For snowdrop lovers, or galanthophiles, February is the month to venture out to admire spectacular displays of snowdrops. Here are some of our recommended gardens to visit.
Snowdrops are a sure sign that spring is on its way. The delicate drooping heads of these small white flowers are a charming sight on a winter’s day and in February, gardens up and down the country open to celebrate their arrival with snowdrop walks and events. Pull on your hat, grab your gloves and showerproof jacket and feast your eyes on some of Mother Nature’s finest displays. You will hopefully also be able to enjoy other winter-flowering plants, such as cyclamen, aconites, hellebores and more.
As displays of snowdrops and other spring flowers are weather dependent, please double check all opening days and times before travelling.
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Where to see snowdrops near me
Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
If it’s variety of snowdrops you want, this is the perfect place to visit. There are around 400 snowdrop cultivars, some of which are specific to Anglesey Abbey. Wander around or join a Specialist Collection tour around the 114 acres to make sure you don’t miss out on any snowdrop treasures (booking is essential and places sell out fast).
Snowdrop tours Monday – Friday and every Sunday from 29th January to 29th February 2024.
Quy Road, Lode, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB25 9EJ. Tel 01223 810080; nationaltrust.org.uk/angleseyabbey
The Bishop’s Palace, Somerset
Observe a spectacular display of snowdrops in a historic setting. Visitors can collect a printed Snowdrop Walk to guide them around the moat banks carpeted with snowdrops, and across the Willow Bridge to the Arboretum.
Weekends in February 2024
The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2PD. Tel 01749 988111; bishopspalace.org.uk
Benington Lordship, Hertfordshire
The snowdrop walk, which runs along the wall at the top of the moat, was planted in the early twentieth century by the present owner’s family. Opening the gardens at snowdrop time became an annual tradition which has continued to the present day. Aside from the huge drifts of naturalised snowdrops that cover the grassy moat and the gardens around the castle and house you can also enjoy hellebores, aconites and winter flowering shrubs in bloom.
Open 3 to 25 February 2024. No booking required.
Benington Lordship, Nr Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG2 7BS Tel 08701 261709; beningtonlordship.co.uk
Cambo Estate, Fife
The gardens at Cambo are home to Scotland’s largest collection of specialist snowdrops. The Victorian walled garden and an informal woodland garden boast 300 varieties of snowdrop and that number is slowly increasing. A limited number of these are for sale. The Cambo Snowdrop Festival
27 January to 10 March
Cambo Gardens, Kingsbarns, Saint Andrews, Fife KY16 8QD. Tel 01333 451040; cambogardens.org.uk
Chelsea Physic Garden, London
If you’re London-based and keen not to miss out on snowdrops, make a trip to the Chelsea Physic Garden, the capital’s oldest botanic garden, to see 75 types of snowdrop and enjoy its ‘Heralding Spring’ event. Pick up a map and follow the trail around the garden to discover many species of snowdrops and early spring plants.
The Growing Friends volunteers will host a plant sale throughout the event, selling a selection of spring plants – including hellebores, irises and lots of different snowdrops. Throughout the week the garden’s knowledgeable volunteer guides will be offering tours of the garden, too.
21 to 28 January (excluding 27 January) 2024
66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS. Tel 020 7352 5646; chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
Chippenham Park, Cambridgeshire
Chippenham Park is home to one of the finest displays of naturalised snowdrops in East Anglia and the park opens for a few weeks for visitors to view the vast carpets of snowdrops, followed by daffodils. Take time to also enjoy the fiery dogwoods, aconites and winter blossoms.
20 January to 27 March 2024 (snowdrops followed by daffodils)
Chippenham Hall, Chippenham Park, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire CB7 5PT. Tel 01638 721416; chippenhamparkgardens.info
Colesbourne Gardens, Gloucestershire
Colesbourne Park is renowned as one of the best places to see snowdrops in the UK. The great plantsman, Henry John Elwes planted snowdrops widely, and the the garden today contains around 350 cultivars of snowdrops, many of them hybrids, descended from those original plantings. Thousands of new snowdrops are planted every year, ensuring that the collection remains vibrant and up-to-date. This year there is a Snowdrop Study Day on 13 February; group guided tours are also available.
27 January to 25 February 2024
Colesbourne, nr. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9NP. Tel 01242 870567; colesbournegardens.org.uk
Coton Manor, Northamptonshire
The 10-acre garden at Coton Manor occupies a hillside position extending down from the 17th-century manor house. The garden will open over three weekends in February and March so that visitors can enjoy the masses of snowdrops and hellebores, as well as carpets of crocus and other early bulbs and winter-flowering shrubs.
