Now, I really don’t want to jinx it, because we all know how temperamental the weather in London can be, but I think we might have actually made it, folks. The sun is shining, the temperature has soared into the twenties, and I’m in a drastically better mood than I was a month ago. It can only mean one thing: spring has officially sprung. And isn’t that just blooming lovely?
Do you know what else is blooming lovely? The plethora of floral displays that are beginning to burst into full bloom – not just across the city, but the entire continent. Europe is undeniably home to some of the most beautiful botanical displays in the world. And with UK searches for #flowerfestival surging by a whopping 123% in the last three months, it seems as though us Brits are rather keen to feast our eyes on some of them.
New research from ferry and cruise operator, DFDShas uncovered Europe’s most popular and picture-perfect flower festivalsbased on Instagram data. They analysed the number of Instagram posts associated with each festival, and have unveiled which floral paradises top the charts. And two of the top five flower festivals in Europe happen to be right here in our very own capital city.
The best flower festivals in Europe
Nabbing the top spot is – rather unsurprisingly – Amsterdam’s iconic tulip festival, Keukenhof Gardens. Filled to the brim with over 7 million blooming bulbsthe Dutch capital’s flower festival earns itself a pretty darn impressive 475,000 Instagram posts a year. But following closely behind is a flower show that’s much closer to home.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show came in second place, with 234,000 Instagram posts per year. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is short but oh-so sweet, running from May 20 – May 24 (yes, that is indeed next week). Taking place at the historic Royal Hospital Chelsea, the floral paradise attracts gardening enthusiasts across the globe with its jaw-droppingly gorgeous gardens, exhibits and displays.
RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival also managed to bag a spot in the top five. Taking place from July 1 – July 6, it’s a summery alternative to the springtime offering in Chelsea. The picturesque grounds of Hampton Court Palace earn themselves 22,100 Instagram posts a year.
Europe’s 5 best flower festivals
- Keukenhof Gardens, Amsterdam
- RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London
- Girona Temps de Flors, Girona
- Italian Infiorata Festivals, Genzano di Roma
- RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival, London
You can have a peruse at DFDS’s full floral findings here.
