Swiss Cottage is one of London’s best-kept “local secrets” for spring blooms. While most tourists flock to Kew Gardens or Greenwich, Swiss Cottage offers a stunning, concentrated display of cherry blossoms right next to the Underground station.

What to expect: There is a beautiful avenue of white flowering cherry trees ($Prunus \times yedoensis$) and secondary canopies of pink blossoms ($Prunus \times subhirtella$ ‘Autumnalis Rosea’).

Vibe: It creates a dense “cloud” of pink and white that frames the mid-century architecture of the library. It is a favorite spot for the local Japanese community and photographers./

R Heaton