Spring in Britain: Events, festivals and activities

You may have heard of our April showers, but Britain’s weather is often calm and dry in spring, as the Met Office states. And did you know that snow is more likely in March than December here? So if you’re travelling early in the season, be prepared for chilly weather.  

Spring 2025 was Britain’s warmest on record, with more than 650 hours of sunshine registered. Here’s hoping for more of the same in spring 2026.   

St David’s Day is Wales’ national day dedicated to its patron saint, St David. St David was a sixth-century Welsh bishop and monk, who is believed to have passed away on 1 March. Nowadays, St David’s Day is celebrated on 1 March with parades, parties and concerts across Wales. Cardiff, Wales’ capital city, holds the National St David’s Day Parade every year, where you can see locals wearing traditional Welsh costumes.  

Daffodils are a colourful symbol of spring in Britain. They’re also a Welsh icon, so where better to see them than Bodnant Garden, in Eryri (Snowdonia)? The meadows that surround the more formal garden are carpeted with the golden flowers at this time of year.  

Easter Sunday falls on 5 April 2026 and in 2027 Easter Sunday is 28 March.  

Yes, there are plenty of celebrations in Northern Ireland for St Patrick’s Day, held each year on 17 March. The party begins in early March in Belfast, with a jam-packed events programme leading up to the big day, when the St Patrick’s Day parade begins. There are also popular events in Londonderry, Downpatrick and other towns across the nation.  

Held on 1 May, May Day is a traditional European celebration that has its roots in pagan traditions. It is a Bank Holiday in Britain, so it’s a great time to get stuck into some British traditions. Some villages organise fetes (fairs) and have a maypole decorated with ribbons, which locals dance around.  

St George’s Day, England’s national day, is celebrated on 23 April each year. Events are held across England to mark the occasion including a free, family-friendly festival in London, where you can enjoy Morris dancing and folk tunes. England’s historic houses and castles often hold celebrations too, such as Bedfordshire’s Wrest Park.