1. Colesbourne Park Gardens

Colesbourne Gardens is the premier place to see snowdrops in bloom. The collection is probably the most varied of any garden on display, with over three hundred varieties of this spectacular harbinger of spring on show during the short season. Colesbourne has 10 acres of private gardens and woodland walks with a mix of snowdrops, hellebores, cyclamen and a wide variety of early flowering shrubs.

The Gardens include an arboretum of rare trees privately collected over the past 120 years, many of which are Champion trees listed in the Tree Register of the British Isles.

The snowdrop garden will be open at weekends from Saturday 28th January 2023 until Sunday 26th February 2023. 1pm-4.30pm

The beautiful St James’ church is always open and on most Saturdays and Sundays during the season there will be bells ringing out along the valley as visiting campanologists come to make beautiful sounds synonymous with the rural setting. Dogs are welcome on leads and refreshments are available in the courtyard.

https://www.colesbournegardens.org.uk/snowdrop-open-days/

Butler Sherborn are currently marketing Butlers Farm, Colesbourne Guide Price £2,350,000 https://www.butlersherborn.co.uk/colesbourne/nid3019

2. Batsford Arboretum

Batsford Arboretum is a beautiful example of Cotswold gardens throughout with 56 acres of woodland gardens, a cafe with a children’s play area and a plant centre with knowledgeable staff to help with advice.

Spring offers a stunning display of early flowering bulbs like snowdrops, daffodils and narcissi. The extensive grounds are great for families and children, and there is a children’s trail to keep them happy, dogs are permitted on leads.

http://www.batsarb.co.uk

Butler Sherborn are selling a lovely contemporary four bedroom village house - Newton Lodge in Longborough Guide Price £660,000 https://www.butlersherborn.co.uk/longborough/ganborough-road/nid3122

3. Hidcote Manor

Hidcote Manor is a National Trust property with glorious gardens, close to the charming Cotswold town of Chipping Campden and nestled into the escarpment.

The gardens are have a very early feel to them, and are divided into four areas, with winding paths through enclosed gardens, yew hedges with herbaceous borders and mature, specimen trees. There is much to explore here for people of all ages, and in the spring, it reopens for the year with a burst of flowering plants.

There is a cafe, plant centre and shop so you can enjoy a full day out. As a National Trust property, there are always people available to advise on horticultural matters on hand for assistance.

The Gardens are open from 11.00am – 4pm from 14 February to 28 March.

 Butler Sherborn are currently selling Bickerstaffs Farm House, Shipston-on- Stour. Guide Price £1,650,000. This lovely Warwickshire farm house is close to Hidcote and Kiftsgate Gardens. https://www.butlersherborn.co.uk/shipston-stour/nid3173

4. Kiftsgate Court Gardens

One has to wait until April to visit the gardens at Kiftsgate Court when it reopens, but it’s worth the wait. The gardens are set on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment from which one has beautiful views out to towards the Malverns, and on a clear day the Black Mountains.

Spring brings a yellow carpets of daffodils to the Court,  and the bluebell wood is gorgeous in early May.

With a plethora of gardens, all beautiful maintained by three generations of women gardeners, a lovely tea room and a shop, there is much of interest for the gardener.

Unfortunately dogs are not permitted at Kiftsgate.

http://www.kiftsgate.co.uk/

5. Painswick Rococo Garden

Painswick Rococo Garden in Gloucestershire is not a typical Cotswold garden. Designed in the 1700’s, the gardens were meant to entertain guests at Painswick House and were created as a theatrical place hidden in a little valley. The gardens are quirky, arty and beautiful, and are a really tranquil place to visit.

Painswick Rococo Garden is famed for having one of the largest array of  snowdrops in the country that bloom for just a few weeks at the beginning of spring, which is why it’s such a good time to visit.

Children love these gardens too with much to explore, a maze to get lost in, a rustic play area and a great deal of space to run around in and explore.  

https://www.rococogarden.org.uk/

6. Malmesbury Abbey  

The Cotswold gardens at Malmesbury Abbey are historic as well as exceptional in terms of the planting , with 5 acres of plants, flowers, herbaceous borders, foliage, woodland and laburnum walks.

There is also a collection of 2000 roses at Malmesbury Abbey, which is well worth the visit alone.

With the first King of England buried in the gardens somewhere and two saints thrown down the well, the place has history and the gardens are some of the most beautiful and historic in the area.

There is a lovely cafe here too for refreshments during your visit.

https://www.abbeyhousemanor.com/garden-tours/