Family activities at Stowe

Four teenage girls sit upon a tree trunk off the ground in a wooded area. — Escape the rush of routine and let loose with the family at Stowe

A boy balances on a log as he crawls along it at Stowe. A lady in the background helps a young girl to climb onto the start of the log and a man stands on the grass nearby holding two black Labrador dogs on leads — It's not as easy as it looks, getting the kids back to nature on balance beams at Stowe

Get the kids outdoors with acres of space to run and stretch their legs. Adventures await your family with so much to discover whatever their age. We want you to leave your worries at the garden gate, forget you’re a grown up and set off hand in hand with your children into a dream world of monumentally sized gardens.

Family adventures

Re-wild the children at Stowe when you get outdoors, away from the tech and tune into nature. The gardens and park provide the ultimate backdrop for igniting imaginations, explore a world of lakes, magical woods, ginormous temples and twisted trees as you play and have fun on your family adventure.

Family walking between the columns of The Temple of Concord at Stowe — Stowe Landscape Gardens

Discover 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 garden and park.

Stowe comes to life in spring, from the thousands of bulbs shooting through to bloom to the countless young animals being born, there's lots to enjoy on a spring saunter in the gardens and park. It's the season to be brave and throw aside the winter coat and embrace April showers - no matter what month it is. We'll be open daily this spring, 10am-5pm.

Family-friendly checklist

Free entry for under 5s and free entry for National Trust members.
Baby-changing facilities in access-friendly toilets.
Buggy friendly routes around the garden. We recommend sturdy buggies for the garden rather than strollers.
Breastfeeding welcome.
Children’s scooters and balance bikes without pedals are welcome in the garden.
Children’s menu available from the café. High-chairs available to use, ask a member of the team when you arrive.
Picnics are very welcome around the garden and picnic benches at New Inn.
Pocket money gifts and children's books available in the shop.

Bikes

We'd love for you to cycle to Stowe, please lock bikes up in the spaces provided in the car park. You need to be on foot patrol in the gardens so you don't miss anything. Small scooters and balance bikes can be taken into the gardens. We kindly ask that bikes with pedals don't go in the gardens.

Children pond dipping with nets at Wicken Fen

Play Video

Video

Nature Words

The study commissioned by the National Trust accompanies a striking, unscripted video that shows seven to ten-year olds who are losing nature meanings in their language and then the joy of reconnecting with the nature meanings of words.

Weather experts

Here are our top tips for embracing the outdoors whatever the weather at Stowe.

When the sun is shining, you'll find the wooded areas and temples a good place to rest and find some shade.
We recommend good footwear, especially wellies in the winter, as the gardens can get muddy in places.
The gardens are large. For fun days out with smiling kids at the end, bring woolly hats, sun cream and bottles of water. Plan a route to decide how far you'll go and choose rest stops along the way.
To dodge rain showers, use the temples as shelters.
Temples with shelter, some benches or great picnic spots are at: The Lake Pavilions, Concord and Victory, Ancient Virtue, The Cascade (there are small nooks to sit in), Hermitage, and The Fane of Pastoral Poetry.