Photo by:Ayten
As spring arrives in its full glory, the UK comes alive with beautiful blossoms, clear blue skies and birdsong. Hedgerows are laden with cow parsley, sunlight sparkles on the morning dew and fresh growth bursts through the thawed earth.
These longer, brighter days are perfect for spending quality time in the great outdoors. So, we’ve chosen some of the most inspirational photographs sent to us by our followers via our Spring Holiday Watch campaign in partnership with the RSPB as they make the most of this dazzling season.
If you’d like to know the best places to see spring flowers in the UK, read on. Or for more seasonal inspiration, have a read of our guide to Celebrating spring in the UK.
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Springtime in the UK Q&A
Spring is the season of colour, so anywhere where there is full sun or dappled shade, you’re likely to see snowdrops, daffodils, bluebells, tulips, crocuses, forget-me-nots and hyacinths, to name just a few.
Another of the most exquisite delights of an English spring is the arrival of blossom, which provides precious nectar for pollinating insects. Fountains of pastel-shaded flowers accompanied by a delicate fragrance adorn once-bare branches in our woodland and hedgerows, including blackthorn, hawthorn and crab apple trees.
Cherry blossom is another of the most iconic signs of spring in the UK, and the blushing flowers of these majestic trees can often be admired in parkland, gardens and arboretums.
The simple answer is that because the days get longer in spring, plants are exposed to more sunlight and this combined with a rise in temperature, means that plants grow more quickly, and seeds germinate.
Why not browse our guide to 10 of the best flower fields to photograph in the UK for some more inspiration?
Photo by Natasha Hamilton
Wander through bluebells in Cambridgeshire
Grafham Water, Huntingdon
Did you know that more than half the world’s bluebells flower right here in the UK? Seeing these iridescent purple blooms scattered along a grassy verge or carpeting a woodland floor has to be a highlight of any walk, and this explosion of colour is one of the quintessential signs of spring.
If you’re wondering where to see bluebells in the UK, why not head for the ancient forest found at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire, as Natasha and her family have done in the image above? Between April and May, you can follow the woodland path and admire the bell-shaped flowers forming a sweetly scented sea of vivid blue.
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Photo by Mairi Mackenzie
Find swathes of snowdrops in Staffordshire
National Trust’s Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire
Mairi has captured this captivating clump of snowdrops within the grounds of Shugborough Estate, owned by the National Trust in Staffordshire. As the leaves of the trees emerge almost fluorescent green, the springtime sun dapples through their branches and casts shadows on these nodding white flowers.
Snowdrops peep through the frozen soil of winter from January to early March, bringing with them the promise of longer, warmer days to come. If you’d like to know where to see snowdrops in the UK, shaded woodland areas and along riverbanks are some of the best spots.
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Photo by Charlene Green
Drift through daffodils in Norfolk
Sheringham Park, Norfolk
William Wordsworth was inspired by them, and our gardens are made just that little bit sunnier by them; daffodils are the emblem of springtime. A symbol of positivity, this cheery flower even comes equipped with a pollen-producing trumpet to welcome spring with a fanfare! Just look at Charlene’s dog, Rio, posing amidst some of Sheringham Park’s finest in Norfolk, above.
Without a doubt, these joyful yellow flowers are sure to brighten your day. Wondering where to see daffodils? They are typically found blooming in our parklands, fields and flowerbeds from late February through to early May.
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Photos bySally
Enjoy a rainbow of colour in North Yorkshire
Harrogate Stray, Knaresborough, and RHS Garden Harlow Carr
Yorkshire has more than its fair share of award-winning gardens and parks to enjoy during the spring. Pockets of colour and fragrance that never fail to lift the spirits can be found across the land, and Sally has found the cream of the crop in and around the Borough of Harrogate, above.
If you’ve been longing to know where to see cherry blossoms in the UK, then The Stray should be at the top of your list – the pink and white eruption of this lovely prunus is a magical spectacle. If you’d prefer to know where to see tulips, then head to RHS Garden Harlow Carr which features a Tulip Trail with over 100 different species of this spring-favourite flower.
