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Spring has officially arrived here in the UK. Although the weather is still very hit-and-miss, the blossom is on the trees, wildflowers are starting to pop up here, there and everywhere and birdsong fills the air.
And now you’re wondering what should be on your UK spring bucket list.
As always, we’ve got you covered with a whole bunch of spring-inspired activities and destinations in the UK you’re sure to love.
UK Spring Bucket List Activities, Things To Do & Places To Visit
Before we get into it, I just want to clarify that this isn’t a generic spring bucket list. We’ve lived in the UK for a lifetime now, so this list includes all of the things we most look forward to once spring rolls around in March through May.
After all, alongside autumn, spring is one of our favourite seasons and we believe it to be one of the best times to explore the UK.
There’s a good chance of some sunshine, crowds are fewer, daylight hours are longer and prices are generally cheaper than during the summer months.
So… if you want to don your walking shoes and go in search of some of the best spring destinations in the UK, marvel at the blossom on the trees and the wildflowers on the ground, then happy reading and wandering!
Marvel at the blossom on the trees
While some trees produce blossom as early as February here in the UK, it’s most common to see blossom throughout the spring months.
In particular, I most look forward to seeing cherry plum trees in March and crab apple trees in May because I think these fruit trees produce the most beautiful and delicate blossoms.
You’ll find blossoming trees all over the UK at this time of year. But for the very best floral displays, you’ll probably want to visit:
- Kew Gardens in London
- Greenwich Park in London
- The Meadows in Edinburgh
- Brogdale Farm in Kent
- National Trust Blossom Festivals (various locations)
Wander through a bluebell wood
It’s not just blossoming trees you can look forward to in spring. The UK is also renowned for its wild bluebells that carpet the grounds of ancient woodlands; known locally as “bluebell woods”.
But what some people don’t know is that there are a myriad places – not just woodlands – that showcase the beauties of wild bluebells.
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Admire the spring flowers
Alongside blankets of bluebells, here are some other spring flowers you can look forward to seeing throughout the UK at this time of year:
- Cowslip
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Wood anemone
- Cuckooflower (also known as Lady’s Smock)
- Dog violets
- Wild garlic
- Wild primrose
Watch the spring wildlife
And romping, frolicking and gliding through those floral displays? Why spring wildlife, of course!
In particular, this is the best time of year to join a badger-watching tour or excursion. Female badgers usually give birth to their cubs in February, then by mid-April, they’ve emerged from hibernation to go in search of food.
It’s rather difficult to find badgers as they tend to roam around through dusk and at night.
However, by following the advice on badger.org.uk or by heading to a specially-designed badger hide like this one, you may just spot a badger or two.
Alongside badgers, you can also look forward to the UK’s lambing season, which is typically in March and April. This is such a special season in the UK and you certainly won’t have to go far to spot your first lamb out in the countryside.
We saw a paddock of them just the other day in fact – during our most recent wander around the Cotswolds countryside close to where we live.
Finally, spring in the UK is also the perfect time to see hares boxing each other, migrating birds from the south and many a beautiful butterfly.
Attend a fun Easter event or festival
You’ll find various fun Easter events and spring-themed festivals throughout the UK for both adults and kids alike.
In particular, children can look forward to Easter Egg hunts, such as ones advertised by local towns and villages or at National Trust properties.
As for the adults, there are various festivals to look forward to at this time of year. Some of the more well-known ones include the:
- Edinburgh International Science Festival in April
- Chelsea Flower Show in May
- Hay Festival of Literature & Arts in May
Visit grand castles and stately homes
For many of us, one of the main reasons why we explore the UK throughout the spring months is because of the flowers and wildlife and all of the beautiful things you can look forward to seeing outdoors.
While countryside rambles and woodland wanders are especially wonderful at this time of year; so too are grand castles and stately homes.
Not only will they be less busy than in the summer months when the large coach tours arrive and the peak travel season begins, but you can also look forward to seeing spring flowers, blossoming trees and landscaped gardens these kinds of places are renowned for.
You’ll also find many of the private estates that are closed through the winter start to open up again for the spring months, such as some of our favourites:
- Wilton House in Wiltshire (reopens in May)
- Highclere Castle in Wiltshire (open for spring and summer and is where Downton Abbey was filmed)
- Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire (open from March to November and is where part of The White Princess was filmed)
- Bowood House & Gardens (open from March to November and used for various popular British productions including Poldark, Sanditon and Downton Abbey)
Explore the UK’s best gardens
Speaking of landscaped gardens, there are a whole host of beautiful gardens you can explore here in the UK. And as you might imagine, spring and summer are the best times to visit.
Some of our favourite gardens at this time of year include:
- The Courts Garden in Wiltshire
- West Green House Garden in Hampshire
- Bodnant Garden in Wales
- Hidcote in Gloucestershire
- Mottisfont in Hampshire
- Westbury Court Garden in Gloucestershire
Why not also take a picnic with you if the weather isn’t too wet or windy? And for the best floral displays in spring, we’d recommend timing your visit for later on in the season such as late April or May.
Use your National Trust membership
When you think about the UK, it’s more often than not the quintessential chocolate box landscapes that spring to mind. You might picture the rolling hills, the farmlands, the bluebells and the historic castles and estates.
The National Trust owns a large proportion of these lands and buildings and helps to care for them. As a charity in its own right, the majority of its funds come from membership fees and donations.
Whether it’s walking out in the countryside, learning about historic buildings, or just saving money on car parking fees, being a member of the National Trust brings with it so many benefits.
And there are lots of places where you can really enjoy being a National Trust member during the spring and summer months. Far too many for us to list here, so you might enjoy some of our other blog posts linked below.
