Palace Gardens You Must Visit This Spring
What better way to take in the sights, sounds and smells of British springtime than to walk in the footsteps of royalty in a beautiful palace garden? We’ve put together a list of some of our favourite gardens for you and your family to explore this spring. Before you head out, don’t forget to check out our ladies’ umbrellas, lest your day trip be made soggy by a spring shower!
The Palace of Holyrood
Starting off in the city of Edinburgh, we first want to take you to the gardens that surround the Palace of Holyrood. Even before the palace was built, the gardens were looked after by the monks of Holyrood Abbey, which was founded in 1128. Visitors today can visit the ruins of the abbey, which was once one of the most magnificent medieval abbeys in all of Scotland.
Over its centuries of history, the gardens have played host to hunting, hawking, archery, tennis and other tournaments. In the 1500s, the gardens were also designated as a place of sanctuary for debtors – to the present day, this has never been repealed.
Visit this spring, and you’ll have the chance to wander through immaculate lawns, colourful borders, and gardens packed with history. In 2020, a new public garden also opened, where you can explore and learn about different phases in the palace’s history.
Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
100 acres of tranquil gardens, woodland, meadows and a lake surround Hillsborough Castle, which is the official royal residence of Northern Ireland. This spring, for the second time, the gardens will be hosting Spring Spectacular, where you’ll get to see over half a million bulbs bloom into swathes of vibrant colours and scents. If that weren’t enough reason to plan a visit this spring, there’s plenty more to discover. Enjoy peaceful views over the garden from Lady Alice’s temple, which was originally a wedding gift given to Lady Alice by her brother in 1867. Or take a stroll through the trees along the enchanting Moss Walk.
Kids can also get to know the wildlife at Hillsborough with the Imaginary Menagerie, an interactive trail that winds through the castle gardens. There’s plenty to see, do and discover throughout the gardens and grounds, and when you’re finished, you can stop for a hot drink and a snack at the café in the Western Pavilion.
Kensington Palace Gardens
Kensington Palace has been a private retreat for royalty for hundreds of years. It’s no surprise that the surrounding grounds and gardens have been shaped by those who lived there.
When you visit, you must see the Sunken Garden, which was first created over 100 years ago in 1908 and was a favourite spot for Princess Diana. Lawns, paved areas and beautiful flower beds surround an ornamental pond that lies in the centre of the Sunken Garden. In 2017, the garden was re-planted with white flowers in celebration of the princess’s life.
Away from the Sunken Garden, you’ll also be able to explore the Cradle Walk, the Serpentine boating lake, the Orangery, a beautiful wildflower meadow and much more.
Kew Gardens
With almost 2 million visitors between 2021 and 2022, Kew Gardens was the second-most visited paid attraction in England. What’s not as well-known as the gardens, however, is Kew Palace. Hidden within the gardens, this intimate palace was once home to George III and Queen Charlotte. So, technically, these are palace gardens and thus get a spot on our list.
Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to a huge collection of rare plants and pioneering horticultural research. Taking a trip to Kew is like discovering a whole world, with special gardens dedicated to Japanese, Mediterranean, and Alpine habitats, as well as stunning borders and woodland gardens.
This spring, the Great Pagoda is also reopening so you’ll get to see it all from the best view in the gardens.
Hampton Court Gardens
In spring, Hampton Court Gardens is home to the annual Tulip Festival, which has become famous for its brilliantly colourful displays of over 100,000 tulip bulbs. The festival runs between April and May so make sure you visit while you can!
Hampton Court Palace has 60 acres of formal gardens and 750 acres of surrounding parkland, so there’s plenty more to explore. Other highlights include the famous Maze, The Great Fountain Garden, the Rose Garden and the Wilderness, an area that bursts to life in springtime with over 1 million flowering bulbs.
We can smell the fragrant flowers and hear the buzzing bees already! Which one will you be visiting?