Things to Do in England in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in England
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Daffodils carpet every village green and London's Hyde Park - the first real sign spring is arriving in England after the long grey winter.
- + Hotel rates drop 25-30% from February half-term prices, making March the sweet spot between winter rates and summer rush in England.
- + Museums and attractions are gloriously uncrowded - you can stand in front of Turner's paintings at Tate Britain without a crowd three deep behind you.
- + Pub fireplaces are still roaring but beer gardens start opening on sunny afternoons - the best of both England's seasons in one month.
- − Weather schizophrenia means you'll need to carry both sunglasses and a proper rain jacket daily - England in March can't make up its mind.
- − Some National Trust properties keep winter hours through March, closing at 4 PM when the light is just getting good for photography.
- − London Theatre Week happens mid-March, which sounds great until you realize every restaurant within a mile of the West End is booked solid.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March is when the Cotswolds shake off winter without the summer tour bus invasion. The honey-colored limestone of Bibury and Burford glows in the low spring light, and walking paths between villages are firm underfoot after winter's mud. You'll hear skylarks over the fields and smell wood smoke from cottage chimneys mixing with the first wild garlic in the hedgerows.
March delivers wild Atlantic views without summer crowds on England's southwest coast. The South West Coast Path from St Ives to Penzance offers 12°C (54°F) hiking days where you'll have stretches entirely to yourself. Early wildflowers bloom in cliffside meadows, and storm-watching at Land's End provides dramatic photography when low-pressure systems roll through.
March in England's Lake District means Wordsworth's daffodils are blooming around Grasmere and Windermere. The walks from Hawkshead to Beatrix Potter's Hill Top Farm work in March weather - cool enough for serious walking, warm enough to sit outside the village pub afterward with a pint of local ale.
March punting works because the River Cam hasn't yet filled with summer chaos. College backs are quiet at 10 AM when the light hits King's College Chapel well, and your punt guide won't need to shout over other boats. The Backs smell of early spring grass and old stone warmed by weak sunshine.
March evenings are good for Bath's steamy Roman Baths - the 40°C (104°F) water creates clouds of vapor in the cold air, and without summer crowds you can hear the water trickling through the original Roman channels. The golden stone buildings glow at sunset, and nearby pubs have tables free for post-tour drinks.
March means real fires in Yorkshire stone pubs after walks through sheep fields where lambs are just appearing. The Three Peaks routes are challenging in March wind. But lower valley walks between Hawes and Reeth offer proper English countryside without summer hikers. Pub conversations with locals flow easier when there aren't 50 other tourists competing for the bartender's attention.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
England's biggest horse racing event outside Ascot happens mid-March in Gloucestershire. The town transforms with tweed jackets, champagne tents, and 250,000 visitors over four days. Even if you're not into racing, the people-watching is extraordinary - from aristocrats in inherited Barbour jackets to London hedge fund managers in cashmere scarves.
Three days of author talks in the Bodleian Library and college halls where you'll see Zadie Smith or Ian McEwan reading in the same room where Tolkien once lectured. The festival spills into Oxford's pubs afterward, where you might find yourself discussing literature with Oxford dons over pints.
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Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Book Experiences in England
Top-rated things to do in England this March
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