No need to travel to Japan to see iconic cherry blossoms blooming - you can see the phenomenon right here in the UK.
In a few weeks' time, once the cold weather is past us and spring arrives, trees up and down the country will spring back into life.
The UK is blessed with a large number of trees which break out into blossoms as their leaves begin to thicken out, including the crab apple, blackthorn and hawthorn.
Arguably the most iconic and brightest type are to be found on cherry trees, which break out into great plumes of pink.
The blooms typically arrive in April but can appear as early as March and last as late as May.
If it's been a mild spring, blossom arrives earlier. A cold spring means it won't flower until later.
According to a study conducted by Sakuraco that looked at Google reviews, hashtags, average sunshine hours and annual rainfall, the best UK location for cherry blossom viewing is the Royal Botanic Kew Gardens in London.
One of England’s best known and best loved gardens, it’s not surprising to see it at the top of this ranking.
The gardens are lucky enough to have Japanese cherry trees, which come into their own in the sakura blossoming season that is so revered for its beauty and impermanence in the Asian country.
It is a tree with a short trunk and dense crown, with white to pink flowers that grow in clusters.
Second and third place on the list are also in London, Regent’s Park and Kensington Gardens respectively.
Regent's Park is a particularly nice place to walk as the sun begins to shine as its flat grounds and straight paths feel open and light when the rays arrive.
Kensington Gardens have an appropriately royal feel given their location in West London close to the palace, and can be easily accessed past the pastel colour homes of Notting Hill, many of which have cherry trees growing out front.
The first non-London entry on the list is sixth place, which goes to Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire.
Containing more than 300 fruit trees, the orchard on the estate put on an unrivalled flower display come spring.
Sheringham Estate in Nottingham is in at eighth place, in part due to its wild collection of rhododendrons, set amongst Scots pines and cherry trees which can be viewed from specially built towers.
Here are the top 25:
- Royal Botanic Garden, London
- Regent's Park, London
- Kensington Gardens, London
- Battersea Park, London
- Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire
- St James's Park, London
- Sheringham Park, Norfolk
- RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey
- Kyoto Garden in Holland Park, London
- Wallington, Northumberland
- Chartwell at Westerham, Kent
- RHS Garden Rosemoore, Exeter
- Queen Elizabeth Park, London
- Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster
- Batsford Arboretum, Gloucestershire
- Nymans, West Sussex
- Emmetts Garden in Sevenoaks, Kent
- Bute Park, Cardiff
- Dunster Castle, Somerset
- Upton House and Gardens, Warwickshire
- Alexandra Gardens in Cardiff
- The Stray in Harrogate
- Tavistock Square Gardens, London
- Hinton Ampner, Hampshire
- Greys Court, Oxfordshire
