'50 things to do before you're 11¾' at Stowe









Ready for a rip-roaring adventure? Re-wild the children and get outdoors away from the tech and tune into nature. The gardens and park at Stowe provide the ultimate backdrop for igniting imaginations, in a world of lakes, magical woods, ginormous temples and twisted trees. Open daily, 10am-5pm, closing at 4pm in the winter, with free family explorer guides that change seasonally and organised '50 things' activities, we've got a huge array of ideas to get your journey kick-started.
Super activities






No. 29 explore a cave
Come and dare to explore a dark and murky cave which over looks the river Styx in the Elysian Fields.
No. 44 watch a bird
Have a break and enjoy sitting peacefully in the Lake Pavilions watching the birds soar across the lakes.
No. 1 get to know a tree
Look out for hollowed trees and topsy-turvy twisted trees across the gardens. Feel their rugged bark and guess how old they might be.
No. 28 climb a huge hill
Start your journey from the bottom to the top of the Grecian Valley to conquer the hill and explore the Temple of Concord and Victory. Little ones can try the hill at Ancient Virtue or the Gothic Temple which are just as exciting to investigate.
No. 17 set up a snail race
Find one of the temple floors for a suitable flat surface to set up your race. Use a few tasty leaves to entice your slimy friend towards the finish line.
No. 48 keep a nature diary
Keep a record of your amazing adventures in nature, capturing your memories of the animals and plants you’ve seen.
No. 34 discover wild animal clues
Head out the morning after the rain has fallen and you'll be bound to find yourself on the trail of animal tracks. Look by the soft verges of paths keeping an eye out for otter and rabbit tracks to name a few.
The parkland - only for all-conquering explorers
There's so much to do in the garden, but did you know there are 1,000 acres of parkland you can conquer on a day out? Park at the New Inn visitor centre and walk the circular route to get up close and personal with nature. Booking may be required, please check in advance of your visit. Forage for wild food in the autumn, get to know a tree with our veteran trees (even better if you head down Stowe Avenue in the autumn), play conkers, find funky fungi, find your way with a map, the possibilities are endless!