Amidst the chill of winter, Cheltenham comes alive with the beautiful blossoming of snowdrops, signalling the beginning of spring. They bloom between January to February, serving as a delightful sign of the upcoming warmer months.

 

The delicate, bell-shaped flowers, also known as Galanthus, brighten gardens in and around Cheltenham, attracting nature lovers, families and visitors each year eager to admire the subtle beauty of snowdrops in full bloom.

Discover our top recommendations for enjoying these charming snowdrop displays in and around Cheltenham.

We encourage visitors to check attraction venues' opening times in advance of a visit.


Colesbourne Gardens

Colesbourne Park, Colesbourne, Cheltenham, GL53 9NP

Colesbourne Gardens has over 300 varieties of snowdrop, as well as hellebores, cyclamen and early flowering shrubs. The gardens are open to visitors every weekend from 31 January until 1 March, weather permitting. Enjoy 10 acres of formal snowdrop walks around the house and lake, as well as parkland, an arboretum and beautiful St James Church to explore.


Batsford Arboretum

Batsford, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AT

Located on the edge of Moreton-in-Marsh, 60-acre Batsford Arboretum welcomes visitors throughout the year, with the current season showcasing its captivating collection of snowdrops. These delicate white flowers are already starting to appear, but it is advisable to visit in late January to mid-February to witness the complete display.


Museum in the Park

Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4AF

The Stroud Snowdrop Celebration takes place at the Museum in the Park on 24–25 January. Celebrating the re-opening of the Museum and 10 years of the Walled Garden, visitors will have the opportunity to explore a diverse array of snowdrop varieties and buy plants for their own gardens. While children can get hands-on at the family-friendly craft activity table.


Painswick Rococo Garden

Painswick, Gloucestershire, GL6 6TH

With one of the largest naturalistic plantings of snowdrops in the country, Painswick Rococo Garden's steep banks and woodland glades are blanketed in a serene blend of white and green this February. Among them are lesser-known varieties of snowdrops, including the tall stems of Galanthus Atkinsii, discovered in Painswick by estate worker James Atkins in the 1800s.


Cerney House Gardens

North Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 7BX

Cerney House Gardens, a romantic, secret place in the Cotswolds near to Cheltenham, becomes a must-visit destination in the upcoming weeks as the snowdrops reach full bloom. Take a stroll through the Victorian walled garden, where you can also see the hellebores flowering, and explore the nature trail walk.


Cotswold Farm

Duntisbourne Abbots, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 7JS

Cotswold Farm boasts a well-established snowdrop collection featuring over 80 named and naturalised varieties, thoughtfully planted along the borders and woodland paths. On Mondays in February and during the weekend of 14–15 February, the garden warmly welcomes visitors who are eager to witness the vibrant bloom of snowdrops.


Rodmarton Manor

Rodmarton, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6PF

Situated between Cirencester and Tetbury, Rodmarton Manor has an expansive eight-acre garden with a diverse array of snowdrops. There are over 150 different types, with small, large, unusual colours like yellow and green, and rare varieties. Mark your calendars for the garden’s opening on Fridays and Saturdays from 6–21 February to witness this splendid display.


Cotswold Wildlife Park & Garden

Bradwell Grove, Burford, Oxfordshire, OX18 4JP

Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens offers a wonderfully unique experience, where blooming snowdrops share the spotlight with neighbours like owls, emus, siamang gibbons, giraffes and rhinos! Drifts of snowdrops in the Winter Garden and owl enclosures creates the perfect backdrop for a memorable outing with family and friends.

Looking for more inspiration and activities to chase away those winter blues? Check out our New Year, New Adventures in Cheltenham and What's on in February pages for all the best things to do.