Please note this is a post from a few years ago. We will be updating this post after our next visit
Yesterday we made use of our annual passes and paid a visit to Howick Hall & Gardens for the annual Snowdrop Festival. We like to visit for each season because there’s so much to see and you get some great photo opportunities.
February sees the hall and gardens reopen for the new year ahead starting with the Snowdrop festival, which is on throughout February. The snowdrops were planted by Lady Grey herself and they truly are spectacular, the snowdrops are like a blanket of snow from a distance.
If you are travelling by car you can park in the car park and then you need to head to the hut to pay. In the hut you will find some free trails for kids you can take part in on your visit and then, when you complete them, you get a certificate.
The snowdrop trail takes a few hours at the most depending on how you walk, the trail is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs but no dogs are allowed unless they are guide dogs.
We decided on our route for that day and walked around the Bog garden, sensory garden and then round to the church.
The Church is always a good place to visit and take a peek around where you will find some beautiful tapestry community kneelers and we always spot one we didn’t see last time. You can also buy postcards and books.
We then joined the Snowdrop walk and WOW it was so pretty. They cover the floor in their millions (cameras at the ready)
We took a really nice stroll around the snowdrop walk taking it all in. Elliot is fascinated with plants at the minute so we were chatting about the different types of plants and the scientific names. Some of the plants here are from across the globe including Japan, China and India. The Conkers from the Indian Horse Chestnut Tree were huge!
Then we were back at the house so the boys like to go into the wild origin garden and play Hide and seek. This seems to have become something we do every time before we leave.. All in all it was a great day, we spent around 3 hours here today but we have previously been and spent the full day walking and playing.
We didn’t visit the tea room this time but we did the last time we were here and it was delicious. 5 meals, 5 cakes and 2 pots of the famous Earl Grey Tea came to around £50
Things to look out for.
Conkers from the Indian Horse Chestnut Tree
Bridges and streams – perfect to play pooh sticks somehow Elliot always wins….
Animal prints- What will you find on your visit? We found prints from various birds, deer and what looked like a snake trail.
Childrens trail sheets which can be found in the hut upon entering.
Cakes! Most definitely look out for the delicious cakes in the tea room.
We will be visiting again to see the daffodils next and we can’t wait!