Credit: National Trust
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Families don’t have to hibernate when winter arrives – across the UK, botanical gardens are turning shorter days and frosty mornings into excuses for outdoor adventures packed with colour, wildlife and festive fun.
From glowing light trails to snowdrop “hotspots” and storytelling with Santa, these gardens prove that the coldest months can still be some of the most magical for kids and parents alike.
One of the UK’s largest winter gardens is in Greater Manchester
At Dunham Massey, one of the UK’s largest winter gardens, families can combine frosty garden walks with an illuminated Christmas trail that brings the historic estate to life after dark. By day, there are colourful dogwoods, fragrant witch hazel and bright evergreens to explore, plus longer loops through the medieval deer park where children can spot fallow deer and wildlife-rich ponds.
Seasonal bloom highlights at Dunham Massey 
Credit: National Trust
From January into early spring, Dunham Massey’s planting shifts through a series of “bloom moments”, giving families a reason to return throughout the season. Thousands of bulbs emerge in waves, beginning with early Narcissus and snowdrops before giving way to carpets of iris, scilla, crocus and chionodoxa.
Brightly coloured Cornus and Salix stems add architectural structure, while the ghost-white trunks of birch trees seem to shine on even the coldest, greyest days. Wildlife remains active too, with snowdrops offering much-needed early forage for bees and woodpeckers tapping at tree trunks in search of food, adding sound and movement to the winter scene.
Family fun at Dunham Massey – Speechly the Pineapple and festive treats 
Credit: National Trust
Younger visitors can join a dedicated, child-friendly trail that follows Speechly the Pineapple on his “pineapple post” adventure, collecting stamps and seasonal surprises at points around the garden. This playful storyline turns a simple walk into an interactive quest, keeping children engaged as they move between different parts of the estate.
After completing the trail, families can warm up by browsing the on-site shop for unique Christmas gifts and thoughtful stocking fillers, or duck into the charming second-hand bookshop for a quiet moment among the shelves. With open space to run, pockets of calm for reading or resting, and plenty of visual interest at every turn, Dunham Massey is well suited to mixed-age groups and multi-generational outings.
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