Did you know that 47 per cent of London is green space and that there are eight million trees scattered around the city? Over 38,000 of them are cherry blossoms. Usually, April is cherry blossom month (otherwise known as sakura) in London, but the blooms can be seen as early as March and as late as May. As spring is springing, the city gets an entirely new lease of life: vivid blooming flowers appear, sleepy green leaves uncurl, and cherry blossom trees explode to life. These pretty trees are planted all over the city, but some spots are home to more than others. Here's our guide to where you can see them in full bloom in London.
Where to see the cherry blossoms in London
In this guide
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Spotting cherry blossoms in London
- St. Paul's Cathedral – St Paul's but make it PINK
- Mount Street Gardens – A grisly past gets a pretty pink makeover
- St James's Park – Pelicans and pink blossom
- Greenwich Park – Petal-coated pathways
- The Regent's Park – Pink blossoms all over the park
- Kew Gardens – Different Japanese varieties
- Kensington Gardens – Cherry blossom viewing parties
- Kyoto Garden – A traditional Japanese Garden in Notting Hill
- Alexandra Park & Palace – Banging city views and cherry blossoms
- Tavistock Square Gardens – An ode to legends
- Sussex Gardens – R&R in the city
- Primrose Hill – Pretty in pink in Primrose Hill
- Colebrooke Row Gardens – Blooming blossom walkways
- Cecile Park – A classic blossom-lined street
- Battersea Park – The perfect Sunday activity
Spotting cherry blossoms in London
The best places to see cherry trees blossom in London
St Paul's but make it PINK
If you think St. Paul's already excels in beauty on a regular day, then you need to see it throughout spring. Several cherry blossom trees spring to life in St. Paul's Churchyard, providing a stunning border around the Baroque-style cathedral designed by the legendary Sir Christopher Wren.
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Saint Paul's Churchyard, The City/City of London
- Website • 020-724 683 50
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A grisly past gets a pretty pink makeover
Every spring, this tiny garden in Mayfair is treated to rows of cherry blossoms exploding into fluffy pink versions of themselves. Comfortable benches line the footpaths, each inscribed with a message dedicated to Americans who have visited and loved the park in its time, like "a Texan who spent many happy hours here." It's almost too easy to forget the gruesome history of this former burial site; it hasn't always been so picturesque but is undoubtedly a sight to behold come spring.
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Mount Street, Mayfair
- 020-764 123 90
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Pelicans and pink blossom
You could visit St James's Park solely to see its resident pelicans, who have called the park their home for nearly 400 years. But it's not just the colony of big-beaked birds that live here; it's also home to a handful of cherry blossom trees that bloom to life in spring. Take a stroll in the Buckingham Palace side of the park to see some standing tall by the lake. There's also another cluster by Storey's Gate in front of the Treasury.
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St James's Park, Westminster
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Petal-coated pathways
Greenwich Park is one of the best places in London to surround yourself with voluptuous cherry blossom trees. Climb up the Greenwich Park hill and beyond the Planetarium and Observatory, and you'll reach the path by Ranger's House. It's one of the best spots to snap a pink pic for the gram, where a whole row of trees leads to the elegant Georgian villa.
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Greenwich Park, Greenwich
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Pink blossoms all over the park
There are cherry blossoms throughout Regent's Park, so finding them needn't be too difficult. However, to get the best snap for your grid, head to Avenue Gardens and Chester Road, where you'll find Japanese-style cherry blossom tunnels and paths blanketed with pink petals.
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Regent's Park, Camden Town
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Different Japanese varieties
If you want to see different varieties of cherry blossom trees, then the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Gardens is your best bet. They have all kinds of Japanese types, like double-flowering Kanzan, flowering apricot mume trees, white-flowered Hatazakura and Tai Haku. Stroll along their famous Cherry Walk behind the Palm House, continuing to Asano Avenue to make the most of this seasonal show.
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond
- Website • 020-833 256 55
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Cherry blossom viewing parties
Kensington Gardens is home to the cherry blossom viewing parties set up by the Japanese Society Conservation Group, so you know it will be a good spot to see these blooms in full force. Head to the Albert Memorial and Lancaster Gate for the best views.
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Kensington Gardens
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A traditional Japanese Garden in Notting Hill
This elegant landscaped garden, nestled within Holland Park, was a gift from the Chamber of Commerce of Kyoto in 1991. It features everything a traditional Japanese garden should, like water features, koi fish ponds, and lots of pink sakura trees. Do as the Japanese do and find a spot to picnic with your pals under the canopy of pink petals – take a bottle of saké to really embrace the tradition.
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Holland Park Avenue, Kensington
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Banging city views and cherry blossoms
Alexandra Palace is one of the best spots in the city for epic views of London's skyline. There are also around thirty cherry trees scattered throughout the park, which explode to life in spring, turning it into a museum of stunning Japanese sakura trees.
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Alexandra Palace Way, Haringey
- Website • 020-836 521 21
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An ode to legends
This park in Bloomsbury is a memorial and peace garden where the statues and trees honour historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi and a beautiful big cherry tree dedicated to the victims of Hiroshima. The park is scattered with benches, so take a moment of silence amidst nature to remember these prominent historical figures surrounded by pretty pink petals.
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Tavistock Square Gardens, Bloomsbury
- Website • 020-797 416 93
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R&R in the city
Get up close to blooming cherry trees in Paddington Sussex Gardens, a small square a few hundred meters from the Italian Garden. It's bordered by pretty quintessential London townhouses and hotels and is a wonderful spot to take a breather and rejuvenate away from the city's hectic streets.
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Sussex Gardens, Paddington
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Pretty in pink in Primrose Hill
Located only a stone's throw from Regent's Park, Primrose Hill not only has some of the best views in the city but is also home to a sprinkling of cherry trees, not only in the park but also dotted around the borough. Head to St. Mark's Church for beautiful blossoms with the pretty church as your backdrop.
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Primrose Hill, Hampstead
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Blooming blossom walkways
This small green space in Islington makes a lovely spot to perch on a bench and admire the beautiful blossoms. You can also stroll along the tree-lined path underneath a canopy of trees and listen to the sound of birds chirping away. The canal is also right next door, so take a stroll along the waterway afterward.
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Colebrooke Row Gardens, Islington
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A classic blossom-lined street
Cecile Park is lined with quaint Edwardian houses and trees; it's one of those classic picturesque London streets. Despite its name, it's not a park, it's a street lined with voluptuous cherry blossom trees that look particularly pretty throughout the spring months.
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Cecile Park, Haringey
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The perfect Sunday activity
As if Battersea Park wasn't picturesque enough with its Buddhist Peace Pagoda and endless green space, it's also home to an avenue of cherry blossom trees at Cherry Trees Avenue. Grabbing a coffee from Pear Tree Café, a waterside café located inside the park, then wandering around the lush garden is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday.
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Battersea Park, Battersea
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FAQ
When is cherry blossom season in the UK?
Cherry blossom season in the UK typically spans from late March to early May. The peak bloom varies slightly each year, influenced by weather conditions.
What month are cherry blossoms in the UK?
April is the prime month for cherry blossoms in the UK. During this month, various regions experience the full bloom of these enchanting flowers, offering spectacular views and ideal opportunities for photography.
Is it cherry blossom or Sakura?
Cherry blossom is the term commonly used in English-speaking countries, whilst Sakura is the Japanese term. Both terms refer to the flowering of cherry trees, an event widely celebrated in Japan and increasingly appreciated in other parts of the world, including the UK.
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