After the excitement of Christmas, a lot of people feel a bit deflated. It is very easy to curl up by the radiator with a good book. But when the weather is fine a walk in the countryside will certainly lift your spirits.
Snowdrops are one of the first signs of spring and you will see carpets of Snowdrops in the Cotswolds in February. Here are six of the best Cotswold gardens to visit in late winter. Prices and dates are correct in January 2025.
Batsford Arboretum
Batsford Arboretum is home to a unique collection of some of the world’s most beautiful and rare trees, shrubs and bamboos spread across 60 acres.
Enjoy early colour from the snowdrops, followed by spring-flowering bulbs and spectacular Japanese flowering cherries; escape the heat under the tree canopy in summer and prepare to be amazed by the outstanding autumn colour!
Batsford is open from 9.30am-5.00pm Monday-Saturday & 10.00am-5.00pm on Sundays.
Book your ticket in advance of your visit.
Adults £9.95
Children (4-16) £3.50 (under 4 years free)
www.batsarb.co.uk
Cerney House Gardens
Cerney House Gardens is a romantic, secret place in the Cotswolds, between Cirencester and Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.
Its woodland walk is carpeted with over 100 variety of snowdrops, with some other special named cultivars around the borders in the Victorian walled garden.
There’s much to see here in addition to the snowdrops, from scented plants to the knot garden. Not forgetting the bothy which serves freshly made cakes and beverages.
Open seven days a week – Snowdrops between 25th January – 1st March
No booking required
Adults £7
Children £1
Dogs on leads welcome
www.cerneygardens.com
Colesbourne Gardens
Nestled between Cirencester and Cheltenham in the Churn Valley, ‘England’s Greatest Snowdrop Garden’ offers an impressive collection exceeding 200 cultivars.
The gardens comprise approximately 10 acres of formal snowdrop walks around the house and lake, with further parkland and an arboretum around the house to explore further afield.
Private weekday guided tours of the snowdrops at Colesbourne Park makes an ideal winter excursion for your gardening club, society, group of friends or commercial travel company.
Open on weekends from 25th/26th January to 22nd/23rd February.
Cake and drinks available
No booking required
Adults £10.00
Children under 16 free
www.colesbournegardens.org.uk
Painswick Rococco gardens
The snowdrop collection at Rococo Garden in Painswick is one of England’s largest naturalistic plantings. There are around 5 million snowdrops, including some less-common varieties, such as the double form, galanthus nivalis Flore Pleno and galanthus atkinsii, a particularly large snowdrop with an historical link to the garden,
Opens from 18 Jan, daily, 10 – 5pm
Ticket booking required
Adult £13.40
Children £6.30
Dogs allowed on leads
www.rococogarden.org.uk
Rodmarton Manor
With an eight acre stretch of picturesque gardens to explore, interspersed with stunning Cotswold stone, during the spring you’ll find at least 150 different sorts, some small, some huge, with many different markings – some yellow and some green and including many rare ones.
The garden is open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons 2pm – 5pm.
No booking required
Adults £14
Children (5-15) £7
No dogs
rodmarton-manor.co.uk
Trench Hill Sheepscombe
With roughly three acres nestled in a small woodland, Trench Hill in Sheepscombe boasts a beautiful blooming garden throughout the year and by February, thousands of pretty snowdrops.
Trench Hill is open on various dates throughout the year, via the National Garden Scheme. Homemade teas will be available with proceeds going to local or owner designated charities.
Open 11-4pm
No booking required
Adults £5.00
Children Free
findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/14238/trench-hill
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