hero media

Visiting London? These gorgeous bluebell woods are blooming just one hour away

Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
Don’t miss this fairyland day trip from London before it’s too late.

Japan has cherry blossoms. The Netherlands has tulips. The UK’s answer? Bluebells, a stunning woodland flower that erupts into a sea of vibrant blue between April and May.

For city-slickers in need of a nature hit or travellers visiting London, now is the perfect time to head to Dockey Wood on Ashridge Estate. Its bluebell fields usually peak between mid-April and the first week of May. Bluebells are not only visually stunning, but their presence signifies that the woodland it lies in has been around for at least 400 years.  

Where is the best place to view bluebells near London?

bluebells uk
Dockey Woods are located on Ashridge Estate, just outside London. (Credit: Getty/krzych-34)

One of the top spots for bluebell flower viewing in the UK is Dockey Wood on Ashridge Estate, Hertfordshire – just over an hour’s drive from London.  

While the blooms are evidently the main drawcard, Ashridge Estate has more than 2000 hectares of stunning woodlands waiting to be explored. Visit the historic Pitsone Windmill, take in views from the towering granite Bridgewater Monument and watch out for butterflies, birds and deer. 

How to get to Dockey Wood

The car park at Dockey Wood has space for 40 cars. Do not park along the roadside as this can block emergency vehicle access. During peak visiting period, the National Trust recommends parking at the Visitor Centre on Monument Drive and walking along the approximately 2.5-kilometre marked path to Dockey Wood. 

Responsible visiting

bluebell flower
Bluebells are delicate and take years to recover from damage. (Credit: Unsplash/Yoksel Zok)

While the blooms are well worth a visit, the large numbers of visitors they attract places pressure on the woodland’s flora. Bluebells don’t spread to new areas easily or quickly, so it is vital to protect them. It can take bluebells around seven years to recover from damage.  

“The delicate soft leaves of bluebells are easily damaged, and this stops them from being able to photosynthesise, meaning they die back," the National Trust’s website explains. “In turn, this means they can’t put food back into their bulbs, reducing their ability to produce flowers and seeds. Watch your step and the bluebells will continue to flower for years to come." 

If you choose to visit, ensure you stick to the following guidelines: 

  • Do not under any circumstances touch, pick or step on the flowers 
  • Stick to the main visitor paths and watch out for ‘faux’ paths created by resident badgers that can be mistaken for human paths 
  • Keep dogs on a leash and do not allow them to run into the bluebell fields 
  • While stepping into the sea of flowers can be tempting for a photo opportunity, this is strictly forbidden 

How much does it cost to visit Dockey Wood bluebells?

hertfordshire bluebells woods
Visit Dockey Wood between April and May. (Credit: Getty/tigermad)

On the weekend dates below, the National Trust charges visitors a small entry fee of £3.50 per adult and £1.50 per child (or free for National Trust members): 

  • 18 and 19 April 
  • 25 and 26 April 
  • 2, 3 and 4 May 

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Other places to see bluebells in England

  • Kew Gardens, London 
  • Micheldever Woods, Hampshire 
  • Wendover Woods, Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire 
  • Badbury Clump, Oxfordshire 
  • Boxley Wood and Rochester Forest, Kent 

Want to see more stories from International Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set International Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "International Traveller". That's it.
Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is International Traveller’s Associate Editor. El began her career writing for national magazines including Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel, and has since developed a soft spot for wild landscapes, thoughtful design and the human stories that bring them to life. She holds an honours degree in English and philosophy from the University of Sydney, and has lived abroad in both Switzerland and France – ostensibly to sharpen her French, though the pastries made a strong supporting case. One day, she hopes to swim with humpback whales off the coast of Mo'orea.
View profile and articles
Six Senses London magnesium pool
London

Six Senses London sets a new standard for wellness travel

With everything from a biohacking lounge to an apothecary, Six Senses London offers the ultimate restorative stay for wellness enthusiasts.

Read more
Celia Carriage on The British Pullman, A Belmond Train
England

This iconic UK train just got a Baz Luhrmann makeover

The British Pullman, A Belmond Train, has revelaed a cinematic new dining carriage designed by beloved filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and Oscar-winning costume and production designer Catherine Martin.

Read more
Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve
England

The world’s longest coastal trail is opening in England  

After 18 years and seven prime ministers, the 4327-kilometre King Charles III England Coast Path has been inaugurated. 

Read more
Virgin Hotels Shoreditch
London

This playful London hotel puts you in the heart of Shoreditch 

Big rooms, buzzy bars and a rooftop scene that captures Shoreditch at its most fun. 

Read more
hero media

5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Continue
    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.