READ NEXT:
- National Trust Membership Review: How To Get Your Money’s Worth
- 35 Best National Trust Places To Visit
- National Trust Bucket List: Fancy A Challenge?
Go on a long walk or hike
Once spring arrives, the milder weather usually also arrives as well as more sunshine – especially as we move into late spring.
Now’s the perfect time to go on a long walk or hike you wouldn’t have enjoyed in winter.Some of our favourites in the UK include:
- in the Brecon Beacons
- Pontsticill Reservoir in the Brecon Beacons
- Bath to Prospect Stile Viewpoint (following part of the Cotswold Way)
- Isle of Wight Coastal Path to the Needles
- Hurlstone Point in Devon
- Avebury Circular Walk in Wiltshire
- Walk to the Eagle’s Nest Viewpoint in the Wye Valley
Head to the coast
Speaking of mild weather and more sunshine, this is also a beautiful time of year to visit the coast.Whether you want to wander along the coastline, take in the views or relax on the beach – when it’s not too wet, windy or blustery, of course.
In our opinion, you’ll find some of the UK’s most beautiful coastlines in Pembrokeshire in Wales, Cornwall (both north and south), Devon, Dorset and Scotland – especially on the Isle of Skye.
Spring is also a great time of year to visit Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland because – as you might’ve guessed – there should be fewer crowds there than in the summer months.
Leave the mainland
Speaking of epic coastlines, spring is also an ideal time of year to leave the mainland for a weekend getaway or longer.
The reason? Well, these places will be quieter than in the summer months but it’s also the perfect time of year to see migrating birds from the south such as puffins.For example, you can see puffins on Skomer Island and the Isles of Scilly at this time of year.
Or, if you’d rather relax on beaches, wander around botanical gardens and visit Queen Victoria’s summer residence, then a spring trip to the Isle of Wight is the one for you.We spent a long weekend there in May and I’m happy to report that the weather actually behaved itself!
Alternatively, you can head to the Channel Islands to enjoy a spring getaway – once again with fewer crowds than in summer yet still considerably better weather than during other times of the year.
READ NEXT: Fabulous Isle of Wight Itinerary For First Time Visitors
Enjoy a chic city break
With the UK experiencing more daylight hours and blue skies than in winter and autumn, and with prices being much lower than in the summer, spring is also the perfect time of year for a chic city break or two.
Some of the most popular cities in the UK for a long weekend include London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, Cambridge, Oxford, York, Bath and Brighton. Bath gets our vote, though!
Explore museums and art galleries
And on those rainy days in April when the heavens have opened, there’s a myriad of museums to visit all across the country – with some even being free to visit.
In our opinion, some of the UK’s best museums include the Natural History Museum in London, The British Museum in London, Brunel’s SS Great Britain in Bristol, Tate St Ives in Cornwall and The Roman Baths in Bath.
Become a “Sunday Driver”
As the UK is a relatively small island, it’s easy to see a lot in a short space of time – especially if you have access to a car.
And as there are more daylight hours in the spring months, you could drive for miles and miles and still get to spend the best of the day somewhere picturesque and interesting.
Likewise, you might also enjoy driving around, admiring the landscapes before pulling over somewhere to admire a stunning vista, enjoy a traditional pub meal or stop for tea and cake.
We call these “Sunday Drivers” in the UK and you’ll see plenty of them in the spring and summer months.
Some of our most favourite places for a mini road trip include Scotland, Cornwall, the Cotswolds, Wales, the Peak District and the Lake District.
Read More About Spring in the UK
If you’re unfamiliar with the UK, then here are some final things you should know about springtime here.
When is spring in the UK?
Generally speaking, we use the astronomical calendar in the UK. This calendar states that spring starts on the date of the Spring Equinox, which is usually on March 20th, although it can fall on the 19th or 21st in some years, and lasts until the Summer Solstice, which is usually June 21st. According to this calendar, spring would usually be from March 20th until June 21st.
What’s the weather like?
Spring in the UK is usually when we all rejoice that the sun is starting to come out more and is getting us geared up for the summer. This year feels a little different so far, but here’s hoping the weather improves soon.
If you do see blue skies and sunshine, don’t be too fooled as the temperatures can still be fairly cool – especially towards the start of spring. Spring temperatures in the UK typically range from 8°C to 13°C although we have had some warmer temperatures in more recent years.
Also, the UK is still an island and subject to very unpredictable weather, so you should always expect rain on some days – especially in April when “April Showers” are common. Don’t forget the saying: “April Showers Bring May Flowers.”
What to pack for a spring trip to the UK
As with exploring the UK in any other season, you should be prepared for unpredictable weather.
Although the sun should shine fairly frequently in spring, you should also expect rain (especially in March and April), alongside chilly temperatures and high winds.
Because of this, we recommend wearing layers in spring. You may need to strip off a little when the sun shines, while wind and rain call for extra layers.
Generally speaking, here are a few essential items you’ll need when exploring the UK in the spring months:
- Long-sleeved tops, jumpers or cardigans
- Trousers, jeans or leggings
- Waterproof coat or jacket
- Walking boots for countryside rambles
- Smart waterproof boots for city breaks in case of rain
- Umbrella
Take a look at our UK packing list for a more extensive list of items you’ll need in the UK >>
Discover More Amazing Places To Visit in the UK
We’ve been writing about the UK since 2016, which means we have a whole host of articles you might enjoy reading and getting inspiration from. You can find all of them here.
Explore The UK Through The Seasons
Call us biased but we think there’s much to love about exploring the UK throughout the entire year – as you’ll see from our other seasonal travel guides:
Over to you now – what’s on YOUR UK spring bucket list? We’re always after some inspiration, so please do share away in the comments below…
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