Our faves! We’ve been spotting a few early daffodils since mid Jan but in the next few weeks these yellow heralders of spring will really take off. Where to see them? Here’s the best of the rest:
Shotover House Daffodil Day 23rd March 2 – 4.30pm
Every year Shotover House throws open it’s gates and invites the public to view the thousands of daffodils in the private estate. This is fancy pants at it’s finest as royalty has stayed here – you can certainly feel it in the formal gardens with lakes, lawns and woods. Another great lure of this day is the homemade tea and cake on offer, all for local charities too 💛
St Mary’s Church, Pyrton 23rd March and 30th March 2 – 5pm
Famed for it’s churchyard full of yellow, people come from far and wide to enjoy the daffodils, followed by tea and cake in the village hall. Children’s can get stuck in with craft activities on Sunday 30th March too. Walks aplenty in the local area, including the Oxfordshire Way (see maps 33 – 36 in the link) and The Ridgeway.
Waddesdon Manor Daffodil Valley Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Get ready for thousands of daffodils blooming in Daffodil Valley! If you have experienced this before then you will know what a spectacular sight it is. You’ll see the sea of yellow as you walk from the Manor towards the Aviary. We’ve been keeping an eye on their social media to get a glimpse of the valley in full bloom so we can stampede down there but they aren’t *quite* there yet. Give it a few weeks with this warmer weather and they really will be a host of golden daffodils.
University Parks Open daily
A true delight in spring! We’re not just here for the daffodils, which were amongst the earliest we saw this year, but also the cherry blossom trees which are a real crowd pleaser. At the Klebe gate entrance you will usually find a chalk board with seasonal highlights listed with their location. Oxford’s very own Central Park.
Rousham House and Gardens Open daily
You know we are big fans of this place; this child-free place. Yep, you read it right, no children here. Not sure why, perhaps because it’s regarded as one of England’s most important gardens so the stakes are too high! That said, if this is the kind of peace you crave then this little slice of silence is waiting for you. I have only ever been at the height of summer and depths of winter but will be returning in the next few weeks due to rave reviews from friends last spring about the daffodils.
An honourable mention goes to…
National Garden Scheme (NGS). Visit their website for private gardens which open their gates to the public for charity. We have been to so many of these – there are 3,500 to choose from – and there is a long list of great daffodil gardens to visit this spring. Wherever you are, there is a garden waiting to welcome you.
