Visiting the Tulip Fields in Hertfordshire over the Easter weekend. A taste of Dutch culture in the countryside.
Over the Easter weekend, in the spirit of the Brown Sign adventure we visited Tulley’s tulip fields in Hertfordshire, promising a wash of bright floral colours and wonderful experiences inspired by Dutch culture. It was our second visit, an opportunity to take my camera along for some flower photography but more importantly to spend some time outdoors in such a scenic location. After our first visit last year, it had a similar ‘feel’ to what we expected, a handful of ‘experiences’ for the social media generation, a variety of different food options but primarily, a field full of colourful tulips blossoming in the Spring sunshine and weather. Despite the dark clouds on the horizon, the sun managed to peak through and delivered a memorable and enjoyable experience.
Tickets are available to book online until 26th April, and thanks to last year’s visit we were able to secure ours early, giving us the freedom to be a little more spontaneous and enjoy an Easter Sunday outing. Over the Easter half‑term it makes for a lovely day out: friendly staff, plenty of food options, and a cheerful little shop at the end to satisfy any tulip‑related impulses. The whole place has the feel of an “event” – a touch of the American autumn fair, with oversized chairs, wooden clogs, windmills scattered across the fields, and old farming machinery tucked between the rows of flowers. It may not have the quiet reverence of a show at Kew or Chelsea, but as a family‑focused celebration of spring, full of heart and enthusiasm, it’s a delight to return and experience that burst of joy all over again.
A spontaneous Easter Sunday adventure to the tulip fields
Over the long bank‑holiday weekend, we decided to spend Easter Sunday at the tulip fields in Hertfordshire. It was our second visit, a cheerful celebration of this colourful flower in a relaxed, welcoming setting. We’d enjoyed it so much last year that, when tickets went on sale over Christmas, we snapped up two for the spring, giving ourselves something bright to look forward to. The whole event has the feel of an American‑style autumn fair: the tulips are the star attraction, blooming in every imaginable shade, but there are also playful, social‑media‑friendly photo spots, food stalls, and light entertainment that add to the atmosphere. It’s a step away from the more formal flower shows in London, yet it proves that a horticultural outing doesn’t need to be high‑brow – sometimes it can simply be joyful, colourful, and fun.
Arriving early, we were lucky to catch the warm spring sunshine, even if the grey storm clouds gathering on the horizon added a touch of drama, and, admittedly, some wonderfully contrasting photos. Having visited the year before, we had a simple plan: get in early, take a few opportunistic shots at the key attractions, and then settle into the easy ambiance of the day. One of the nicest parts of the event is the staff dotted around the fields, always happy to take a quick photo for couples or solo visitors. A few of the photo spots were a little soggy after the morning showers, but we still managed to tick off most of our goals. I climbed Onto the oversized American style chair; Anna tracked down the giant wooden clog – though it was far too damp to sit in this time.
Having achieved our main objective, and with more families and influencers arriving as the morning went on, we settled back to enjoy the atmosphere of such a colourful, idyllic setting. A scattering of wooden benches around the field offered the perfect excuse to rest our feet and simply take in the view. There’s something to be said for arriving early: the chance to enjoy the quiet before the crowds, and to capture clean, uncluttered photos of the flowers up close. I have a real weakness for close‑up photography, so it was a genuine treat. With a slight chill in the air, we wandered back towards the entrance where Anna could warm up with a coffee (and top up her energy reserves) while I switched to my short‑range lens and lost myself in photographing the delicate patterns of the petals.
You can easily lose yourself in the spirit of the occasion, and there are plenty of tempting food options if you’re inclined (though, notably, not much for the gluten‑free crowd). After an hour or two, with our creative impulses satisfied, we wandered back towards the car but not before stopping at the gift shop for a few tulip‑themed souvenirs. I still don’t have much of a green thumb, that’s very much my mum’s superpower, but I did find a cheerful little keepsake in the form of brightly coloured wooden tulips, now sitting proudly on my travel shelf, along with a new magnet for the fridge. You can buy real bunches of flowers to take home, but without a garden they’d be a little wasted on me. Instead, we left with a couple of novelty treasures and a whole collection of memories from another lovely spring outing.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoy this event. It brings a little touch of Dutch culture to a sunny corner of the English countryside, showcasing their most iconic flower in full spring colour. It reminds me of those American autumn fairs that take a simple crop and build an entire experience around it. I’d happily visit the fields just to see the tulips themselves, but the extra element, the food stalls, the oversized clogs and windmills, the abundance of photo spot, transform it into a family‑friendly experience in the best possible way. It’s relatively inexpensive, it’s outdoors, and it gives you the chance to stretch your legs in an idyllic setting. Beyond its refusal to take itself too seriously, it was simply a joyful place to spend a few hours soaking up the occasion. And the novelty wooden flowers were a nice addition to my collection of travel memories.
If I had one criticism, it’s that this year’s event felt a little familiar compared with last spring, though that’s entirely subjective. We could guess where several of the photo spots would be before we even stepped inside, and it might have been nice to see a few new food options to shake things up. Driving away, I found myself thinking about Christmas at Kew and how each year they reinvent the route and theme. Of course, there are only so many things you can change in a tulip field, and there was something comforting about returning to a familiar experience. Still, a little variation never hurts and adds a touch of anticipation for what next year’s festival might bring. This year’s event runs for another couple of weeks and promises plenty of colour and fun. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and have already pencilled in our visit for next spring.
Thank you so much for reading.
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