Where to See Wisteria in London

It’s the end of March, which means spring is just around the corner in London. After living there for five years, there really is no denying it: London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world to photograph. And while there’s some truth to the stereotype that London is often fraught with gloomy skies, when London wants to show off, it shows off. One example of this is spring, when the city fills with opportunity to see wisteria in London.

You often smell the wisteria before you see it, that unmistakable scent of spring. While wisteria has a fairly short blooming period – usually only a few weeks – I believe it makes for some of the prettiest photos of London, especially if you’re lucky enough to catch it on a sunny day. It’s certainly a popular time for Instagrammers in London; there’s even a hashtag called #wisteriahysteria because it’s just so hard to resist taking a photo of the purple blooms.

While the wisteria season changes every year, the flowers usually start to bloom in April and can continue blooming until May. Although long-time readers know that I usually spend most of my time in East London, there’s no denying that some of the best wisteria spotting takes place in the west, including in Kensington, Chelsea, and Notting Hill.

So if you’re fortunate enough to be in the English capital in that time, here are some of the best places to see wisteria in London. My suggestion? Plot out a walking tour for yourself and make a day of it, as all of these locations are fairly close to one another.

Where to see wisteria in London:

Kynance Mews

Kynance Mews is, without a doubt, one of the prettiest places to see wisteria in London. This mews (a mews is a row or street of houses that have been converted by stables or made to look like former stables) is beautiful at any time of the year, but in spring and autumn it really comes alive with colour.

Closest tube station: Gloucester Road or High Street Kensington

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTMbOAKFYkW/?taken-by=thisbatteredsuitcase

Bedford Gardens

Another absolutely beautiful stop if you’re looking for wisteria in London. I imagine this street has one of the most photographed doors in all of London, especially in spring. And yes, I felt a bit bad taking a photo of somebody’s front door… but c’mon now. They painted it PINK.

Closest tube station: Notting Hill

Sumner Place

Not as quaint as the other streets on this list, Sumner Place is still a fantastic place to see wisteria in London. It is one of those fabulously posh streets that I’ve only ever experienced in West London.

Closest tube station: South Kensington

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTPRAKBlz4X/?taken-by=thisbatteredsuitcase

Elm Place

Another must-see if you’re looking for wisteria in London. This is also one of the most photographed streets in London in spring, and it’s certainly not difficult to see why!

Closest tube station: South Kensington or Gloucester Road

Other places to see wisteria in London:

Christchurch Street

Gordon Place

Holland Park

Park Walk

St. Leonard’s Terrace

Cheyne Walk

Ensor Mews

Have you ever seen the wisteria in London before? Do you often seek out spring flowers, autumn leaves, etc. to photograph?