Activities at Stowe

Winter at Stowe - A garden undressed

Winter is the perfect time to see the gardens glisten with crisp frost and mist drifting across the lakes. Choose from two new walks to enjoy seasonal highlights and relax, refresh and reconnect with nature.

Horse riding at Stowe

Enjoy getting active as well as taking in the scenery Stowe has to offer by going on a horse ride through its lyrical landscapes.

The parkland at Stowe

There is more to Stowe than the famous landscape gardens. 1000 acres of parkland surround the gardens waiting to be explored free of charge.

Christmas at Stowe

Wow what a great Christmas we enjoyed in 2019. Please come back to this article in autumn 2020 to see what we have planned for next Christmas. Enjoy a relaxed season of homemade and traditional events. With a new 12 days of Christmas map with big displays in the landscape, crisp winter walks, Christmas meals, carols and a festive shopping season to choose from, there's an opportunity to escape the twenty-first century world.

Under the Hawthorn at Stowe

In the autumn of 2019, we opened the door to the Grecian Valley at Stowe for visitors to uncover how the designed landscape has inspired our predecessors and still draws creative responses today. There were opportunities to take in the restored statues and monuments on walks, guided tours, try a new digital app and read Poet-in-Residence Dan Simpson's collection of poems for Stowe.

Fun for families at Stowe

Get the kids outdoors with acres of space to play and stretch their legs. Adventures await your family with so much to discover whatever their age from the temples, lakes, wildlife and fun activities.

'Stowedrops' and winter flowers

It won’t be long before you see the gardens bursting with snowdrops or as we fondly like to call them ‘Stowedrops’. Enjoy chilly walks in the New Year to spot the early signs of them peeping through as they develop in the masses throughout the Elysian Fields, Sleeping Wood and Lamport Garden.

Valentine's Day at Stowe

From gifts to handmade chocolates, plan your Valentine's moments building up to the special day with a visit to Stowe.

Take part in the £125 Stowe challenge

In 2020 we're celebrating 125 years of the National Trust and to mark this special birthday, we're aiming to raise £15,000 to support a number of special projects at Stowe. And we need your help.

Autumn colour at Stowe

Discover a kaleidoscope of colour on a variety of new walks that turn a spot light on the best of the autumn colour, recent restoration work and our signature walk - Under the Hawthorn to discover the pastoral idyll in the Grecian Valley. Top of your day with some soul-warming food in the cafe.

The Old Dairy Bookshop at Stowe

We've started a new chapter and have moved the second-hand bookshop from the Hayloft to the The Old Dairy at Stowe. Browse through a treasure trove of second-hand books and flick through the variety of genres or just pop in to find what's new. All donations help us look after this special place for ever, for everyone.

Spring at Stowe

Move out of the way winter and put a spring in your step with bright days reflecting rays across the glittering lakes, the chatter of birdsong filling the air and crisp breezes that take your breath away on refreshing walks in the gardens.

Easter holidays at Stowe

Spring has sprung and it's time to get outdoors with your family over Easter. Enjoy walks in the garden to see the vibrant colours returning to the trees, see new born lambs bouncing and get stuck into a wide range of fun activities available throughout the school holidays whatever the weather.

"Aren't we worthy?" part of Women and Power

In 2018, a century on from women achieving the vote, we explored the stories of women at Stowe. You helped to choose great British women to sit in a modern day Temple of British Worthies. The local community played an integral part in creating an exhibition - "Aren't we worthy?" Take a look at how the project began and its legacy.

Stowe secret places walk

Remember those magical childhood tales of hidden, secret gardens, which you crept into through a creaky, wooden door mantled with ivy...

• Moderate
• 2 hours
• 3.2 miles (5.1km)

Walking your dog at Stowe

Take your dog on a paw patrol to explore the gardens and parkland. Please keep them on leads at all times. We provide water bowls outside the cafe for refreshment, treats in the shop and join our monthly guided dog walks.

Stowe advent calendar walk

This trail covers Stowe's monumental landscape advent calendar, available 1 December - 4 January.

• Easy
• 2 hours 30 mins
• 6.0 miles (9.65km)

Deer Park walk at Stowe

Walk through the rolling hills, fields and woodland of trees in the deer park, where green spotted woodpeckers and other wildlife can be enjoyed.

• Moderate
• 1 hour
• 2.5 miles (4.0km)