With the weather finally matching the season, what better way to celebrate Spring than with flowers. Our friends over at Bloom & Wild have rounded up their favourite flower markets in Europe to brighten up your next trip.
Columbia Road – London
Located in the heart of East London, Columbia Road flower market is a feast for the eyes. Every Sunday this trendy street is transformed and turns into a busy attraction for tourists and Londoners on the look-out for fresh flowers and plants. Once you have picked your favourite bunch, we recommend exploring the eclectic array of stores that line the street. Once you start to feel peckish go straight to The Royal Oak for a traditional Sunday Roast.
Our floral pick: Peonies. These blooms are very photogenic and are sure to brighten your home. It’s a short season so be keep an eye out for them between May and July.
Where to stay – Batty Langley’s
Named after the author who taught the Georgian well-to-do how to style their houses and gardens, Batty Langley’s is a dapper boutique hotel in trendy Shoreditch, with sumptuous interiors and a playfully rakish personality.
Check rates and availability for Batty Langley’s or see all our London hotels here
Bloemenmarkt – Amsterdam
Bloemenmarkt is the world’s only floating flower market and can be found on the Singel Canal. Open seven days a week, the market features flowers, plants and typical Dutch souvenirs. If you are feeling extra floral, then we highly recommend travelling a little outside of the city to Keukenhof. Open from the end of March to mid-May, the festival shows over 7 million flowers creating a riot of fragrance and colour.
Our floral pick: Tulips. Tulips are the symbol of Holland and are so popular that in the mid-seventeenth century they created the first economic bubble, commonly known as Tulip Mania.
Where to stay – Canal House
Set across a cluster of canal-facing 17th-century merchant houses, the delightful Canal House has a sleek, contemporary décor with a palette inspired by Dutch Golden Age artwork. We love the large, tranquil garden, the perfect place to rest after a day spent exploring.
Check rates and availability for Canal House, or see all of our Amsterdam hotels here
Marché Aux Fleurs – Paris
Located on the Ile de la Cité, in the 4th arrondissement, this 200 year old market is a feast for the eyes. Look out for rare and unusual flower varieties, alongside seasonal blooms, orchids and plants. Make sure to plan your visit, as this market transforms every Sunday in to the Marché aux oiseauxe. The six pavilions are cleared of flowers to make ways for birds.
Located between the Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle chapel, this little market is in the heart of the city. After you have explored the blooms go in search of Berthillon’s legendary ice cream and enjoy the spring weather in the Square du Vert Galant.
Our floral pick: Lavender. Although more well associated with Provence, lavender is a beautifully fragrant flowers and found in its dried form across the market.
Where to stay – L’Hotel
With an air of bohemian elegance, L’Hotel’s richly decadent interiors evoke the glittering age of the Belle Époque. Enjoy a glass of absinthe in the velvet-lined bar, before sitting down for an unforgettable dinner at Michelin-starred Le Restaurant.
Check rates and availability for L’Hotel or see all our Paris hotels here
Campo Dei Fiore – Rome
The Campo Dei Fiore direct translates as a field of flowers. This name dates back to the middle ages when this square was a meadow. Now it is a popular market selling flowers, fruits and vegetables. After exploring the market head straight to Forno Campo de Fiori, a hole in the wall bakery that sells delicious pizza by the slice. Still hungry? Enjoy a gelato at the family run Corona Gelateria Artigianale.
Our floral pick: Rose. One of the national flowers of Italy, traditionally you only give roses in odd numbers. Unless you are gifting them to your significant other, where you give 12 to symbolise marriage or a lifetime commitment.
Where to stay: Buonanotte Garibaldi
A calming oasis nestled in the heart of Rome’s historic centre, Buonanotte Garibaldi has a stylish interior filled with works by artist-owner Luisa Longo. The hotel’s tranquil central courtyard, filled with lush greenery, is a wonderfully relaxing spot.
Check rates and availability for Buonanotte Garibaldi, or see all our Rome properties here
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