Hampton Court Palace's Gardens Explode Into Colour With 120,000 Tulips

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Hampton Court Palace's Gardens Explode Into Colour With 120,000 Tulips

This is a sponsored article on behalf of Historic Royal Palaces.

Thousands of tulips basking in the sunlight at Hampton Court
120,000 tulip bulbs have been planted at the palace, and they're about to explode into spellbinding colour. Image: Historic Royal Palaces

Delight in the sight of over 120,000 tulips, as they burst into vibrant colour in the stunning grounds of Hampton Court Palace this April.

You know spring has sprung with the arrival of the palace's Tulip Festival — and this year is set to be a blooming marvellous one. It's the UK's biggest tulip festival, after all.

Tulips in the foreground with a blurred out palace behind
Horticultural aficionados with full-blown tulip fever will be in awe of the 60 rare, historic and specialist varieties on show. Image: Historic Royal Palaces

Strolling through the courtyards and gardens of King Henry VIII's former residence, you'll encounter thousands upon thousands of the incandescent springtime blooms — some in spectacular floating vases in the palace fountains, others forming great seas of colour across the flower beds.

The festival kicks off on 12 April, when the palace's gardeners predict the tulips will look their prettiest — and just in time for the bank holiday weekends!

Tulips will form great seas of colour throughout the palace's grounds. Image: Historic Royal Palaces

Horticultural aficionados with full-blown tulip fever will be in awe of the 60 rare, historic and specialist varieties inspired by Mary II's 17th century collection, which she nurtured right here at Hampton Court Palace.

But this is a flower festival for everyone — an unmissable opportunity to capture Insta-friendly snaps of you, your family and friends, with a beautiful backdrop of perfect petals. Make sure you share your photos using the hashtag #TulipFest22.

Plump pink tulips growing in front of the palace
This is a flower festival for everyone. Image: Historic Royal Palaces

But beauty is fleeting — so make sure you catch these spellbinding flowers while they're at their blooming best.

Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival, 12 April-2 May 2022, included in price of entry to the palace. It's so easy to get here from central London (35 minutes on the train from Waterloo, and less from Vauxhall and Clapham Junction).

Last Updated 19 April 2022