Open weekends from 17 February to 3 March 2024
Coton, near Guilsborough, Northamptonshire NN6 8RQ. Tel 01604 740219; cotonmanor.co.uk
Deene Park, Northamptonshire
A wide variety of snowdrops will be on view here including favourites such as the ‘Blewbury Tart’ and the ‘Pusey Green Tip’. Enjoy a ‘Snowdrop Sunday’ and sure you make the most of the lakeside and garden walks too. Enjoy other early flowers such as hellebores and crocus, scented viburnums and winter honeysuckles, too.
18 & 25 February 2024
Deene Park, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 3EW. Tel 01780 450278; deenepark.com
East Lambrook Manor, Somerset
Margery Fish, the legendary plantswoman who created the garden at East Lambrook Manor was a galanthophile; she especially loved double snowdrops. Not surprisingly, the garden is filled with masses of snowdrops as well as other winter beauties.
Read our feature on Margery Fish’s snowdrops.
The annual (and possibly last, as the house was put up for sale last year) Festival of Snowdrops; the owners reckon the snowdrops will be at their best towards the end of the month. Around 90 varieties of snowdrop will be for sale.
1st February to 29th February, 2024 every day except Sundays
East Lambrook, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HH. Tel 01460 240 328; eastlambrook.com
Easton Walled Gardens, Lincolnshire
From late January to March, Easton Walled Gardens are covered in drifts of delicate snowdrops and the garden opens especially to coincide with their appearance. Snowdrops are also available to buy.
Garden opens from 14 February 2024 (open Weds to Sun)
Easton, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG33 5AP. Tel 01476 530063; visiteaston.co.uk
Forde Abbey and Gardens, Somerset
Throughout February the 30 acres of award-winning gardens are carpeted in a spectacular display of snowdrops. Weather depending, the camellias will be in full bloom along with an abundance of hellebores and early spring bulbs. Open for snowdrop weekends throughout the month.
Dates TBC
Chard, Somerset TA20 4LU. Tel 01460 220231; fordeabbey.co.uk
The Garden House
The Garden House is home to the Matt Bishop snowdrop collection, with over 350 different cultivars on display throughout the gardens.
12 January to 24 March (Fri, Sat, Sun)
Buckland Monachorum, Yelverton, PL20 7LQ. Tel 01822 854769; thegardenhouse.org.uk
Great Comp Garden, Kent
Great Comp is usually closed in winter, but opens for just one day for its Snowdrop Sensation day. Browse a wide selection of rare snowdrops on sale from specialist nurseries and enjoy the snowdrops in the garden.
18 February 2024
Great Comp, Comp Lane, Platt, Sevenoaks, TN15 8QS. Tel 01732 885094; greatcompgarden.co.uk
Hedingham Castle, Essex
The castle’s winter gardens are possibly the most romantic in the East of England, with at least 13 varieties of snowdrops covering the steep slopes of the motte and bailey and setting off the trees and lakes in front of the Georgian Mansion House. Open for snowdrop walks on selected dates in February and March.
Selected dates 11-3 March 2024
Bayley Street, Castle Hedingham, Halstead, Essex, CO9 3DJ. Tel 01787 460261; hedinghamcastle.co.uk
Hever Castle & Gardens, Kent
Neil Miller, head gardener at Hever Castle & Gardens, has a passion for Galanthus and has planted on average 10,000 extra snowdrops every year since 2017, doubling the number from 70,000 seven years ago to 140,000 today. They include some unusual varieties such as the yellow tipped ‘Wendy’s Gold’, the giant ‘Colossus’ (one of the tallest snowdrops you can find) and Galanthus ‘Green Brush’, with unusual green-tipped flowers. You can also enjoy camellia, quince, daphnes, hellebores and early daffodils in bloom.
Snowdrop Walks (a self-guided tour) takes the visitor to Hever Castle & Gardens along a wonderful exploratory tour of the Outer Moat, the Winter Gardens and through Sunday Walk and Church Gill.
Garden open daily from 7 February 2024
Hever Road, Hever, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG. Tel 01732 865224; hevercastle.co.uk
National Gardens Scheme, nationwide
100 local gardens are opening their gates for charity in 2024 for the National Garden Scheme Snowdrop and Spring Flower gardens, so there’s sure to be one open near you. Many notable gardens are opening, including Higher Cherubeer in Devon. Key your postcode into the website to find your nearest open garden.
