Snowdrop and spring flower gardens 2026

Enjoy a wonderful early wellbeing boost with the National Garden Scheme

Spending time in a garden after the dark days of winter has been proven to significantly improve wellbeing*. Visitors feel more relaxed, happy and excited in the gardens, and less stressed, sad and bored and, not surprisingly, the more time visitors spend in winter gardens, the higher their wellbeing.

With 175 gardens set to open from January to March 2026 the National Garden Scheme is well placed to offer that wonderful early wellbeing boost. 120 snowdrop gardens and others bejewelled with spring flowers will open their gates offering galanthophiles, curious horticulturalists, plant hunters and those looking for garden inspiration the perfect opportunity to enjoy drifts of delicate snowdrops and delightful dolly mixtures colours of crocuses, iris, hellebores and more. With warming refreshments and the chance to buy plants these open days are the perfect start to the garden visiting season.

Commenting National Garden Scheme Chief Executive, Dr Richard Claxton says:

“Getting out into a garden or green space in the winter is a fabulous way to boost depleted energy levels. Not only does being outside help reduce stress levels and blood pressure but it’s also when your vitamin D is at its lowest making winter sunshine hugely beneficial. Whatever the weather, wrapping up warm and enjoying the first delicate signs of spring, and enjoying them with others, is a real tonic after the long dark days of winter.”

Returning private snowdrop garden favourites include:

Billy Old Rectory Peace Garden, Northern Ireland on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 Feb
Bucklow Farm, Cheshire on Sunday 22 Feb
Copton Ash, Kent on Saturday 31 Jan, Sunday 15 Feb and Sunday 15 March
The Dower House, Derbyshire on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 Feb
Gable House, Suffolk on Sunday 15 Feb
Hedgehog Hall, Leicestershire on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 Feb
High Cherubeer, Devon on Friday 6, Friday 13 and Sat 21 Feb
Horkesley Hall, Essex on Saturday 7 and Wednesday 11 Feb
Knowle Hill Farm, Kent on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 Feb
Spring Platt, Kent on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 Jan, Wednesday 4, Thursday 5, Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 Feb
Westcroft, Wiltshire on every Thursday Jan 1 to March 12 plus Saturday 17, Sunday 18, Saturday 31 Jan and Sunday 1, Friday 13, Sunday 15, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 Feb

Returning public gardens with National Garden Scheme snowdrop days include:

Benington Lordship, Hertfordshire which opens for the National Garden Scheme on Tuesday 10 Feb
Gatton Park, Surrey on Sunday 8 Feb
Blakenham Woodland Garden, Suffolk on Sunday 8 Feb
Gatton Park, Surrey on
Welford Park, Berkshire on Wednesday 4 Feb

All National Garden Scheme openings in 2026 will go live on this site in early December 2025.

*REPORT: The wellbeing benefits of visiting National Garden Scheme gardens in winter. Author: Dr Emma White, Environmental Psychologist Final-Report-2024.pdf

To pre-order your Garden Visitors Handbook today and prepare to plan for a wonderful garden visiting year in 2026 click here