Spring Gardens

There’s no better time to take a break in the Cotswolds than early spring.  After such a mild winter, our gorgeous gardens are already showing the first signs of spring, and there are so many gorgeous hotels offering special springtime deals!  With some of the world’s best known and beautiful gardens – many full to bursting with snowdrops and thousands of other gorgeous spring bulbs – spring into the Cotswolds this February.

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Tucked away in the north Cotswolds just outside Moreton in Marsh, Batsford Arboretum comes alive in February with impressive displays of spring flowering bulbs - from swathes of snowdrops, aconites and hellebores - followed by drifts of daffodils and the beautiful blossom of the magnolias in March.  Then from mid-April, Batsford’s blossom display reaches its peak when the stars of the show – the Japanese flowering cherries – come into full bloom.
www.batsarb.co.uk

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Explore spring colour at Blenheim Palace - a World Heritage Site with more than 2000 acres of parkland landscaped by one of the UK’s most famous landscape architects, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Take a stroll up to the Grand Cascades or around the lake to admire some of the finest views in England, looking out for the historical monuments in the grounds, including the Column of Victory and Grand Bridge. Discover the array of Formal Gardens, including the Rose Garden, Churchill Memorial Garden, Water Terraces and Secret Garden.  
www.blenheimpalace.com

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In an area of outstanding natural beauty there are plenty of spring gardens to explore when visiting The Lygon Arms.   This iconic Tudor coaching Inn dating from the 13th century not only sits beside a three-acre private garden which is perfect for croquet, tennis and enjoying the flowering bulbs, but also invites your furry friends . From muddy paw stations for your dog, to bundles of colourful wellies for yourself, bikes for something more energetic, and the garden for picnics, the Lygon Arms will be both you and your dog’s favourite place to step back and enjoy the budding spring.
www.lygonarmshotel.co.uk  

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Spring bulbs will soon be bursting through the beds at world famous Hidcote which will once again be filled with exuberance and colour.  The Long Borders will be the first area to start showing growth in early spring and the spring flowers and early bulbs look beautiful at this time of year.  Highlights of blossom at Hidcote include the cherry and magnolia blossom that can be found delighting the different areas of the garden while the Cornus Mas in the Pine Circle and the Daphne also provide a fantastic scent to accompany your walk around the paths. 
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote  

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Early spring in the Garden at Miserden reveals flowering shrubs and lovely coloured barks and berries in the Arboretum.  It is a great time of year to see the bare bones of the garden, such as the layout of the parterre and long mixed borders before the coverage of plants later in the year.  Early spring also brings the start of the beautiful daylilies and narcissus, before the wonderful display of tulips, alliums and French irises arrive.  Currently open at weekends but from 1st March the garden, nursery and garden café are open 6 days a week Tuesday to Sunday. 
www.miserden.org/garden 

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With snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils blooming in the garden, orchard and in front of the 17th-century house, the signs of spring are clearly visible at Dyrham Park. Seasonal planting in the garden means it’s awash with colour all year round - with fiery red dogwood framing the historic pools and a sea of wild garlic filling the terraces in late March and early April.  The team of National Trust gardeners are embarked on an ambitious project to create a vibrant 21st-century garden with echoes of the past so there's always something new to see. 
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park  

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Westonbirt Arboretum may be famed across the world for autumn colour but did you know that spring is just as spectacular!?  Spring is a special time as new life starts to awaken and suddenly the arboretum is transformed into a riot of sensational colour.  See extraordinary rhododendrons hailing from the Himalayas, stunning carpets of bluebells and fascinating wildflowers. Discover the best the season has to offer on a guided walk or follow a seasonal trail. 
www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt

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For an uplifting start to the year, soak up the beauty of the glorious spring flowers at the Royal Gardens at Highgrove and book a very special Spring Walk.  The stunning gardens come alive in spring with magnificent pot displays, elegant tulips, azaleas, early rhododendrons and, of course, the stunning camassias in the wildflower meadow and narcissi and daffodils in the Arboretum.  Led by one of HRH The Prince of Wales’s expert guides in groups of up to 26 guests, Highgrove spring walks are not to be missed. 
www.highgrovegardens.com/pages/spring-walks-2020  

