It’s official: we made it through January! And there’s so much to look forward to, as February brings the first signs of spring to Gloucestershire, with fuzzy lambs being born and snowdrops flowering all over the county.
Plus, with new outdoor activity trails, art installations and foodie experiences to explore, discover 10 unmissable things to pack into your February schedule with SoGlos’s latest hot list.
Go snowdrop spotting in Gloucestershire
With snowdrops springing up all over Gloucestershire, February is the best time to see stunning displays of the white winter flower, as it carpets woodland floors and gardens across the county.
Snowdrop-seekers are in for a treat, with spectacles worth braving the cold for at Painswick Rococo Garden, Batsford Arboretum and more — all covered in SoGlos’s round up of best places to see snowdrops in Gloucestershire.
See the doves at Tewkesbury Abbey
There's the chance to visit Tewkesbury Abbey after dark for an awe-inspiring new art exhibition, featuring a flock of 8,000 illuminated paper doves suspended from its ceiling.
In residence at the abbey from Friday 1 to Thursday 27 February 2025, the experience combines sculptor Peter Walker's 'Peace Doves' exhibition with an evocative light show and soundscape from Luxmuralis, creating a sanctuary of peace and quiet reflection.
Tuck into Thai food at Cheltenham's newest restaurant
It's been a long time coming but Rosa's Thai is finally opening in Cheltenham this month, with Gloucestershire foodies able to get a taste of the popular London chain restaurant from Tuesday 25 February 2025.
Expect fragrant and flavoursome southeast Asian cuisine, made from ingredients sourced directly from Thai producers, spanning crispy pork bites — a favourite beer snack in Thailand — to aromatic green curries, fresh summer rolls and stir fried noodle dishes.
Create your own colourful light sculptures in Gloucester
Gloucester Bright Nights is back with a brand-new light installation this month — Twist and Shine, a landscape of interactive light sculptures by production group Kaleider, lands at Kings Square on Thursday 13 February, running until Wednesday 19 February 2025.
Made from a series of interconnected prisms, these playful sculptures can be twisted into thousands of different shapes, with visitors invited to mould and move them around to create their own glowing shapes.
Explore the Forest of Dean's new activity trail
Fantastic for families with young children, there's a brand-new activity trail coming to Beechenhurst in the Forest of Dean — following another one of Julia Donaldson's beloved children's book characters, Stick Man, on his journey back to his family tree.
Launching on Wednesday 5 February 2025, this self-led trail is packed with hands-on activties, from building with sticks to learning about forest wildlife, for an action-packed day out — ideal for February half term adventures!
Meet baby lambs in Gloucestershire
Get ready to ‘aww’ at the cuddliest bundles of joy in the county! Cattle Country Farm Park invites families to see lambs being born in its Animal Barn during February half term, with special opportunities for visitors to bottle feed the new babies, too.
Meanwhile, a must-see for animal lovers, Cotswold Farm Park's annual lambing and kidding event is one of the biggest in the country, with over 600 lambs expected to be born to the farm's commercial and rare breed ewes this year.
Sample the cooking of a celebrity chef in Cheltenham
Die-hard fans of I'm a Celeb might recognise him from the jungle... But now, celebrated chef and TV personality, John Burton-Race, is taking the helm at Cheltenham's rooftop restaurant, joining The Nook on Five as executive head chef.
Reimagining the restaurant's modern British menus, diners can tuck into John's new dishes from Monday 3 February 2025 — with menu highlights including an Italian-style wild boar ragu and a new signature smash burger — or treat someone special to his seven-course Valentine's tasting menu, available from Saturday 8 to Friday 14 February 2025.
Get a pint at Tewkesbury Winter Ales Festival
Championing winter ales from all over the country, CAMRA will be pulling pints at Watson Hall from Thursday 6 to Saturday 8 February 2025, when the annual Tewkesbury Winter Ales Festival returns.
Beer lovers can expect ruby ales, smoky stouts and rich hoppy flavours — with a handful of local perries and ciders to try, too. It's worth noting that the event is only open to CAMRA members on the Thursday, but everyone is welcome on the Friday and Saturday.
Tap your toes at the Gloucester Folk Trail
Get your folk on and head into Gloucester for the anticipated return of the Gloucester Folk Trail — bringing the city to life with a programme of music events from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 February 2025.
Catch lively performances from folk musicians, artists and poets from across the country, as they come together to champion traditional forms of folk entertainment at various venues in Gloucester.
Get inspired for your next holiday at Cheltenham Travel Festival
Where will 2025 take you? Whether you're seeking a European city break, action-packed adventures abroad or an exotic beach retreat, the Cheltenham Travel Festival is back at Cheltenham Racecourse, with plenty of inspo for holidays all over the world.
Taking place on Saturday 22 February 2025, this one-of-a-kind event brings exhibitors from leading travel and lifestyle brands together under one roof, for a day of inspiring talks and masterclasses that are sure to give you the travel bug... if you haven't caught it already.
