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. We want you to play and have fun – leave your worries at the garden gate, forget you’re a grown up and join your children in a dream world of monumentally sized gardens and we guarantee a fun day out and a good night of sleep.

Family explorers

Every season and available daily, there’s a different theme for your family to enjoy whilst having a go at some of the '50 things to do before you’re 11¾'. Borrow a free family explorer guide when you arrive or download it here to print and bring with you.

Wild Wednesdays

Get the kids closer to nature with activities varying for each of the school holidays. Join the nature team for outdoors exploration, crafts and to conquer some of the '50 things' activities. Sessions run Wednesdays 10.30m-2pm and cost £3 per child with normal admission applying. Booking online is essential for half-term holidays as spaces are limited and popular. Check the What's on listings for all of the 2020 dates.

Children check their trail notes

What's on at Stowe

Step into a world of adventure trails and outdoors fun throughout the school holidays and weekends.

Make a date for the diary
Bug hunting

Spring seekers

Seek out nature's gifts as spring blooms back to life with this sensory guide to help you discover which birds to spot, flowers to find and creepy crawlies to uncover from their winter hiding.

Download the guide now

Your children are nature's future

If you're new to the '50 things' challenge, want to find some inspiration for more places to visit and to take a look at the full list, open the door to a world of family fun here. 

Creating wild art at Stoneywell, Leicestershire
Stowe   Buckinghamshire

'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.

Press the boost button and leap outdoors

Toddler Tuesdays

On the first Tuesday of the month, drop by the cafe for toddler fun with activities. Every month there's a new theme based on the seasons to keep your little ones entertained. Find out what themes are coming up soon by clicking the What's on link above.

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.

Hungry tummies

Our café, with indoor and outdoor seating, is the perfect pit stop for hungry families. Enjoy healthy, fresh meals, child’s portions, pick and mix children’s lunch boxes and tasty treats. Or picnic in the gardens or temples - just pick a spot. Find out more about the café.

Happy families

  • Relaxed environment

  • Bottle-warming facilities

  • Baby-changing facilities

  • Breast-feeding welcome   

  • High chairs

  • Events throughout the year

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

  • The gardens are large. For fun days out with smiling kids at the end, bring sunhats, sun cream and bottles of water to stay hydrated. Plan a route to decide how far you'll go and choose rest stops along the way

  • Fill up water bottles for free from the cafe. You'll find the watre tap on the servery area alongside utensils, saving you from joining any queue

  • To dodge rain showers, use the temples as shelters

  • Temples with shelter, some benches or to use for picnic spots are: The Lake Pavilions, Concord and Victory, Ancient Virtue, The Grotto, The Cascade (there are small nooks to sit in), Queens Temple, The Fane of Pastoral Poetry

  • You'll find seasonal items for sale in our shop if you've left something behind at home

  • Ice creams are on sale in the shop as well as the cafe, if you need a quick family 'pick me up'

Thank you

A year to make memories

Become a member when you visit Stowe and your money will help care for the gardens whilst you get to enjoy a whole year of family fun.

Membership could change your life
Family taking a closer look at spring flowers
Stowe   Buckinghamshire

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.

Leap into Easter

Play in the Labyrinth - available spring-summer

Take the kids to a shaded spot in the garden and discover a new play area to explore. Head to the very top of the Labyrinth, then turn to the right. You'll find a giant skittle alley with wooden abacus to keep score for a fun game of outdoors bowling. Walk further down the path to reveal the giant garden swing, perfect for family fun. 

Sometimes you can't resist the simple pleasure of a swing. Play in the Labyrinth at Stowe.
A young lady and old lady sit side by side on a giant wooden swing attached to a tree in the gardens at Stowe
Sometimes you can't resist the simple pleasure of a swing. Play in the Labyrinth at Stowe.
Stowe   Buckinghamshire

May half term at Stowe

Embrace the sunshine and get outdoors for family adventures this half term between 23 and 31 May. Let the kids run wild with the freedom to explore, jump, climb and go hunting for bugs with this exciting programme of activities, available throughout the week whatever the weather.

Make memories this May