Nothing heralds the end of winter – perhaps ironically, given its name – quite like the snowdrop. Bursting from the muddy soil, they have an almost otherworldly delicacy that has inspired generations of galanthophiles to obsess over them. Often found in graveyards and abbey ruins, they were once planted by Norman monks as a symbol of purity and the cleansing of the earth. It is best practice to buy them ‘in the green’, when they are in leaf, not when the bulbs are dormant.
Come February, our island is liberally scattered with their pearl-like blooms, so we’ve scoured the length of the country for the very best places to see them and buy them, from Enfield to Fife via the Midlands, Gloucestershire and further afield.
The Cambo Estate, Fife, Scotland
The Cambo Estate in Fife, Scotland holds the National Collection of snowdrops, boasting over 350 different varieties. You can visit the gardens by booking tickets in advance: tickets for the 2024 SnowDrop Festival cost £7.60 for adults (free for children), and the gardens are open daily. They also sell snowdrops in the green, either in single pots or in bulk. If snowdrops alone are not enough to tempt you, Cambo also has a trusty team of pigs who rootle up the ivy which would otherwise threaten the snowdrops. Their piglets are born to coincide with snowdrop days!
Rodmarton Manor, Cotswolds
This eight-acre garden was laid out in the early 20th century and is one of the best preserved Arts & Crafts gardens of its era. The house was designed by Ernest Barnsley for Claud and Margaret Biddulph, and Barnsley also laid out the gardens as a series of outdoor rooms in a style that was hugely fashionable at the time. Largely unaltered from its original design, the garden today has an air of faded splendour that makes it intriguing to wander around. Old topiary, knobbly pleached limes, long borders and patina-covered stonework give the garden a strong structural framework that stands out beautifully in winter.
The garden is well known for its snowdrops, with at least 150 different types including some that originated here. ‘Rodmarton Regulus’ is a beautiful, tall and elegant snowdrop, while ‘Rodmarton Arcturus’ has wonderfully textured, rounded flowers like silk. Both were selected by Simon Biddulph, Claud’s son. These and many other snowdrops can be found throughout the garden, dotted around the enclosed Winter Garden, spread out in the borders, and planted in squares under trees in the orchard, where each variety is clearly marked. Crouching down to take in the detail of all the different varieties is the order of the day, and you’ll see lots of other galanthophiles doing the same. The garden is open for the snowdrop season on February 12, 15 and 19 from 1.30-5pm.
The Chelsea Physic Garden, London
Each year when this beautiful garden reopens, they put on a week of ‘Heralding Spring events’, this year running from Sunday 21 - Sunday 28 January. Follow a trail around the site to discover many unusual varieties of snowdrops and other early spring flowers, as well as a plant sale where you can pick up hellebores, irises and of course, snowdrops. Tickets cost £10.50 per adult.
Easton Walled Gardens, Lincolnshire
This estate, owned by the same family since 1561, has recently had its gardens restored and extended by the current chatelaine, Ursula Cholmeley. Layers of history are on view, from the original walled gardens to modernist designs inspired by Charles Jencks. There's plenty more to attract visitors, including a delightful shop and café. The garden is open from February 14 throughout the rest of the month for snowdrop walks, Wednesday to Sunday.
Thenford Arboretum, Oxfordshire
When Michael and Anne Heseltine bought Thenford in 1976, the task of clearing, replanting and extending the 40 acres of woodland. The collection of snowdrops is now a major highlight of the gardens, which are open on selected days throughout the years; there are over 600 varieties on show. The more unusual snowdrops are carefully labelled throughout Lanning’s walk – named after the designer Lanning Roper, who helped with the initial planning of the garden – on the south side of the house.
Colesbourne Park, Gloucestershire
The snowdrop collection at Colesbourne Park originated in the plantings made by Henry John Elwes who in 1874 discovered galanthus elwesii, known as the giant snowdrop, while travelling in western Turkey. Elwes was a true galanthophile and planted swathes of snowdrops in his lifetime, which have since hybridised to create exciting new varieties. The present day collection is looked after and expanded upon by gardeners John Grimshaw and Will Fletcher, who plant thousands of snowdrops each year.
You can visit Colesbourne on their open weekends, which run in snowdrop season from January 25th. There’s no need to book in advance; tickets are £10 for adults for entry and children under 16 go free. Alternatively, larger group tours are available to book on weekdays, too.
Hill Close Gardens, Warwickshire
The Hill Close Gardens in Warwick are a rare example of detached Victorian leisure gardens and are dotted with historic summerhouses. The gardens hold more than 80 varieties of snowdrops, including an entire border planted with older varieties dating from pre-1900. A dedicated snowdrop weekend is held at the beginning of February (on Feb 3-4 this year), but you can also visit the gardens Tuesday-Saturday during the winter, between 11am and 4pm, with tickets costing £6 for adults and £1 for children.
Wallington, Northumberland
There are plenty of snowdrop gardens to see at this time of year, but Wallington in Northumberland is perhaps less well known than most. Winter is embraced here, with serpentine woodland walks lit up by carpets of snowdrops. Wallington hosts a free snowdrop planting week in half term along with guided walks. The walled garden is also a draw, while the indoor winter garden offers year-round colour. Tickets cost £12.10 for adults and £11 for children.
nationaltrust.org.uk/wallington
Myddelton House, Enfield
Myddelton House in Enfield, once home to botanist Edward Augustus Bowles, kicks off the season with its famous snowdrop sale. Various specialist snowdrop growers sell here and it has become a must for serious galanthophiles: enthusiasts come from as far as America and the Netherlands to get their mitts on a rare variety.
visitleevalley.org.uk/myddelton-house-gardens
Welford Park, Berkshire
At Welford Park in Berkshire, carpets of snowdrops can be seen throughout five acres of beech wood along the River Langbourn. The formal gardens of the Queen Anne house also hold some rarer specimens, such as Lord Monstictus, Lady Elphinstone and John Gray. Welford Park is open for snowdrop viewing Wednesday 31st January to Sunday 3rd March in 2024, with tickets costing £12 for adults and £5 for children. Plus, the shop sells delightful aprons and tea towels printed with a snowdrop pattern – just the thing for Mother’s Day.
Goldsborough Hall, North Yorkshire
Once home to Princess Mary, the daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, this 16th-century house still bears the evidence of her raft of improvements, including some beautiful herbaceous borders in the style of Gertrude Jekyll. The Snowdrop Walk includes over 100 different varieties and species, and if you come on a Snowdrop Sunday you will be able to buy specialist snowdrops and hear talks by the head gardener. The gardens are open throughout February, with Snowdrop Sundays on February 4 and 18; tickets are available for £7.50 for an adult.
