Tulip Festival at Hampton Court Palace

This Spring, Hampton Court Palace will once again burst into a breathtaking display of colour for the annual Tulip Festival. Historic Royal Palaces invites visitors to wander through one of the UK’s largest displays of award-winning planted tulips, where over 100,000 tulip bulbs will bring the Palace’s historic gardens to life.

Bright blooms will burst from every corner of the formal gardens and cobbled courtyards of Hampton Court Palace this April, with each bulb handpicked and planted by its expert gardening team. The Palace has a long association with the elegant tulip, as former resident Queen Mary II was a keen horticulturist and collected exotic plants to feature in the gardens. 

In 2024, Graham Dillamore, Head Gardener at Hampton Court Palace, was awarded the World Tulip Award for Britain’s Largest and greatest Tulip Heritage Garden at the 9^th World Tulip Summit. 

From 11^th April – 5^th May, visitors can stroll through the grounds amidst an array of carefully curated tulips, all included in general admission:

• Over 10,000 vibrant tulips will fill Fountain Court, the heart of Queen Mary II’s baroque palace.
• Floating tulip bowls will drift in the Great Fountain, showcasing a beautiful floral display.
• A vintage horse cart spilling tulips will take centre stage in Clock Court, offering a picture-perfect glimpse into the past.
• In the Kitchen Garden, a free style of planting, inspired by tulip fields in the Netherlands, will illustrate the diversity in tulip types.
• View rare, historic and specialist varieties in the Lower Orangery, some of which date back over five centuries.
• Palace Hosts will deliver daily Tulip Talks at 11.30am and 2.30pm in the Palace Wine Cellar, sharing the history of the most coveted flower of the 18^th century and the Queen who introduced them to Hampton Court.

Celebrate the seasonal spectacle of tulips in bloom at this year’s festival by capturing the ultimate springtime photo opportunity, against the backdrop of one of Britain’s most stunning Tudor palaces, perfect for keen gardeners, flower enthusiasts or those looking for a fun-filled day out.

Graham Dillamore, Head Gardener of Hampton Court Palace, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome visitors back to Hampton Court Palace this spring for another spectacular Tulip Festival. Over 100,000 of our award-winning tulips will erupt in colourful displays across the grounds and gardens, carefully selected and planted to showcase the Palace’s rich horticultural heritage. It’s a great honour to be the recipient of Britain’s Largest and greatest Tulip Heritage Garden at the 9^th World Tulip Summit, a testament to the expertise and dedication of our gardening team.”