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Somewhere around the middle of February, the Cotswold year tips over. The snowdrops in Painswick’s hidden valley reach their peak, the first lambs of the season are tottering about in the barns at Guiting Power, the rooks are noisily rebuilding their nests in the tops of the bare trees, and the light — which in January ran out at four o’clock — now lasts until nearly half past five. It is still winter, often a cold and muddy one, but it is a winter with spring showing through, and that is what makes the Cotswolds in February one of the most underrated times to visit.
This guide is about February specifically: the weather you can expect, the dates that matter in 2027 — snowdrop openings, half term, Valentine’s weekend — what is open and closed, how crowds and prices behave, and how to plan a few days around the best of it. If you are weighing up the whole year, our guide to the best time to visit the Cotswolds compares every month.
February in the Cotswolds at a glance
| February | |
|---|---|
| Average high / low | About 7°C / 1°C on the high wold at Little Rissington (Met Office, 1991–2020); Cheltenham is milder |
| Frosty nights | About ten nights of air frost in an average February |
| Rainfall | Around 55 mm — noticeably drier than January (about 78 mm) |
| Sunshine | About 83 hours, up from about 62 in January |
| Daylight | Sunset around 4:55pm on 1 February and about 5:45pm by the end of the month |
| Crowds | Quiet, except on Valentine’s weekend and in half term (15–19 February 2027 in Gloucestershire) |
| Prices | Low midweek; higher for Valentine’s and half term |
| Highlights | Snowdrops at their peak, lambing at Cotswold Farm Park, half-term activities, cosy Valentine’s breaks |
| Closed | Many historic houses and gardens until March or Easter; Cotswold Lavender |
Weather figures are Met Office long-term averages for Little Rissington, more than 200 metres up on the high wold near Bourton-on-the-Water. Dates and opening details checked October 2026 — confirm before you travel.
February weather in the Cotswolds
On paper, February is almost as cold as January: at Little Rissington, on the high wold, the average high is about 7°C, the average low is about 1°C, and there are around ten frosty nights in a typical February (Met Office averages for 1991–2020). But it is a much better month to be out in. Rainfall drops to around 55 mm, against about 78 mm in January, and the sunshine total climbs to about 83 hours as the days lengthen. Clear, frosty mornings followed by bright, still afternoons are common, and those are the days the snowdrops open wide.
| Long-term average, Little Rissington | February |
|---|---|
| Average maximum | 7.1°C |
| Average minimum | 1.1°C |
| Days of air frost | About 10 |
| Sunshine | 83 hours |
| Rainfall | 55 mm |
Do not be fooled by a mild spell. Late-winter cold snaps are a feature of February and early March — the “Beast from the East” brought heavy snow and drifts to the Cotswolds in late February and early March 2018 — and the steep roads off the escarpment can still be closed by ice or snow. Fields and footpaths are at their muddiest after a wet winter, so waterproof boots matter more than ever. Our Cotswolds weather guide has the figures for every month.
What’s on in the Cotswolds in February 2027
- All month — the snowdrop season. Painswick Rococo Garden is open daily from 10am to 5pm through February (its 2026 season ran until 1 March); Colesbourne Park opens on 30–31 January and 6–7, 13–14 and 20–21 February 2027, with gates open at 11am, last entry at 4pm and tickets bought online in advance; Cerney House Gardens opened daily from the start of February in 2026; and Rodmarton Manor opens on selected days in February, so check its website. Check each garden’s 2027 dates.
- Tuesday 9 February — Shrove Tuesday. Pancake day; plenty of cafés and pubs make the most of it.
- Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February — Valentine’s weekend. Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday in 2027, so the Saturday night will be the busiest of the month for restaurants and romantic hotels. Book early.
- February — live lambing at Cotswold Farm Park. Adam Henson’s farm park near Guiting Power holds its live lambing event in February 2027, with commercial and rare breed ewes giving birth. Check the farm park’s website for the opening dates.
- 15–19 February — half term. Gloucestershire’s schools are off this week (academies and neighbouring counties may differ). Expect family activities at the big attractions and busier villages.
- Weekends through February and March — Six Nations rugby. Pubs with big screens fill up on match days, and Gloucester Rugby’s ground at Kingsholm is a short hop from the Cotswold edge for club rugby.
- Late February — the first signs of spring. Frogspawn in the ponds, hazel catkins, the first crocuses and early daffodils, and skylarks singing over the commons on mild days.
