Activities at 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.

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.

'Stowedrops and spring 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.

Christmas at Stowe

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

This autumn open the door to the Grecian Valley at Stowe where you'll uncover how the designed landscape has inspired our predecessors and still draws creative responses today. 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.

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.

The parkland at Stowe

There is more to Stowe than the famous landscape gardens. 750 acres of parkland surround the gardens waiting to be explored.

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)

Lakeside walk at Stowe

Enjoy a peaceful family-friendly walk around the lakes at Stowe, looking at beautiful temples, spotting wildlife and enjoying views as you walk along. Recently upgraded paths through the wooded area allow pushchair and wheelchair access.

• Easy
• 1 hour
• 1.2 miles (1.9km)

'Stowedrop' walk

Enjoy crisp, chilly New Year's walks at Stowe and you might spot the first signs of Spring, in the form of delicate white snowdrops, or 'Stowedrops' as we like to call them.

• Easy
• 1 hour 3 mins
• 3.5 miles (5.6km)

Stowe missing monuments walk

This walk reveals the historic locations of many of the monuments and statues that are now missing such as the Gothic cross and the Temple of Modern Virtue.

• Moderate
• 2 hours
• 3.5 miles (5.6km)