London has been ranked as the most picturesque and beautiful city in the world to visit during the Spring.
The English capital often comes in for a kicking from visitors who find the pollution, traffic and intensity of the hustle and bustle a little much to deal with.
Like other big UK cities including Birmingham and Glasgow, it can come across quite grey, imposing and cold.
According to research by Travelbag, this reputation is unfair - at least when the buds start coming out and the flowers begin to bloom.
The UK capital takes the top spot for a picture-perfect spring, with #SpringinLondon being used 100,832 times on Instagram, by Brits and tourists alike celebrating the city waking up after a long English winter.
London’s many parks are a particularly pretty sight in spring, coming back to life with beautiful blooms of daffodils popping up from March through May.
Many of the best gardens in London are hosted in magnificent royal palaces with centuries of history which also come into their own once the warmer months arrive.
The plentiful iconic vistas in the Capital - such as the Tower of London, Canary Wharf and St Paul's - can be taken in through a spring-time stroll along the banks of the Thames.
Paris comes in second in the rankings, with 78,981 Instagram posts tagged #SpringinParis.
The French capital is one of intense sounds, sights and smells throughout the year, but even more so in the spring, when the trees start to fill out and the walk along the Seine becomes quite beautiful.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Seattle is your best bet to make the most of spring in the US.
Washington’s largest city current has 24,220 Instagram posts tagged #SpringinSeattle, with many visitors having fallen for its ample flowers and sunshine.
Despite the city’s rainy reputation, visitors can enjoy mild weather, with temperatures averaging between 12 °C to 21 °C (53 °F and 69 °F).
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April is one of the best ways to celebrate the season of new growth in Seattle, offering fields blooming with every shade and variety of tulip you can imagine.
Late spring is also prime whale watching season in the Pacific Northwest, so it’s a great time to hop on a boat tour and spot some orcas or humpbacks while you’re there.
Melbourne, with 23,549 Instagram posts tagged #SpringinMelbourne, comes in fourth.
It’s important to remember that spring in Australia falls from September to November, so don’t mix up your dates.
There’s plenty to see and do during Melbourne’s spring season, from wandering the Royal Botanic Gardens to embarking on a flower-filled cycling tour of the city’s many parks.
Rounding out the list is Chicago in the US, which has the distinct advantage of being located on a large and quite stunning lake.
Come April and May tulips begin to bloom along the iconic Michigan Avenue, cherry blossoms pop up in Jackson Park, and the many other city parks begin to overflow with green.
The Lakefront Trail also starts to fill with walkers and bikers looking to make the most of the big thaw.
- London - 100,832
- Paris - 78,981
- Seattle - 24,220
- Melbourne - 23,549
- Chicago - 23,536
- Sydney - 20,418
- Berlin - 20,367
- Vienna - 15,481
- Boston - 13,668
- Perth - 13,122
