Spring has officially arrived and one of the most beautiful markers of the new season is cherry blossom.
Although the delicate pale pink petals are typically associated with Japan, where a festival dedicated to them attracts millions of tourists each year, it’s possible to catch a glimpse of these wonderful flowers in London, too.
Greenwich Park has long been hailed as one of the best places in the city to see cherry blossom – along with the likes of Regent’s Park, Kew Gardens and St Paul’s Cathedral.
So, if you’re unable to travel to Japan for sakura season this year, catch a train to South London to take advantage of the beautiful displays.
Head along Blackheath Avenue to see the blooms in all their glory, where visitors will find an arch of cherry blossom trees leading to a Georgian villa called Ranger’s House.
Sign up to The Getaway newsletter
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
Commenters on TripAdvisor have left glowing reviews, with one user sharing: ‘Beautiful skies and sakura tunnel. Great for picnics. Greenwich typically blooms a bit later than other areas like Regent’s Park.’
On TikTok, many users have shared captivating videos of the pink displays.
One said: ‘Run to Greenwich Park to experience Cherry Blossom rain’, while another captioned a video, ‘Spring in London is pure magic and nothing captures the season better than cherry blossoms in full bloom. Greenwich Park – go inside via Charlton Way or just google Ranger’s House to find this cherry blossom lane.’
Be warned though, this area of the park can get extremely busy. One user recently shared on Reddit that the cherry blossoms are ‘besieged morning, noon and night by Instagrammers’.
However, another local helpfully pointed out that there are other trees dotted around the park that go unnoticed by photographers, sharing: ‘I used to live right by the park so I went down there at 8am one time and the avenue was fairly busy already (including groups doing dances to camera), but there were some other lovely individual blossom trees nearby if you just wander around a bit.’
And the dusting of cherry blossom petals isn’t the only reason Greenwich Park is worth a visit. It’s also the home of the Royal Observatory – where Greenwich Mean Time was born.
The National Maritime Museum is a three-minute walk away from the park, plus Greenwich Market and the Cutty Sark are popular attractions in the area.
The market has been serving locals and visitors since 1737 with stalls selling art, antiques, crafts, clothing, food and more, and is open daily from 10am to 5.30pm.
The Cutty Sark, meanwhile, is a restored Victorian ship and museum, which now remains permanently on the shore of the Thames.
More places to see cherry blossom in London
- St Paul’s Cathedral: Find a small number of trees in St Paul’s Churchyard and take a picture of the branches framing the iconic dome.
- Kew Gardens: The Rose Garden at the back of Palm House is home to a row of vibrant cherry blossom trees.
- Regent’s Park: Avenue Gardens is the perfect spot for a romantic stroll thanks to the pretty cherry blossom trees.
- St James’ Park: There’s a smattering of cherry blossom trees spread out throughout the park, making this a great location for a long walk on a sunny day.
- Crouch End: Cecile Park is a road lined with cherry blossom trees, and it’s sure to make visitors envious of its lucky residents.
Although the UK isn’t going to replace Japan as the top destination for sakura any time soon, the journey to Greenwich Park is a lot quicker than the trip from London to Kyoto. The flight to Osaka, the nearest airport, takes at least 15 hours.
And staying in London might be a better option either way, because Kyoto was recently described as the ‘seventh ring of hell’ by social media users after a video of a crowded street went viral.
The footage shows hundreds of people tightly packed in and struggling to make their way down the historic Sannenzaka street, with local authorities attempting to control pedestrian traffic.
The video has sparked concerns of overcrowding, with locals claiming ‘Japan has been ruined by over-tourism’, and saying they’re ‘waiting on tourist regulations’.
One user, @themovementclinic, commented: ‘That is insane, I am so happy I went eight years ago, absolutely no crowds.’
Japan’s tourism industry has exploded in recent years, welcoming a record 36 million international tourists in 2024, and locals are feeling the effects.
Last year, Kyoto banned tourists from some areas of its Gion district, famous for its geishas and maikos, after residents complained about overcrowding and harassment of the geishas.
More recently, Japan announced plans to double its entry fee for climbers visiting Mount Fuji to ¥4,000 (£20), in order to tackle concerns around overcrowding and pollution.
But if you’re still looking for a trip abroad to celebrate the start of the new season, Metro has rounded up the European cities that are at their best in spring.
Luna Park, in Stockholm, also boasts pretty cherry blossom displays. Or, for something different, check out the tulips in Istanbul and orange blossom in Seville.
This article was originally published on March 8, 2024.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
MORE: Heathrow Airport closed all day after fire causes huge power outage
MORE: Sir Mark Rowley: It’s time to start using terror tactics on men who beat women
MORE: Christian teacher who told pupils being gay is a ‘sin’ loses High Court appeal
