Days outside

Signs of spring

Daffodils bring a little bit of sunshine to any day © Justin Holt

Daffodils bring a little bit of sunshine to any day

© Justin Holt

'I know spring is in the air when I walk out my front door and the daffodils have appeared almost overnight.'
- Nick Hinchliffe, Ranger

Find out more about our places, and why people find them special during the springtime.

Spring walks

Stepping stones at Dovedale © John Millar

Stepping stones at Dovedale

© John Millar

After a long, cold winter now is the perfect time to get outdoors to spot signs of our gardens and countryside bursting into life this spring. There is plenty to enjoy from snowdrops to daffodils, apple blossom to magnolias as well as plenty of wildlife, including birds nesting, hares ‘boxing’ and lambs gambolling in fields.

Rainy day fun

When the rain starts to fall, we get really excited. We're brimming with ideas for spending a soggy day out, followed by warming up with a delicious bowl of soup, cup of tea or even a hot chocolate at one of our cafes.

Find a place to visit

Reasons to visit our gardens and parks

  • Enjoying the Garden at Montacute © NTPL

    The best places to read

    Just as important as picking the right book is choosing the right place in which to enjoy it, so here’s our pick of some of the best places to read across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  • The Chinese bridge at Biddulph Grange garden © Andrew Butler

    Famous gardens

    We care for hundreds of amazing gardens, but these six are the jewels in our crown. Why not plan a visit?

  • Frog fountain on the parterre at Waddesdon Manor, Bucks © Waddesdon, The Rothschild Collection (National Trust)

    Fantastic fountains

    Fountains are often a centre piece for lots of our gardens, and we think that they deserve to be celebrated for bringing a sense of movement to a garden. So here are our top 5 fountains that are not to be missed.

  • A family admiring the peacock topiary in the garden at Avebury Manor © David Levenson

    Top topiary

    A tree doesn't necessarily have to look like a tree. With some imagination and a good pair of shears, some of our gardeners have created amazing works of art that really are a cut above the rest. Here are some of the places that you can enjoy some amazing topiary.

  • Having fun at Claremont Play Area © John Miller

    Top ten adventure playgrounds

    When your younger family members need to run around and let off steam, why not head to one of our amazing adventure playgrounds. Fantastic fun for daredevils young and old.