £14 (off-peak)

Universal Credit: £1 tickets available

Wakehurst 

Wakehurst & Kew Members: Free (£40/year)

National Trust Members: Free (parking charges apply)

Adult: £18.50 | Late £9.25

Young (17–25): £9.25 | Late £5.00

Children (0–16): Free with adult

Concessions: £1 (proof required)

Corporate Members: Free | Guest £9.25

Car-Free Travel: £9.25 (proof required)

Groups: From £14.75 per adult