Beautiful Snowdrops at Anglesey Abbey

Snowdrops in the foreground, with the house behind — Bringing you the view of Anglesey Abbey's snowdrop collection

Herald the start of spring and join us for snowdrop season. Discover over 270 varieties and this favourite winter flower within our renowned collection.

Snowdrop Season at Anglesey Abbey

The snowdrop collection here at Anglesey Abbey hosts over 270 individual varieties of snowdrop, with some found right here in our gardens and as such, are named after people and places with links to Anglesey Abbey.

Also known as Candlemas Bells, snowdrops are common in the grounds of old religious communities, and it’s possible that Anglesey Abbey’s snowdrops go back to the time when it was a priory. Candlemas, the Christian feast of purification, falls on 2 Feb each year

Where to find our snowdrops

Snowdrops can be found across the gardens, here are some of the best spots to find them:

The Winter Garden

The first snowdrops to appear are usually found beneath the splendor of the Winter Garden. Generally visible from mid-December, this is a favourite pathway to spot several different varieties of the delicate white flowers whilst also enjoying the sensory planting surrounding them.

The Woodland Path

Along with daffodils and hellebores, the Woodland Path and Hoe Fen access path provide a natural setting for small clumps of some of our more common snowdrops. If you're heading through either of these paths, keep an eye out for them on the paths as they can often spread with each passing year.

The Specialist Collection

The specialist collection contains some of the snowdrops that are directly linked with Anglesey Abbey, and is only accessible as part of a guided tour. Our popular Specialist Collection Tours return this year, join one of our knowledgeable garden team to discover our private collection of snowdrops, not usually accessible to visitors.

Our popular Specialist Collection tours are now fully booked for 2022. We're not able to operate a waiting list for tours, but any cancellations will be available to re-book using the link below.

Snowdrop Tours: The Specialist Collection

Snowdrops are one of our first signs that spring is on its way and Anglesey Abbey is famous for them. The garden is home to over 300 different varieties, some of which can only be seen on the exclusive behind the scenes tours. These ‘sell-out’ tours can now be pre-booked to ensure you can see really unusual varieties close up, and hear the intriguing stories and characters behind them from our dedicated gardens staff and volunteers.

Discover our snowdrop stories

Galanthus nivalis 'Anglesey Abbey'

Taking its name from its place of origin, this snowdrop was discovered at Anglesey Abbey. It is the green v-shape mark on tips of inner petals which gives this single snowdrop its recognisable features, and it often flowers around the middle of January.

Galanthus 'Richard Ayres'

G. ‘Richard Ayres’ was named by the National Trust after a former Head Gardener. Its flowers can range from three to six petals, meaning it can be described as irregular, and it has been known to grow to heights of up to 30cm!

Galanthus 'Hobson's Choice'

Made up from singular flowers, this snowdrop has a distinctive ‘V’ shape mark on the inner petals. Named after Thomas Hobson, who purchased Anglesey Abbey in 1627 and converted it from a derelict priory to the country house you see today, and who is also known for his ‘take that one or none’ approach.

Start your own snowdrop collection

Many of the varieties found in the gardens can be purchased from our Plant Centre. Starting your own collection is easy to do, if you’d like some advice on which winter plants go well with snowdrops, speak to a member of the team who will be happy to help. Every penny spent in the Plant Centre goes back into caring for Anglesey Abbey.

Make the most of your visit

Snowdrop season is an incredibly popular time, and we're pleased that so many people want to visit Anglesey Abbey at this time of year but this means we can get busy, especially at weekends and during the February half-term.

Plan your visit and make the most of our more peaceful visiting times using our handy planning guide.

A Summer of Family fun at Anglesey Abbey

Preparing for your visit to Anglesey Abbey

Whether you're a regular visitor or it's your first time, we can't wait to welcome you to Anglesey Abbey. Take a look at our handy guide on what you need to know to help plan your day.