Snowdrop season: the main event
If there is one reason to come in February, it is the snowdrops. The month is their peak, and the Cotswolds have some of the finest displays in England. Each of the four main gardens has a different character, and they are close enough together to see two in a day.
| Garden | February opening (2026 pattern) | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Painswick Rococo Garden | Daily, 10:00–17:00 | Around five million snowdrops in a hidden valley, including the Painswick snowdrop ‘Atkinsii’ |
| Colesbourne Park | Selected weekends (30–31 Jan, 6–7, 13–14 and 20–21 Feb 2027); gates 11:00, last entry 16:00; book online | More than 300 varieties — the connoisseur’s choice |
| Cerney House Gardens | Daily from early February | Quiet woodland walks and a walled garden near Cirencester |
| Rodmarton Manor | Selected days in February; check the website | Snowdrops in an Arts and Crafts garden |
Village churchyards and stream banks across the region are white with snowdrops too, and those cost nothing at all. Our full guide to snowdrops in the Cotswolds has prices, walks and a beginner’s guide to the varieties.
February half term in the Cotswolds
Half term is the one busy week of the month, and the region is good at it. The headline event is lambing at Cotswold Farm Park, where children can watch newborn lambs and kids taking their first steps, among rare breeds including the Cotswold Lion sheep. Blenheim Palace advertises family attractions, so check its what’s-on programme for February and its opening days before you book; our Blenheim Palace guide covers tickets. Westonbirt opens at 9am daily except Christmas Day, and its bare winter trees and wide paths make for a good family walk.
For wet days, the Model Village in Bourton-on-the-Water, the Corinium Museum in Cirencester and Gloucester Cathedral, with its Harry Potter cloisters, all work well. Book accommodation early for half term — family cottages go quickly — and expect the honeypot villages to be busier than the rest of the month. Our guides to school holiday activities and rainy-day ideas have plenty more.
Valentine’s in the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are one of the most popular places in England for a Valentine’s break, and it is easy to see why: candlelit pubs, cottages with wood-burners, spa hotels and snowdrop walks. With 14 February falling on a Sunday in 2027, the Saturday night will be the pinch point — book dinner and rooms several weeks ahead, and consider coming midweek instead, when prices are lower and you will have the villages to yourselves. Our guides to Valentine’s Day in the Cotswolds and romantic hotels have ideas for every budget.
What’s open and what’s closed in February
Usually open
- Snowdrop gardens — Painswick Rococo Garden, Colesbourne Park, Cerney House and Rodmarton Manor; check each garden’s dates.
- Cotswold Farm Park — from mid-February for lambing.
- Blenheim Palace — open, with half-term activities.
- Arboretums — Westonbirt (open from 9am daily except Christmas Day) and Batsford.
- Museums and churches — the Corinium Museum (10am–4pm daily; check its visitor page for holiday closures), Gloucester Cathedral and the wool churches.
- Farm shops — including Diddly Squat, normally Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30am–4:30pm, and still quiet in February outside half term.
- The countryside — every footpath, common and village, with Crickley Hill open 6am–6pm and Cirencester Park 8am–5pm.
Usually closed
- Many historic houses and gardens, including Sudeley Castle, Snowshill Manor and Kiftsgate Court Gardens, until their spring reopening — check dates.
- Cotswold Lavender, which opens only in summer.
- Summer-only family attractions and heritage railways, which run limited or no services.
Crowds and prices in February
February has two faces. Midweek, outside half term, it is nearly as quiet as January, with the same low room rates and easy restaurant bookings. Valentine’s weekend and half term are the exceptions: hotels and cottages fill up, prices rise, and Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury get busy on fine days. The snowdrop gardens themselves are busiest on sunny weekends — Painswick in particular — so if you can, visit on a weekday or arrive when the gates open. Our guide to where to stay in the Cotswolds covers every area, and our guide to family cottages is the place to start for half term.
More things to do in the Cotswolds in February
- Walk the commons and the escarpment. February’s drier, brighter days are good for the big views from Cleeve Hill, Crickley Hill and Haresfield Beacon. Pick firm routes — tracks and commons — because field paths are at their muddiest. Our guide to short walks has options for short days.
- Watch the wildlife wake up. The wintering ducks are still on the Cotswold Lakes, the hares are starting to chase in the fields, and the rookeries are noisy with nest-building. Our guide to Cotswolds wildlife covers what to look for.
- Sunday lunch by the fire. February is still prime pub season. Our guide to the best pubs in the Cotswolds picks the cosiest.
- Stock up at a farm shop. Winter vegetables, game, cheese and local bakeries — see our guide to farm shops in the Cotswolds.
- Look up. The nights are still long and dark, and February’s crisp skies are good for stargazing — see our guide to stargazing in the Cotswolds.
Where to stay in February
Base yourself near the snowdrops. Painswick and the Stroud valleys put you close to the Rococo Garden and within reach of Colesbourne. Cirencester is a good base for Colesbourne, Cerney House and Rodmarton, and it has the widest choice of places to eat on a Sunday evening. For lambing at Cotswold Farm Park, look around Stow-on-the-Wold, the Guitings and Naunton. Cheltenham works for everything on the northern escarpment, with plenty to do if the weather turns.