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At Bourton House Garden, after weeks of hard work taking thousands of cuttings and putting the Garden ‘to bed’ to protect the plants from frosts over winter, it is a delight to watch it ‘hatching’ open again as the warmer days come in Spring.  The topiary chickens enjoy the sunshine, cowslips, tulips and fritillaries bring colour back to the garden and cherry blossom frames the house.  Open from the 1^st April you can watch the garden develop and change throughout the seasons. 
www.bourtonhouse.com  

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The gardens at Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa are spread over 12 acres, including an area of woodland leading down to the River Avon.  Here you’ll see most of the spring flowers in bloom including snowdrops and the first of the crocuses.  Just thirty minutes away is Colesbourne Park known as Englands Greatest Snowdrop Garden and home to hundreds of snowdrop varieties.  Combine a stay at Whatley Manor with the perfect opportunity to see the gardens waking up from the winter and the Snowdrops in their full glory.  
www.whatleymanor.com  

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Bring spring into your home by learning how to plant seasonal spring blooms and foliage in a basket at Daylesford’s floristry workshop.  With expert tips and guidance from Daylesford’s floristry tutors, you’ll learn how to create a bespoke floral design that can be enjoyed for several weeks.  Sustainability is at the heart of Daylesford, and for sustainable floristry that means working with seasonal blooms and foliage at our fingertips. Guests will learn about the varieties available at the time and techniques to tie different colours and textures together.  
www.daylesford.com/events/spring-planted-basket-cotswolds  

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A recent winner of the Good Hotel Guide ‘Best Hotel With Garden’ Award, Lords of the Manor occupies eight acres in the tiny village of Upper Slaughter.  Enjoy a behind the scenes garden tour with Head Gardener Michael, which takes place on the last Tuesday of every month.  Or stay and explore the hotel’s walled and bog gardens, meadow, and the herb garden at leisure.  
www.lordsofthemanor.com/our-gardens  

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Experience the magic of Painswick Rococo Gardens as part of your spring stay at The Painswick.  Their special package includes a midweek stay and dinner at the charming hotel – complete with roaring fires, sink-in-me sofas and all the home comforts.  Explore the stunning Rococo Gardens where five million snowdrops carpet the garden each spring – a Cotswolds must-see and then enjoy 2 complimentary 25 minute treatments! 
www.thepainswick.co.uk/offer/winter-retreat  

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Once the home of renowned garden designer Rosemary Verey, the gardens at Barnsley House add a fairy-tale feel to the luxury hotel.  The famous Laburnum Walk is iconic and unique with each changing season, and the kitchen garden provides fresh, seasonal produce to be served in The Potager. The talented gardeners who lovingly nurture the flowers, plants and produce can always be found for a chat.   This Winter Hideaway Offer comes with a warm winter Pimms, private use of the hotel’s cinema, use of the hotel spa, complimentary dinner in The Potager overlooking the gardens, and a full Cotswolds breakfast.
www.barnsleyhouse.com/offer/winter-hideaway  

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At Yarrow Cottage, winter is for hunkering down by the fire, and spring is best spent in its pretty garden.  Nestled within the postcard-perfect village of Churchill, Yarrow has a well-kept lawn and trees with blossoms galore come springtime.  After a morning spent perusing nearby villages collecting local produce, such as cheese, wine and organic veg, you can while away the afternoon back at the cottage.  Enjoy a long lunch in the early summer sun, listening to the birds, amongst the peace and tranquillity of the Cotswold countryside. 
www.sandandstoneescapes.com/property/yarrow-cottage-in-the-cotswolds  

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Where better to celebrate spring than on the elegant blossom-filled terrace at The Wheatsheaf Inn?  This traditional British Inn has fourteen bespoke bedrooms in the heart of the beautiful sleepy Cotswold village of Northleach.  Settle down and enjoy a meal from the al fresco wood-fired oven or bask in the evening sunshine enjoying a drink or two.   Hunting shooting, fishing is the vibe here with a distinctive Cotswold atmosphere where you simply feel like a local. 
www.cotswoldswheatsheaf.com 

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