Make the most of Mother's Day, which this year falls on March 10th, and give mum what she really wants – some precious family time. From exciting exhibitions and literature festivals, to good old-fashioned fun at vintage fairs, here’s our pick of the best Mothering Sunday happenings across the UK:

Florimania 2013 at Hampton Court, Surrey:
If your mum loves a spot of flower-arranging and appreciates a good floral display, then spend Mothering Sunday day at Hampton Court for Florimania 2013 (March 8th-10th). Admire stunning baroque-inspired flower arrangements along the Tudor route at Hampton Court Palace, inspired by Henry VIII’s crown, and attend a flower arranging demonstration for top tips to try at home (held at 11:30, 13.00 and 14:30 each day). There will also be afternoon tea and an oyster and champagne bar available over the whole weekend. Entry to Florimania is included in your palace admission ticket, so make sure to wander the gardens, peruse Henry VIII's Apartments and take on the impressive maze. Visit www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/WhatsOn/Florimania2013

York Literature Festival, York
Celebrate the written word at the 6th York Literature Festival which takes place from March19th to 24th. Mixing local writers with nationally recognised names, this year the festival features poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage, Will Self, Tracy Chevalier, Tony Hawks, crime novelist Peter Robinson and folk hero Martin Carthy. Visitors can also take a guided walk around Literary York, discovering the cities links to W H Auden, Charles Dickens, the Bronte sisters, Tristram Shandy, Robinson Crusoe and many more. Visit www.yorkliteraturefestival.co.uk/

Roy Lichenstein exhibition at the Tate Modern, London:
Why not enjoy a day at one of London’s best art galleries? The Tate Modern is hosting a special exhibition – Lichtenstein: A Retrospective – which is open until 8pm on Sundays. It is the first full-scale retrospective of Lichenstein’s work in twenty years and is based on comic strips and advertising imagery. His work ischaracterised by his signature hand-painted Benday dots.. Co-organised by The Art Institute of Chicago and Tate Modern, this momentous show brings together 125 of his most definitive paintings and sculptures and will reassess his enduring legacy. Visit www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/lichtenstein

Snowdrop Festival, Scotland
Explore Scotland’s gardens and woodlands this spring during the Snowdrop Festival, which takes place from February 9th to March 17th. 2013 is also the ‘Year of Natural’, honouring Scotland's stunning natural beauty and biodiversity. Blair Castle Gardens is one of 50 venues where the festival is taking place across the country, signalling the first signs of spring. Visitors can explore the gardens and grounds of the Castle with free trail maps, while two new paths have also been made available during the festival. Complete your day with a lunch in Blair Castle’s Victorian ballroom. With a menu worthy for any Duke, diners can enjoy dishes including Blair Castle chicken liver parfait, traditional roast beef with Yorkshire puddings and gooseberry and elderflower mousse; all while being warmed by a magnificent roaring Victorian fire. Visit www.atholl-estates.co.uk

Gourmet chocolate fun, Bournemouth:
Sweeten your mum up this Mothering Sunday by treating her to gourmet fun at a special Chocolate Delight Belgian chocolate truffle making session. Or go one step further and whisk her away to the pretty Chocolate Boutique Hotel for a night of sweet dreams instead! Perfect for mother/daughter bonding, Chocolate Delight Belgian chocolate truffle making workshops (at various locations across the UK) are a wonderful way of finding out all about the fascinating history of chocolate, before getting down to the serious business of chocolate tasting of course! For a night of sweet dreams instead, why not whisk your mum away to the pretty Chocolate Boutique Hotel in Bournemouth – a chocoholic's paradise? Here you can stay together in chocolate themed rooms, drink ‘choctails’ in the Chocolate Bar and even opt for chocolate pancakes for breakfast.
Visit www.chocolatedelight.co.uk and www.thechocolateboutiquehotel.co.uk

Anita’s Vintage Fashion Fair, London:
Set in the enchanting Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) on Lavender Hill in Battersea, Anita’s forthcoming vintage fair is set to offer a unique shopping experience on Mothering Sunday. What better way to spend a glorious Sunday, than to celebrate it with mum, indulge in the delights of vintage and of course some well-earned pampering? The architecture inside and out is mesmerising and is equally matched with the variety of stalls available within the Grand Hall. With over 40 exhibitors all carefully selected for their superb knowledge and expertise, the fair is a manageable size, which allows attendees time to truly appreciate each seller’s pieces, often discovering that tucked away vintage gem. Also on offer are mini vintage craft sessions hosted by Mother & Daughter duo of Recycle & Sew who are treating guests to a demonstration on creating a sentimental Mother’s day gift. After perusing the stalls, you can tuck in to delicious homemade cakes at the Vintage Café. Visit www.vintagefashionfairs.com

Kew Gardens in bloom, Surrey
Have a blooming good time at Kew Gardens this Mothering Sunday and experience the stunning beauty of over five million spring bulbs in bloom. On entering the Gardens at Victoria Gate, visitors will be greeted by a sea of over two million blue, white, and mauve crocuses (Crocus vernus) stretching beyond the Temple of Bellona, towards King William's Temple. Don’t miss your last chance to see the beautiful snowdrop collection in the Rock Garden, displaying 14 different species and subspecies of snowdrop and several cultivars. For more unusual and exotic bulbs you can visit the Davies Alpine House, with changing displays from March to May. Plan your visit to Kew and keep up to date with spring flowering with using the Bulbwatch Map.

Spa break at Cowley Manor, The Cotswolds
Escape to the Cotswolds and treat your mother to a spa break in the luxury Cowley Manor, a stunning 19th century manor house set in 55 acres of parkland. The hotel has award winning stylish interiors and a spa offering a range of beauty treatments from detox wraps to hot stone massages, as well as two pools, a steam room and sauna. The hotel’s restaurant serves gourmet food and puts a special emphasis on local, organic and seasonal produce.
Cowley Manor’s overnight spa offer costs £330 per room per night for a twin/ double room including a 30 minute treatment each, a three course dinner for two, full English breakfast and full use of spa facilities. Visit: www.slh.com

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