Ten things to do in the South West this spring

From epic gardens to foodie festivals, discover some of our fave finds to get stuck into in the South West this spring

1. Visit an awe‑inspiring garden

In Somerset, The Newt treads a beautiful line between ornamental and productive. The centrepiece is its walled garden which conceals an apple-tree maze. Book a table at vegetable‑led restaurant The Garden Cafe for good food and sensational views across the estate.

In Dorset, Sculpture by the Lakes is an awesome curated oasis in one of the UK’s nine BGCI-accredited Botanic Gardens. Visit to experience the symmetry of art and nature.

In Cornwall, Trebah Garden features incredible tropical plants like gigantic gunneras and tree ferns, and has its own secluded beach on the Helford River. Swim in crystal clear waters before warming up with a coffee at the waterside hut.

2. Do the can-can

Sea Sisters’ upmarket canned seafood, featuring British seafood with clear provenance, will take your aperitivo hour next level. The range includes Cornish hake, rainbow trout and whelks with flavourings such as kimchi sauce, seaweed butter and rosemary and capers. They’re packaged in colourful, retro‑inspired tins for extra cred.

3. Escape on a Bramley Spa Break

Sink into spring with a luxury spa break at Homewood near Bath. The package includes a Bramley treatment, extra Bramley goodies and use of the spa, including a rejuvenating outdoor thermal experience.

4. Fill your home with seasonal flowers

Check out Re-Rooting, an online florist and herb store selling seasonal blooms (like these poppies) cut from their small plot in Somerset. Osip and Landrace Bakery are customers, but they also sell direct to the public.

5. Raise your tea game

Devon‑based potter Sabine Schmidt has three signature pottery lines that’ll do the job. We love Grey Coincidence (pictured), her Japanese‑inspired collection that celebrates the beauty of individualism and imperfection. Colours are achieved using natural clays that enhance the rusticity of this unique and tactile teaware.

6. Feast at a foodie festival

Food and drink headliners will descend on the picturesque Cornish fishing village of Porthleven on May 2‑4. The annual Porthleven Food Festival is a mash‑up of chef demos, live music, supper clubs and family‑friendly activities that fill the harbourside town throughout the weekend. Jude Kereama, Antony Worrall Thompson, and Andy Tuck from The Tartan Fox are just three of the chefs showcasing Cornish food and drink and raising awareness of hot topics like food culture and sustainable food production.

Alongside a buzzing chefs’ theatre presented in collaboration with the festival’s chef-patron Jude, the weekend features the Fisherman’s Mission fish BBQ, a pasty workshop from local legend Ann’s Pasties and free music performances at the Shipyard Diner’s Club and Folk & Shanty Stage. A weekend of good times and foodie thrills is guaranteed.

7. Do a Sunday sesh at The Old Pharmacy

For a chilled second bite of the weekend, swing by this Bruton spot. It not only features a smart list of organic and low-intervention wines but its mostly Italian‑inspired Sunday menu also uses ingredients from the nearby farm of sister restaurant Osip.

8. Visit Guy Ritchie’s gaff

The director’s annual weekend escape series starts on May 3 and runs for 22 weeks at his Dorset estate. WildKitchen x Carousel is his collab with rotating‑chef restaurant Carousel and this year’s roster of chefs includes Alex Nietosvuori of Hjem, Andy Beynon of Behind, and Debora Fadul of Diacá in Guatemala City. Fine dining isn’t the only draw: luxury accommodation, bespoke Iglucraft saunas, cooking masterclasses, treatment rooms and wild swimming also feature.

9. Be a good egg

Discerning chocoholics will love this giant Chococo Milk Chocolate Honeycomb Egg. It’s produced in Dorset from honeycomb made with local honey and natural-ingredient‑only chocolate.

10. Learn something new

Reserve your spot on the high‑demand Hix & Wild foraging experience run by Mark Hix and his forager chum Nick Cadwell.

It begins with a morning coffee at Mark’s house (pictured) before heading into the Dorset woods or along the coastline. Mark prepares a picnic lunch for the excursion and, after a hard day’s foraging, it’s back to his house for a six‑course meal made with ingredients gathered that day.

In Somerset, fermenting expert and founder of Get Pickled Paula Neubauer hosts fermentation workshops that range from learning how to craft kimchi to modern miso making.

Enjoyed reading our round-up of things to do in the South West this spring? Discover more inspiration for the season.