Thousands of tulips will burst into bloom at Dyrham Park near Bath this spring, as its popular ‘tulip mania’ festival returns bigger, brighter and better than ever.
Running from 13 April to 4 May, the celebration will once again transform the National Trust garden into a vibrant sea of colour. Visitors can expect spectacular displays lining the long avenue beds, filling courtyard pots, brightening the parterre and scattered through the orchard.
This year brings a new artistic dimension, with seven local artists ցուց displaying tulip-inspired work inside the house’s Slop’t Parlour. Pieces will include oil and watercolour paintings, cyanotype, printing, giclée and textiles, all available to view and buy.
Families can also get involved creatively, with bookable watercolour workshops alongside a varied programme of guided walks, talks and seasonal activities. A plant fayre will take place at visitor reception from 24 to 26 April.
Tulips hold a special place in Dyrham Park’s history, with strong links to the Netherlands. To mark this connection, more than 15,000 bulbs imported from Holland were planted in December, promising a dazzling display this spring.
Among the many varieties on show are Yellow Pomponette, Maureen, Purple Dream, Purissima, Madame Lefeber, Ronaldo and Queen of the Night.
Across the site, visitors can explore themed displays including a timeline tracing the journey of tulips from Asia to modern-day gardens, and a ‘living library’ of labelled potted tulips in Stable Court.
The parterre garden will feature a striking black and white planting scheme to reflect its formal design, while inside the house, hundreds of fresh and handmade fabric tulips will be arranged in blue and white vases.
There will also be a Delftware display in the Great Hall, with volunteer-led talks exploring the house’s Dutch connections and collection. Visitors can spot historic tulip varieties depicted in paintings by artists including Cornelius de Heem.
Guided garden walks will run on weekdays throughout the festival, with no booking required.
Dyrham’s connection to tulips dates back to the 17th century, when William Blathwayt, who created the current house, began his career in The Hague and later worked closely with William of Orange. His passion for Dutch art and Delftware remains evident throughout the house today.
Senior Visitor Experience Officer Rachel Beaumont said, “Tulip mania will be better than ever this year, with the exciting addition of seven local artists showing their amazing creations. Turning into the Avenue or entering the orchard during tulip season is absolutely magical and literally takes your breath away.”
She added, “As well as the stunning displays and art, there will be walks and talks, a plant fayre and Delftware in the house, so you’ll definitely come away with a deeper knowledge of the tulip. Tulips have always been popular at Dyrham but this is the third year of running ‘tulip mania’ to help create a really thorough and enjoyable tulip experience for our spring visitors.”
Tulip-themed gifts, including books, postcards, plants, prints and exclusive pin badges, will be available in the shop.
Dyrham Park is open daily from 10am to 5pm (last entry one hour before closing).
