Spring is upon us and with it the arrival of spring blooms. Tulips are a worldwide favourite and at this time of year tulip fields and gardens become tourism hotspots. Recently, many gardens and growers have started putting on tulip festivals as a way to celebrate these beautiful flowers. We've rounded up a few of our favourite ones to visit so you can find a tulip festival near you this season.
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Tulip festivals to visit
21 March - 12 May: Tulip Festival Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tulip Festival traditionally is the start of spring in The Netherlands. Millions of spring flowers, like tulips, show their brilliant colours to visitors from all over the world.
During Tulip Festival there are many flower events in The Netherlands Flower gardens like Keukenhof, the Dutch Flower Parade and various tours for sightseeing the amazing tulip fields. Many of the activities are close to Amsterdam and ideal to combine with a visit to one of the most beautiful cities in The Netherlands.
Open Varying open times between gardens and events
Tickets Separate booking must be made for different activities
Location Various locations in The Netherlands
Web tulipfestivalamsterdam.com
29 March - 28 April: Tulleys Tulip Fest, West Sussex
Celebrate the arrival of spring at Tulleys Tulip Fest! Step into the colourful fields, a natural spectacle featuring over 500,000 tulips.
With over 100 different varieties, Tulleys have amongst them early bloomers, mid-season and late-season varieties, which creates a rolling kaleidoscope of colour throughout the season. Each tulip variety offers a distinct burst of colour, shape, and size, together creating a stunning, picturesque landscape.
These fields are not just a treat for the eyes but also offer a peaceful escape into nature, where the beauty of these flowers can be truly appreciated. Whether you're a tulip enthusiast, a lover of natural beauty, or simply seeking a tranquil retreat, the tulip fields are a perfect destination.
Open 10am - 2pm
Tickets From £10
Location Tulleys Farm, Turners Hill Rd, Turners Hill, West Sussex RH10 4PD
Web tulipfarm.co.uk
1 - 30 April: Arundel Tulip Festival, West Sussex
An annual springtime celebration and now one of the most recognised gardening events in the UK, come and explore Arundel Castle’s sensational tulip festival. Set against the iconic backdrop of the castle, a breathtaking array of colours will greet you as over 100,000 tulip bulbs, representing 120 different varieties, have been lovingly planted by the castle's acclaimed Head Gardener, Martin Duncan, and his skilled team.
As visitors approach the castle entrance on Mill Road, ‘Red Impression’ tulips are in full flower giving everyone a wonderful welcome. Once the majestic Castle comes into view you will see the stunning ‘Oxford Red’ tulips on the Castle’s iconic steep banks with more coming into flower each day. Here's what to expect at Arundel Castle.
Open 10am-5pm
Tickets Included with any ticket giving garden admittance, starting at £15
Location Arundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9AB
Web arundelcastle.org
8 - 28 April: Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival, Surrey
The gardens and courtyards at Hampton Court Palace will be awash with colour this spring, with visitors of all ages invited to experience tens of thousands of dazzling tulips.
Hampton Court Palace has a long association with the elegant tulip, as former resident Queen Mary II was a keen horticulturist and collected exotic plants to feature in the gardens at the palace. The prized tulip was first introduced to the British Isles in the 1630s, but visitors will be able to admire a number of historic varieties of tulip in the Lower Orangery Garden stretching back to the 1500s thanks to with a collaboration with Hortus Bulborum, in the Netherlands.
For those wanting to discover more, expert Palace Hosts will also be delivering daily Tulip Talks, sharing the history of the most coveted flower of the 18th century and the Queen who introduced them to Hampton Court.
Looking for more on Hampton Court Flower Show?
Open 10am - 5.30pm
Tickets Included with garden admission, which starts at £26.30
Location East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU
Web hrp.org.uk
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20 April - 4 May: Burnby Hall Gardens and Museum Tulip Festival, Yorkshire
The annual Tulip Festival at Burnby Hall Gardens, Pocklington is always a very popular event and provides a colourful and vibrant beginning to the new season.
There will be a cascade of colours throughout the gardens, with over 18,000 tulips (130 varieties) formally displayed in tubs and the main flower beds across the site.
Once again, the tulip display has been planned by Jill Ward, Head Gardener, and is the culmination of months of preparation by herself and the gardening team at Burnby Hall Gardens.
Open 10am-5.30pm
Tickets From £8.70
Location Burnby Hall Gardens, The Balk, Pocklington, York, YO42 2QF
Web burnbyhallgardens.com
22 April - 6 May: Pashley Manor Gardens Tulip Festival, East Sussex
Pashley Manor’s spectacular Tulip Festival sees this garden, on the border of Sussex and Kent, carpeted with over 45, 000 tulips, creating stunning scenes for visitors to enjoy. A hundred varieties of tulip are planted in colour themed garden ‘rooms’ throughout the grounds and in pot displays.
Visitors can wander from elegant displays of white lily flowered and palest cream classic tulips planted around an old brick terrace, to the open space of sweeping herbaceous borders covered in a riot of reds and oranges surrounded by tendrils of bronze fennel, or romantic soft pink peony flowered blooms cloistered between red brick walls and pleached pear trees.
Yet more tulips are on display as cut flowers in the Bloms Bulbs marquee. Bloms, winners of seventy Chelsea Gold Medals, are on hand throughout the Festival to share their knowledge of these beautiful bulbs and to take orders from those inspired by the spectacle.
Open 10am-5pm
Tickets £15.50
Location Pashley Manor Gardens, Ticehurst, Near Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 7HE
Web pashleymanorgardens.com
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4 - 6 May: Morton Hall Gardens Tulip Festival, Worcestershire
In addition to intricate tulip planting schemes in formal borders and pots, swathes of naturalized bulbs may be enjoyed in the glorious spring meadows and woodland gardens at Morton Hall Gardens. Many more magical tulip varieties will be on display as cut flowers with experts from Bloms, winners of 70 Chelsea Gold Medals, on hand to advise.
The event will be hosted jointly with the Royal Shakespeare Company, as part of the garden's continuous support of the costume department.
Open 10am-5pm
Tickets £15
Location Morton Hall Gardens, Morton Hall Ln, Redditch B96 6SJ
Web mortonhallgardens.co.uk
4 - 6 May: Glenarm Castle and Garden Tulip Festival, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Step into the enchanting Walled Garden at Glenarm and immerse yourself in a magnificent display of tulips, meticulously curated by expert gardeners who will be on hand throughout the festival to share their wisdom and answer all your gardening questions.
For families, meet the world’s most famous outlaw and his band of merry men in action-packed live performances of Robin Hood. These family friendly performances will take place at numerous intervals on Sunday 5th and Monday 6th May.
No festival is complete without carnival rides, Mini Land Rover Experience, craft stalls & exhibitions, and not to mention a variety of delicious food and drink.
Open 10am-5pm
Tickets £12
Location 2 Castle Lane, Glenarm, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT44 0BQ, N.Ireland
Web glenarmcastle.com