Outside half term and Valentine’s weekend, February rates are close to January’s — the lowest of the year — and many hotels and pubs with rooms still run midweek offers. For half term, book family cottages and hotel family rooms well ahead, ideally before Christmas. Our guides to pubs with rooms and family hotels in the Cotswolds are good places to start.
Half term on a budget
February half term need not be expensive. Snowdrops in churchyards and on stream banks are free, as are the commons, the Cotswold Way and the river walks. Coaley Peak has a large free car park, a picnic site and a Neolithic long barrow to explore; Crickley Hill charges just £2.50 to park for the day and has a café and an Iron Age hill fort; and Cirencester Park costs £4 for an adult day pass if you do not live locally. Pack a flask and sandwiches, save the paid attraction for the wettest day, and it can be one of the cheapest weeks of the year for a family break. Our guide to free things to do with kids in the Cotswolds has plenty more.
Getting around in February
Half-term Saturdays bring the heaviest traffic of the month, especially on the Fosse Way, around Bourton-on-the-Water and on the roads into Cheltenham — set off early, and park on the edge of the busiest villages rather than circling the centre. A cold snap can still make the steep hills off the escarpment treacherous, so check the forecast before driving at night or early in the morning. Trains run to Moreton-in-Marsh and Kingham on the Cotswold Line and to Kemble, Stroud and Cheltenham from Paddington, though engineering works are common at weekends; rural buses remain thin on Sundays. Our guide to driving in the Cotswolds covers parking and the roads to avoid.
A February weekend itinerary
Saturday: snowdrops north and south
Arrive at Painswick Rococo Garden when it opens at 10am, walk up into Painswick for lunch, then drive to Colesbourne Park on a Saturday when it is open, allowing time for the journey before its 4pm last entry. Spend the night in Cirencester or the Stroud valleys; our Painswick guide has places to eat.
Sunday: lambs or a long walk
In half term, or once it has reopened, head to Cotswold Farm Park for the lambing sheds, then walk the lanes between Guiting Power and Naunton. Otherwise, take a long walk on the Cotswold Way along the escarpment from Crickley Hill, followed by Sunday lunch.
Monday: the quiet north
Spend a peaceful Monday in the north Cotswolds — Stow-on-the-Wold, the Slaughters and Bourton-on-the-Water — when the villages are at their quietest. Note that Diddly Squat is closed on Mondays.
Is February a good time to visit the Cotswolds?
Yes — for many people it is the best of the winter months. You get the quiet and the low prices of January, but with longer, drier, brighter days and the snowdrops at their peak, and half term brings the lambing and family activities. It is not the month for stately homes or summer gardens, many of which stay closed until March or Easter, and the weather can still turn bitter. Come for a long weekend built around the snowdrops, a walk and a good pub, and you will see the Cotswolds at their most unhurried. For January’s equivalent, see our guide to the Cotswolds in January; for the whole season, our guide to the Cotswolds in winter.
Frequently asked questions about the Cotswolds in February
Is February a good time to visit the Cotswolds?
Yes, especially for snowdrops, quiet villages and walking at low prices. Avoid it if you want stately homes and summer gardens, many of which reopen in March or at Easter.
What is the weather like in the Cotswolds in February?
Cold but drier and brighter than January: at Little Rissington on the high wold (Met Office averages, 1991–2020), highs of about 7°C and lows near 1°C, around 55 mm of rain and about 83 hours of sunshine, with about ten frosty nights.
When is February half term in the Cotswolds in 2027?
Gloucestershire County Council’s school calendar gives half term as 15 to 19 February 2027. Academies, some other schools and neighbouring counties may set different dates, so check the dates for your own school.
Where can I see snowdrops in the Cotswolds in February?
Painswick Rococo Garden, Colesbourne Park, Cerney House Gardens and Rodmarton Manor, plus countless churchyards and stream banks.
Is Cotswold Farm Park open in February?
It reopens for the season in mid-February in time for half term — on 14 February in 2025 — with its lambing and kidding event. Check the 2027 opening date before you go.
Does it snow in the Cotswolds in February?
Sometimes. Late-winter cold snaps can bring snow, especially to the high ground, and occasionally a lot of it, as in 2018. It rarely lasts more than a few days.
February is the start of the Cotswold spring. For the bluebells that follow in late April, see our guide to bluebell woods in the Cotswolds; for the snowdrop gardens in full, our guide to snowdrops in the Cotswolds; and for how February compares with the rest of the year, our guide to the best time to visit the Cotswolds.
Photo Credits
A path through snowdrops in Chalford, February 2021: Snowdrops in Feb 2021 by HomGg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Lambs at Temple Guiting: Cute lambs – geograph.org.uk – 1895535 by Michael Dibb, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Snowdrops on the bank of the River Churn near Elkstone: Snowdrops on the river bank – geograph.org.uk – 5684091 by Michael Dibb, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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