1-29 February; check website for individual opening times
ngs.org.uk
Painswick Rococo Gardens, Gloucestershire
Painswick Rococo Garden is famed for one of the largest naturalistic plantings of snowdrops in the country. There are 15 varieties in the garden, the most famous being Galanthus ‘Atkinsii’. Pre-booking is essential; the garden recommends bagging an early spot when the gardens are more quiet. Check when the snowdrops are at their peak via the website and social media.
Garden open from 20 January; check website and social media for details
Painswick, Gloucestershire GL6 6TH. Tel 01452 813204; rococogarden.org.uk
Raveningham Hall, Norfolk
Enjoy around 150 named snowdrop cultivars throughout the delightful garden, as well as many un-named ones throughout the garden. Every Sunday in February will raise funds for the Priscilla Bacon Hospice.
Garden open daily from 1 February, excluding Saturdays
Raveningham, Norwich, NR14 6NS. Tel 01508 548152; raveningham.com
Rode Hall and Gardens, Cheshire
Experience one of the UK’s finest snowdrop walks at Rode Hall and Gardens, which has over 70 types of snowdrop in the Old Wood, by the Pool and through Sir Richard’s Walk. Homemade light lunches and cream teas available; local artists will be exhibiting in the barns.
3 February – 2 March 2024
Church Lane, Scholar Green, Cheshire ST7 3QP. Tel 01270 873237; rodehall.co.uk
Rodmarton Manor, Gloucestershire
A vast snowdrop collection of 150 varieties is spread across this eight-acre Cotswold garden. Also on display are other winter flowers including hellebores, cyclamen and aconites.
7, 10, 14, 17, 21 and 24th February 2024, from 1.30pm
Rodmarton, Cirencester GL7 6PF. Tel 01285 841442; rodmarton-manor.co.uk
Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival, Somerset
Shepton Mallet was once home to the famous 18th-century horticulturist James Allen, known as the ‘Snowdrop King’ and the first hybridiser of snowdrops. Nowadays the town proudly celebrates its famous son with an annual Snowdrop Festival. Its aim is to blanket the town white with snowdrops. Expect specialist plant sales, workshops, art and craft, and poetry and photography competitions. Garden designer Dan Pearson is the event’s new patron.
12-18 February 2024
Shepton Mallet, Somerset. sheptonsnowdrops.org.uk
Scottish Snowdrop Festival
This year, as snowdrop season begins, a whole host of venues and gardens throughout Scotland are taking place in the Scottish Snowdrop Festival, which runs from 25 January to 11 March. Cost of entry to the gardens vary – some are free – but there are over 70 events to choose from, including walks at Dawyck Botanic Garden and guided tours at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Many gardens are open under the Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, too.
Dates TBC
Head to discoverscottishgardens.org and scotlandsgardens.org for full details.
Waterperry Garden, Oxfordshire
This renowned Oxfordshire garden is home to more than 60 different snowdrop varieties in the ornamental gardens and along the walk by the River Thame. A selection of varieties will be available to buy and staff will be on hand to offer advice on snowdrop planting.
Daily from 1 to 29 February 2024
Nr Wheatley, Oxfordshire OX33 1JZ. Tel 01844 339254; waterperrygardens.co.uk
Welford Park, Berkshire
Venture down to the heart of the Lambourn Valley to cast your eye over a spectacular seven-acre drift of snowdrops. The views are particularly stunning in the early morning when the sun is low in the sky and the glow from the bloom and the frost mingle. A gentle wander around the Beech Woods takes up to an hour. There are always pots of Galanthus cultivars and “thinings” to buy and on Thursdays there are specialist Plant Markets, featuring specialist snowdrop nurseries.
31 January to 3 March 2024, closed Monday and Tuesday.
Newbury, Berkshire RG20 8HU. Tel 01488 608691; welfordpark.co.uk
Wye Valley Sculpture Gardens, Monmouthshire
A three-acre south facing garden nestled in the picturesque lower Wye Valley. The family have been passionately collecting snowdrops since the 1970s, and in February there’ll be 70 varieties on display and 28 of those will be for sale. Wooden sculptures by resident artist Gemma Kate Wood are sensitively placed throughout the garden.
2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 Feb 2024
Tintern NP16 7NX, wyevalleysculpturegarden.co.uk
As displays of snowdrops and other spring flowers are weather dependent, please double check all opening days and times before travelling.