View across the garden at Ham House showing the tulips and muscari coming in to flower in spring — Tulips and muscari flowering in the garden at Ham House | © National Trust/Chris Davies

Gardens and parks in London

Warmer days are on their way and the first signs of spring have already landed at gardens and parks in London. Colourful crocuses and cheery daffodils are brightening up lawns and terraces, while the very first blossom buds are appearing here and there.

A carpet of bright yellow daffodils in the foreground, with a large pink magnolia tree against a blue sky

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The garden at Osterley Park

Plum, pear and apple trees provide nectar for busy bees at this time of year. And bluebells form a brilliant splash of bright purple colour, creating a beautiful vista towards the house.

A carpet of purple crocus flowers stretches across the lawns on the south side of Ham House in Ham, Surrey

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The garden at Ham House

In late February, a wave of vibrant purple crocus bulbs start to bloom across the Plats, creating an uplifting carpet of colour, accenting the south side of the Stuart mansion. A sure sign that spring is on its way.

During March, April and May, orchards and gardens across the capital burst into bloom, with delicate cherry, plum, apple and pear blossom adding splashes of colour to your visit.

Apricot blossom against a wall in the Kitchen Garden at Ham House and Garden, London

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The garden at Ham House

Wisteria cascades down the side of the Orangery café during May, creating a beautiful wash of lilac. Peonies start to flower too and blossom is still going strong, with apple and pear blossom adding decoration to Kitchen Garden.

Bright yellow daffodils in the foreground with Osterley House in the back ground against a blue sky

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The garden at Osterley Park

Spot the Great White Cherry in the Winter Garden this spring, also known as Prunus 'Tai Haku', with its brilliant white petals making a beautiful backdrop to your visit. Plum, pear and apple trees blossom from mid April, attracting bees busily collecting pollen and a colourful pink magnolia flowers

A girl playing at Morden Hall Park, with fluffy white blossom in the foreground of the shot

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Morden Hall Park

Spot delicate snowdrops early in the year scattered under the trees at Morden Hall Park. As the weather gets warmer, daffodils start to pop up too. Later on horse chestnut and hawthorn blossom appears, the perfect opportunity for spring photography

Sun rising through the trees with Magna Carta Memorial in foreground

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Runnymede and Ankerwycke

Spot fluffy goslings bobbing along the Thames at Runnymede during spring along with colourful splashes of bluebells in Coopers Hill Woods. The crab apple next to the tea-room comes into its own at this time of year with bright pink blossom appearing from mid April, signalling the start of warmer days to come.

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Rainham Hall

Crocuses and daffodils provide early colour to the garden, a sign of warmer weather to come. As spring progresses, spot fluffy clouds of blossom in the orchard. Apple, pear, plum and quince trees burst into flower, bringing splashes of colour and a delicate fragrance to the garden.

A close up of fluffy white apple blossom against a bright blue sky, with a bee resting in the centre of one of the flowers

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Explore the garden at Fenton House

Wander into the walled garden at Fenton House and find a sumptuous display of soft blossoms in the orchard. With the grass left to grow longer a meadow of seasonal wild flowers immerge accompanied by 2,000 white hyacinths.