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Photo by Justine Ruthie Dunster
Admire a carpet of purple in Worcestershire
The Malvern Hills, Worcestershire
There is something extra special about the Malvern Hills in spring. It's one of the best places to see spring flowers in the UK. The grass breathes anew after the frosty months behind, and the verdant slopes are awash with a flurry of bluebells. This heart-warming mass of azure in April and May is best observed along Jubilee Drive.
We love this image sent to us by Justine, who has captured this divine canvas of electric blue with the rolling hills stretching into the far distance. In the foreground, the small flowers with their gently drooping stems appear impossibly delicate, while those further away create a hazy mirage, almost shimmering in the sunlight.
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Photo by Annette Marsh
Look out for blossom and bees in Cornwall
St Mawes, Cornwall
As blossom transforms bare tree branches into a palette of pastel hues, the warmth of the spring sunshine awakens our bees who rely heavily on flower nectar in the early part of the season.
While out walking near St Mawes in Cornwall, Annette has photographed this busy bee buzzing its way around the dainty spring blooms. The detail caught through her long lens is simply extraordinary!
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Photo by Jane Dilley
Stroll through fragrant apple orchards in Dorset
Cider farm near Beaminster, Dorset
Dorset comes alive in spring, with its abundant apple orchards creating a sweet-scented canopy of colour for explorers. They are usually at their blooming best from early March when their gnarled branches are blanketed in thick clouds of flora.
Taken at a local cider farm, the picture-postcard image above by Jane encapsulates this natural spectacle perfectly.
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Photos by Jeanna Louise Skinner and Sophie Peters
Explore magical bluebell woodlands in Devon
Blackbury Camp (left) and Killerton (right)
We were overwhelmed with the number of breathtaking images sent to us of people enjoying their local bluebell woods. Some of the best displays were captured in Devon, including the two glorious shots above sent in by Jeanna and Sophie.
Blackbury Camp (left) is an ancient hill fort surrounded by woodland and is the perfect spot for a springtime picnic. Little pathways wind their way through the lilac carpet of bluebells allowing you to be right amongst them while not damaging the flowers. National Trust’s Killerton (right) is one of Devon’s great estates and beneath the trunks and boughs lie mesmerising ensembles of spring flowers, including hundreds of wild bluebells as far as the eyes can see.
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Photo by Leanne West
Meander through a sea of daffodils in Kent
Penshurst Place and Gardens, Kent
Affectionately known as The Garden of England, it’s no surprise that Kent is one of the top suggestions when asked, ‘where is the best place to see spring flowers?’ The adorable image above was sent in by Leanne, showing her daughter playing amidst the daffodils of Penshurst Place.
There are 48 acres of grounds to explore here, including 11 acres of formal gardens and myriad walking trails through parkland, woodland and along the river. As well as the impressive display of daffodils, other springtime highlights include around 12,500 Jewel of Spring tulips, many varieties of roses and the spectacular 100-metre peony border.
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Walk through fields of gold in Somerset
Taunton, Somerset
Bathed in golden spring light, this field of yellow blooms in Somerset has been beautifully caught on camera by Tinks. We can only imagine the wonderful heady aromas that must be rising into the blue sky as her family make their way through the wash of perfumed foliage.
This particular flower field was found in Taunton, but there are so many idyllic spots to savour the sights of the season in Somerset, including Tor Hole Fields in Wells, Stogumber Wildflower Meadow in Stogumber, and Farrington’s in Farrington Gurney.
Photo by: Tinks
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Explore the UK this spring
These lovely images really capture the essence of some of the UK's best places to see spring flowers. If these stunning scenes have inspired you to book a getaway to the great outdoors, be sure to browse our full collection of spring breaks in the UK. From family-friendly getaways to romantic retreats for two, our holiday cottages for spring offer the perfect setting to celebrate the beauty of this enchanting season.
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