The most beautiful places to visit in spring

Here, we’ll be revealing:

• The UK's most popular spring destinations
• The world's best reviewed spring sights
• The most popular European locations for a spring visit
• Methodology

The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew takes the top spot for the most reviews mentioning spring in the UK, with over 400 mentions. Kew Gardens hosts the largest and most diverse botanical collection across the globe, leaving visitors of Kew in awe of the beauty of the flowers in bloom during the springtime.

Kew Gardens wasn’t the only London destination to make the rankings, with St James’s Park at the heart of the capital taking second place. Londoners and tourists alike are fond of the iconic park, reviewing it as one of the go-to spots to visit this spring, beating other well-known spots in the capital city, including Hyde Park and Battersea Park.

Cornish village Pentewan near St Austell is the home of the third best rated place for spring visits with the Lost Gardens of Heligan. This beauty spot on the south coast of Cornwall is the only Cornish location to rank in the UK’s top voted spring destinations, and its 200-acre network of gardens, woodland trails, farmland and outdoor jungle make the third-place position well deserved.

Harrogate is home to not one but two destinations that made the UK rankings, with RHS Garden Harlow Carr taking fourth position and the Valley Gardens in seventh. The North Yorkshire city has plenty of beautiful spots to admire in spring, as Harrogate prides itself on its well-kept parks and gardens that visitors flock to visit all-year round, with spring proving to be a particular favourite. 

If you’re looking for a new place to explore abroad during the lighter months, we’ve gathered the most highly reviewed spring sights in the world for some travel inspiration.

Boasting 13 destinations in the global results, the United States clearly has no shortage of places to visit in spring. In fact, the top three most reviewed spring destinations globally are all located in the USA, with New York City’s Central Park taking the top spot with over 2,300 mentions. It’s home to an array of incredible natural scenery, and if you get to visit Central Park this season, you may even get treated to a glimpse   of the cherry blossoms dotted around the park  as well as other pastel colours on offer from daffodils and peonies to tulips and roses. Biltmore Estate in Asheville takes the second spot in the global rankings,  built by George Vanderbilt and famous for being America's largest home. Characteristic of the United States’ Gilded Age, Biltmore House is surrounded by  grounds originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The gardens include a Roman formal garden, a bush and tulip garden, decorative water fountains, and a conservatory.

Ranking in third place is New York City’s High Line. This railway-turned-park promises a unique spring visit for those exploring the Big Apple. A public-maintained park, the destination offers more than just a green space, with stunning architecture and contemporary art installations en route, as well as panoramic views of the city, making it a great place to see the city across all seasons.

Keukenhof in Lisse, Netherlands came fourth and is the only non-American spot in the top five of the world’s best spring sights, with Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens taking spot number five. 

Keukenhof in The Netherlands, which ranked fourth in the global rankings, takes the first spot among the European destinations, with over 1,000 reviews mentioning spring. Also known as ‘The Garden of Europe’, this botanical paradise in Lisse is one of the world's largest flower gardens with an estimated 7 million bulbs being planted in the grounds each year. This is just one of the things that visitors and locals alike can look forward to when visiting in the blooming season.

The Luxembourg Gardens in the French capital of Paris also make the rankings, taking second place. Well-known for its lawned areas, tree-lined promenades, and flowerbeds that perfectly frame the famous Medici Fountain, the gardens make for a wonderful spring visit.

Rounding off the top five is the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna in third place, Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew in fourth, and St. James's Park in fifth. Ireland’s St Stephen's Green and Spain’s Parque Del Retiro also feature in Europe's top 10 spring sights. 

Feeling innspired for a spring break? Check out more ideas for your next getaway on our short breaks guides and make the most of these beautiful locations in the blossoming spring.