In late April the seasons move on from pink to blue, from blossom to bells. These then are the weekends for a bluebell stroll, a rare treat before the flowers fade and summer greens overwhelm all.
But where best to enjoy a full-on floral display? One of the places that always puts on a fine show is Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield, so when I found myself nearby yesterday I dropped in for a wander.
Not Myddelton House again? I think this must be the fifth time you've written about it, do you have no better inspiration these days?
Michael | 26.04.25 - 1:14 a.m. |
I think you'll find it should be Myddleton House? DG you get this wrong every time, although I admit it is a very common misspelling.
Greg | 26.04.25 - 1:38 a.m. |
No it is Myddelton House. He actually got it right this year! I confess this surprised me enormously.
Annie | 26.04.25 - 3:07 a.m. |
Why were you nearby? Were you walking the New River Walk again? Did you take the Weaver line or catch the 327 bus?
Andrew | 26.04.25 - 4:43 a.m. |
Myddelton House used to be served by routes 135 and 144B although the 144B became the 231 in May 1954 and the 135 became the 191 in September 1982.
Steve | 26.04.25 - 5:22 a.m. |
Please shut up about bloody BUS ROUTES.
Peter | 26.04.25 - 6:58 a.m. |
Myddelton House's gardens are amazing thanks to Edward Bowles, a self-taught Victorian horticulturist who grew up here and went on to spend most of his waking hours planting and grafting. He rose high in the RHS, had numerous plants named after him, wrote several books about bulbed flowers and even became known as The Crocus King.
The current owners of the garden are the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, who used a half million pound Heritage lottery grant to restore the site and who continue to employ a crack team of gardeners who do absolutely sterling work. Entrance is free, although £2 donations are encouraged in a box by the entrance.
The Queen used to be married to Edward's great-great-nephew, i.e. Andrew Parker Bowles, and she turned up for the grand reopening in 2011 and planted a peach tree.
I still can't get used to the Queen not being Elizabeth but that Camilla woman...
Paul | 26.04.25 - 1:25 a.m. |
Crocuses do not grow from bulbs they grow from corms (also known as bulbotubers).
Nic | 26.04.25 - 2:10 a.m. |
Dunderhead. The plural of crocus is croci.
Tom | 26.04.25 - 5:36 a.m. |
Both plurals are acceptable but 'crocuses' is generally preferred.
Mel | 26.04.25 - 5:58 a.m. |
Why are we discussing crocuses?! It is late April they are all dead.
Harry | 26.04.25 - 6:21 a.m. |
One of the finest current displays can be found alongside the long crescent lawn, which in Edward's day was the path of the New River. It's known as the Tulip Terrace and in Edward's day it's where Edward's Tulip Tea was hosted on his birthday in May. This year the tulips are at their peak right now in April, and beautifully augmented by the pink blossom of the Judas tree in the background.
Below the Tulip Terrace are the nursery beds, the kitchen garden and several glasshouses you can walk through. There are also a lot of old people because Myddelton House is very much the kind of place that attracts pensioners of a green-fingered bent. They wander the gardens, poke at the beds, say "oh how lovely" a lot and inevitably end up in the cafe.
The cafe is in the visitor centre and offers very reasonably priced hot drinks, jacket potatoes, pasties and cream teas. If the cafe is busy you may find yourself in the tiny carriage shed which doubles up as overspill and a small museum. Perhaps you could enjoy a ham and tomato panini while admiring Edward's spade and ice skates.
You forgot to mention Enfield's old Market Cross in the pergola garden.
David | 26.04.25 - 1:04 a.m. |
You forgot to mention that in the 1960s the New River here was filled in using spoil from the newly-dug Victoria line.
Ewan | 26.04.25 - 2:52 a.m. |
You forgot to mention the ostriches. Both of them.
Victoria | 26.04.25 - 4:01 a.m. |
I can't believe how much you forgot to mention! Are you having a Senior Moment DG or are you merely exercising your editorial prerogative?
Martin | 26.04.25 - 5:39 a.m. |
But for bluebells you need to walk down to the far end, past the pond and the alpine meadow. The blue flowers here aren't bluebells, don't be fooled, they're scillas and camassias. Only when you reach the rock garden, which was Edward's favourite and which is where he was buried, do the bluebells truly kick off.
A non-ostentatious summerhouse provides shelter from spring sun or April showers. A few dainty paths thread around the site. The humpy ground surrounds three clay pools, most of which are empty at present. At the foot is a stream that feeds the Turkey Brook, across which is a gate which ought to lead to the local public footpath but is always locked.
To be fair it's not London's finest display of bluebells, more a fine sprinkling, so don't let me get your hopes up. I'd hate you to schlep all this way and then be disappointed not to see a perfect bobbing carpet. If you want proper bluebells I'd direct you to Lesnes Abbey Wood in Abbey Wood, Chalet Wood in Wanstead, Emmetts Garden in Kent or the Ashridge Estate in Herts. You probably have your own favourites.
Dockey Wood is absolutely spectacular.
Mike | 08.05.18 - 11:37 a.m. |
Perivale Wood is fabulous, but having a year off this year.
Pat | 27.10.20 - 9:09 a.m. |
Plenty of bluebells in Highgate Woods.
Johnny | 03.05.21 - 5:34 p.m. |
The woodlands around Kemnal Manor have loads of bluebells in spring.
K | 16.06.22 - 5:24 p.m. |
Heartwood Forest near St Albans is worth revisiting.
Andrew | 14.01.24 - 6:26 p.m. |
But Myddelton House Gardens are worth a visit any time, varying splendidly with the seasons, and all thanks to Edward Bowles the Crocus King.
