#cherryblossom25
May has finally broken free from London’s gloomy drizzle, and the azaleas in Isabella Plantation are now in full, fiery bloom. If you’re wondering when’s the best time to visit, Labour Day weekend is it—hands down.
Just look at this springtime fairytale I’ve stumbled into, tucked deep inside Richmond Park.
Push open the timeworn iron gates of Richmond Park, and you’re instantly enveloped by 1,603 hectares of wild, untouched nature—it’s the largest Royal Park in any UK city and home to over 600 free-roaming deer.
Hidden away in the park’s secluded southeast corner lies Isabella Plantation, a magical woodland garden that feels like a glasshouse spellbound by spring. Spanning 40 acres, this floral sanctuary was established in 1831 and is famed for its rare azaleas, camellias, and exotic shrubs. Its design cleverly weaves streams and ponds through layered gardens like a living, breathing stage set.
Follow the winding boardwalk past Thomson’s Pond, and you’ll be greeted by towering azalea walls cascading down like floral waterfalls—carmine reds, soft peach pinks, and lilac purples shimmer in the dappled sunlight, their reflections dancing on the emerald-green water. It’s like an Impressionist’s palette come to life.
#travel
