Following a successful inaugural event last year, the multi-sensory Sounds of Blossom will return to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew this March in a collaboration with the Royal College of Music offering visitors the chance to enjoy new uplifting musical compositions at blossom hot-spots around the Gardens…
A kaleidoscope of bulbs including crocuses, daffodils and tulips, coupled with the sweet fragrance and visual glory of pink cherry blossom clouds, for many spring is the most spectacular season time of all to plan a visit to Kew Gardens, London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site, while the Sounds of Blossom event offers a further reason to pause and reconnect with nature as the garden awakens from a long winter and we all feel the benefit of the longer days, with more time spent out of doors.
This immersive floral fantasy has been choreographed to awaken the senses and celebrate this much-anticipated seasonal spectacle, the Royal College of Music will explore the connection between music, nature and wellbeing through their specially-commissioned compositions, including seven new works capturing the vibrancy and energy of nature in springtime and the serene beauty of Kew’s world-renowned cherry trees, whose blossoms have brought untold pleasure since they were first introduced here in the early 1900s, including Sargent’s Cherry (Prunus ‘Sargentii’) from Hokkaido, the most northern island of the Japanese archipelago, a variety which can grow to 20 metres.
A plethora of pastel shades will burst into life alongside the Royal College of Music’s soundscapes as you wander along Princess Walk, transformed by magnolias and Cherry Walk, Asano Avenue where naturalised tulips below and the chrysanthemum-like pink flowers of the Japanese cherry trees (Prunus ‘Asano’) above create a painterly scene with the backdrop of the iconic Temperate House, along with the Japanese Landscape with its great white cherry (Prunus ‘Taihaku’).
Sounds of Blossom can be experienced as part of the standard Kew Gardens admission charge, including live weekend recitals featuring the Roselle String Quartet, Ormonde Wind Quintet, Cordelia String Quartet, Versa Winds and Levanto Wind Trio Chamber Group on selected days. The Botanical Brasserie’s Blossom-Inspired Afternoon Tea will also run throughout the event, including on Mother’s Day and during Easter weekend, and is a suitably special way to conclude an unforgettable day at Kew Gardens this spring.
Sounds of Blossom at Kew Gardens 11am – 6pm (last entry 5pm) from 14 March to 6 April 2026, with live recitals on weekends. Entry is included when purchasing a standard admission ticket. For more information, advance tickets and afternoon tea bookings please visit the website.
