Gardens to explore in the February half term

The February half term is the perfect chance to kick start your 2026 garden visiting, to get the children away from their screens and into nature, and to enjoy a wonderful National Garden Scheme garden complete with tea and cake. What’s more, children go free at the majority of the gardens making it a refreshingly affordable family day out.

There are 72 gardens opening on the weekends book-ending the half term –  Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 Feb and Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 Feb – full of snowdrops and early spring flowers and so much more to explore.

You can see them all by clicking here or read on for a little inspiration.

Higher Cherubeer, Devon opens on Friday 13 and Saturday 21 February and is well known for its wonderful snowdrops. This 1¾ acre country garden has gravelled courtyard and paths, raised beds, alpine house, lawns, herbaceous borders, woodland beds with naturalised cyclamen and snowdrops, kitchen garden with large greenhouse and orchard. Winter openings showcase the National Collection of Cyclamen species, hellebores and over 400 snowdrop varieties.

Chestnut Farm, Norfolk opens on Sunday 22 February. This mature three acre garden developed over 60 years has collections of many rare and unusual plants. The year commences with a good show of aconites, 100+ varieties of snowdrops, drifts of crocus with seasonal flowering shrubs. Later, wood anemones, fritillary meadow, wildflower walk, pond, small arboretum and colourful herbaceous borders. The garden also opens By Arrangement from 25 January to 27 September for groups of between 6 and 30.

Primrose Bank Garden and Nursery, York opens Thursday 12, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 February. It’s two acres of rare and unusual plants, shrubs and trees. Bulbs, hellebores and spring flowering shrubs. Contemporary rock garden, woodland garden with pond and stumpery. New sand beds. Lots that’s new along with an award-winning nursery.

Gelli Uchaf in Carmarthenshire opens with pre-booking essential on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February (and other dates in the year). This 1½ acre garden complements the  C17 Longhouse and 11 acre smallholding. In the garden trees and shrubs are underplanted with thousands of snowdrops, crocus, cyclamen, and daffodils, together with many rhododendrons, skimmias, clematis, rambling roses and hydrangeas. There are several wildflower hay meadows, wildlife ponds, stream and shepherd’s hut to explore beyond the main garden.

Billy Old Rectory Peace Garden, County Antrim, opens Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February. It’s a mature 3 acre garden on an historic site. Front of the Georgian Rectory is a lawn with shrubs, pond and summerhouse. Integrated into the garden are 20 small peace gardens. See guide for further information. There is the Old Orchard Nature Garden comprising of one acre.

The Old Vicarage, West Sussex opens with pre-booking essential on Thursdays including 12 and 19 February. This truly creative garden, nurtured over 35 yrs has become a visitor favourite. Spanning 3½ acres, it features formal topiary, seasonal borders, a contemporary water sculpture, an Italianate gazebo, specimen and mature trees, a Japanese garden with waterfall and tea house, a large copse with a stream, a stumpery and treehouse, and a kitchen garden with fruit trees. It’s the perfect garden to keep your children, and you, engaged and inspired.

The Dower House in Derbyshire opens Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February. With its beautiful view of Melbourne Pool from a balustraded terrace the garden drops steeply by paths, arbour or steps down a bank of some 60 shrubs, to lawn with herbaceous borders. Numerous paths lead to different areas of the garden, providing varied planting opportunities inc a bog garden, glade, shrubbery, grasses, herb and kitchen garden, rose tunnel, orchard and small woodland. Perfect for exploring!

Westview, Leicestershire opens on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February.  This small, organically managed walled cottage garden has year-round interest. Rare and unusual plants, many grown from seed. Courtyard garden with stone troughs and containers, alpines, herbaceous borders, woodland areas with unusual ferns, small wildlife pond, greenhouse, vegetables, fruit and herbs. Collection of Snowdrops. Recycled materials used to make quirky garden ornaments and water feature.

Norman’s Hall in Macclesfield opens with pre-booking essential on Sunday 22 February. Spread over 3 acres the spring gardens consist of a snowdrop walk, a daffodil dell and a bluebell woodland. There’s a large rill and a new woodland with over 100 birch trees of variety. At the rear is a selection of different herbaceous gardens.

Little Court, Hampshire opens on Sunday 15, Monday 16, Sunday 22 and Monday 23 February. A sheltered, naturalistic garden with year-round interest, it’s especially memorable in spring. Mature and exuberant, with a large plant collection and a traditional walled kitchen garden. Rustic seats throughout, good views, and described as ‘an oasis of peace and tranquillity.’ It’s a gorgeous, enchantment of a garden.

CLICK HERE to explore all half term garden openings