Now the snow has melted and the excitement of building snowmen, tobogganing and even (so we hear from you lot) a little impromptu snowboarding on any available slope is a thing of the past, we want it to hurry up and be spring already! With that in mind, we’re already on the hunt for the first sights of spring! I’ve seen a few tentative daffodil leaves and the beginnings of a crocus or two – let us know on facebook or twitter if you’ve spotted any!
And whilst we’re waiting for our own neighbourhoods to bud and bloom, here are our top 10 places where they have been preparing to put on a real show come springtime.
Chelsea Physic Garden, London
This walled garden in Chelsea is opening especially so that you can go and see its snowdrop show, arranged along a snowdrop trail and in the snowdrop theatre! There’s a limited number of dates in February, and if you really want to get into the nitty gritty of these pretty first signs of spring, there are also day-long courses you can embark on!
Adults £9 Concessions £6
Website
Brodie Castle, Nairn, Scotland
A stunning turreted house with grounds that seem to overflow with spring flowers, depending on the weather you can enjoy the flowers from outside or within, where you will find antique furniture and all the trappings of life for one of Scotland’s most ancient clans. Don’t miss the narcissus, as Brodie Castle is holder of the National Collection of these pretty flowers.
Adults £10 Concessions £7 Family £23.50
Website
Broadleigh Gardens, Somerset
Not sure if you’ve noticed, but we like a good deal here at dealchecker, and this garden is just one of a few on the list that tread really lightly on your purse. The display garden here explodes in a riot of colour from numerous spring bulbs – the catch being it’s all set up to tempt you to buy their bulbs and re-create spring at home. Best wait til next year for that though!
£2 donation to charity
Website
Galloway House Gardens, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
This garden in Scotland has an extremely mild climate thanks to its location, which is excellent news if you want spring to start early. Expect snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells as well as rhododendrons and more as spring develops into summer. There are formal gardens, a woodland walk and when you’re done with those, why not take a stroll on the beach? Need more good news? You only pay for parking!
£2 per car
Website
Guy Wilson Daffodil Garden, Co. Derry
Boasting a collection of well over 1,000 different types of daffodil, as well as the National Daffodil Collection, for lovers of this cheery spring plant there is nowhere better to go to experience them in their full glory. Visit in April for the best of the show, but you could go sooner if you can’t wait. Even better, entry to this garden is FREE!
Rydal Mount, Cumbria
William Wordsworth’s house puts on such a show of daffodils that it inspired a poem about them! They are already starting to bloom (according to the website) and by the time the garden opens in March expect rhododendrons, bluebells and much more, all in the rolling hills of Cumbria.
Garden only price £4.50
House and gardens Adults £6.75 Concessions £5.75 Children £3.25 Family £16
Website
Kingston Lacy, Dorset
A lavish house, built to resemble an Italian villa is a gorgeous setting for an annual burst of snowdrops. The gardens are large and crammed with the first signs of spring. Spare a little time for the house too which is just as jam-packed, but here it’s with paintings and artefacts, including many from the ancient Egyptians.
Garden only price Adults £5.40 Children £2.70
House and gardens Adults £11.70 Children £5.85
Website
Dunham Massey, Cheshire
They are way ahead of the game in Cheshire, as Dunham Massey is home to the largest winter garden in the UK, which starts showing signs of spring in January. Expect over 100,000 snowdrops as well as 20,000 daffodils and many other spring-flowering bulbs and shrubs. Join in the daily walk at 1.30 pm to get a little more insight.
Garden only prices Adults £7.20 Children £3.60
Website
Nymans, West Sussex
This garden centres around the ruins of a Gothic mansion, the flowers have taken over and they really do shine! Head to the bulb meadow for an incredible sight, and be sure to wander around everywhere, including inside the ruins, where you will find more snowdrops, daffodils and a lot more too.
Adults £9.50 Children £5.00
Website
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, Yorkshire
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the carpets of snowdrops are only broken by an astonishing number of sights dating back to the medieval times! The deer park dates back that far whilst the 12th century Abbey ruins, the Georgian water garden and the Victorian church all jostle for attention. There’s more to discover besides, so take your walking shoes and enjoy spring!
Adult £8 Children £4.50
Website
Head over to our UK breaks page if you want to make it a weekend trip! And please send us a photo!
