Shaftesbury’s Snowdrop Festival takes place in mid February and celebrates the joyful arrival of hundreds of thousands of snowdrops dotted across the town. It’s a gentle, uplifting way to mark the first signs of spring.
Completely free to visit and founded and run by volunteers, it’s a wonderfully wholesome way to spend a day in February.
When to visit
We would recommend visiting around Valentine’s Day, when the displays are usually at their best. You can pick up a Snowdrop Walk Map from our shop or the Tourist Information Centre, offering a clear and well-considered route around the town’s best snowdrop displays.
What to bring
For a day of snowdrop sighting, we'd recommend packing:
- Your warmest coat, hat, gloves and scarf. Shaftesbury is elevated and can be very chilly in February
- Walking boots or wellies to allow you to wander through the displays
- A change of footwear, if you're headed to a lunch spot after your walk
- Pick up a Snowdrop Walk Map from our shop or The Tourist Information Centre
100 other reasons to visit
Shaftesbury is brimming with history, beautiful views ,and cool places to discover. From outdoor swimming, to thatched cottages, to the best ice cream - Shaftesbury has heaps to offer.
Need a warm up?
The Salt Cellar, located at the top of the famous Gold Hill, serves excellent breakfasts and lunches.
The Grosvenor Arms is a Georgian coaching inn offering refined dining options, plenty of space, and excellent coffee.
King Alfred’s Kitchen specialises in gluten-free cakes and lunches, with independent coffee and hot chocolate that are not to be missed.
The King’s Arms serves everything from fancy Scotch eggs to wood-fired pizzas and inventive seasonal dishes.
(We would recommended booking a table to avoid disappointment. All are dog friendly)
Come for the Snowdrops, stay for