Spring through the lens at Stowe

A golden arch sits in the background with bright yellow buttercups in spring at Stowe — Buttercups bloom in late spring at Stowe

A view of the Temple of Ancient Virtue at Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire — Explore the Temple of Ancient Virtue along the path of virtue

Geese on water with the Palladian Bridge in the background at Stowe — The Palladian Bridge 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.

Seasonal highlights

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. It's the season to be brave and throw aside the winter coat and embrace April showers - no matter what month it is. We're open daily from 10am-5pm or find a moment such as Mother's Day or Easter to make time for sharing the season with family.

Through the lens

Take a moment in 2020 to connect with nature on guided event: dawn chorus walks; weekly photography walks; seasonal ranger walk; monthly dog walk. Visit to see spring emerge at Stowe and share your photos of the new season.

A couple stand next to each other with a female looking through binoculars — There are different habitats across the garden and parkland at Stowe to enjoy a spot of bird watching

Spring colour

Over the past two years we've hosted the Big Bulb Pant event. Altogether, a whopping 338,200 bulbs were planted – some of which now can be enjoyed.

Here are just a few spring blooms to encourage your curiosity and look out for:

As you stroll down the historic entrance to the gardens, look to the outer paths for a new meadow of bluebells. The best ones can be found in the dell opposite the Sleeping Wood
Scilla bloom up by the Grotto within the Elysian Fields, famously designed by artist, architect and landscape gardener William Kent
Turk’s Head Tulips are an eighteenth-century spring bulb and can be found by the Temple of Concord and Victory
Old varieties of daffodils look splendid between Grenville’s Column and Stowe House
Discover Wood and Blue anemones in the Sleeping Wood
Snakeshead fritillaries were added to existing spots down Gurnet's Walk by the sleeping wood. This'll make a rare delicate meadow as often this flower pops up in lonely occurrences
A bright display of Tulips will surround the Chinese House

Captured on camera

Small light blue to purple flowers in the grass.

At the top of tall green stems are large orange flowers called Crown Imperials

Tight pink buds open up to a white old English rose, named the Stowe rose.

Yellow daffodils, little white snowdrops

A baby bird with stippled colouring of grey and yellow is a little gosling

Sheep and lambs are in their hundreds across the hillside at Stowe on a sunny spring day

Purple lilies face downwards with their petals unfurling upwards to create a delicate bell shape on Martagon lilies at Stowe

Little purple flowers sit in a flower bed.

Memories of childhood

Forget-me-nots have had so many meanings through time, from Greek legends to a medieval representation of faithfulness.

Regal flowers

Look out for the mighty impressive Crown Imperial flowers as you walk from the Elysian Fields up towards the Temple of Concord and Victory.

A new variety

The Stowe Rose is a unique variety found at the front of the New Inn visitor centre. Tight pink buds open up to a white old English rose, it blooms late spring to early summer.

Blooming across the Elysian Fields

The Daffodils will start to pop up amongst the 'Stowedrops' in the Elysian Fields between Grenville's Column and Stowe House.

Something to melt your heart

Spot many goslings along the lake sides in the gardens. Did you know less than 24 hours after hatching, they'll be led to water by their parents to learn how to swim. The goslings can dive 30-40 feet underwater by the time they are one day old.

Warmer weather

Snakeshead fritilaries are delicate drop flowers. Look out for these mostly lonesome fellows in May.

Birdsong

Keep your eyes peeled for birds at Stowe, particularly Blue tits around the New Inn.

Bountiful lambs

Watch newborn lambs bounce and spring across the Hawkwell Field by the Palladian Bridge and Gothic Temple. They'll head down to the side of the Eleven Acre Lake for a drink too.

Pretty as a picture

Martagon lilies create a bell shape with their petals curling in on themselves.

Petite petals

Bright purple crocuses litter the Sleeping Wood at Stowe.

What wildlife could we see?

If you’ve got plenty of time to spare, try a walk in our parkland. With lots of open space to enjoy you may get to see the new arrivals amongst the sheep and long horn cattle. The views within the parkland open the wider landscape and will surprise you with views you may have never seen before of the temples.

Sheep with their baby lambs look directly towards you at Stowe with the Gothic Temple behind them — Bountiful lambs in the gardens at Stowe throughout spring

Within the gardens the swans are on the Octagon and Eleven Acre Lakes. If you are lucky you will see last year’s signets with their tiny bit of remaining grey down. Baby animals are full of the joys of spring but are still vulnerable at this stage. Please consider this and enjoy the view from afar.

Blossom

Walk along the winding paths and take in the monumental scale of the trees as they start bursting into life with fresh leaves. Carefully crafted views frame the monuments and provide glimpses of the lakes as you meander through the gardens. When you least expect it, they'll be a sudden burst of blossom! Tree species are interspersed to create light and shade at Stowe, unlike formal gardens where you might see an en masse of colour. These selected bursts of a singular moment allow you to enjoy the spectacle of the season against the backdrop of the temples. Keep an eye out on our social media channels and share your photos of blossom watch.

Video

Spring is...

Relax and refresh body and mind on a blossom spotted walk at Stowe. What does spring mean to you?

A must-see moment!

The statues of the Nine Muses have just arrived and are gracing the Elysian Fields with their return after 100 years without their presence in the landscape. From Monday 9 March - Friday 3 April, pick up a map from the New Inn visitor centre, watch our behind the scenes video of their creation and installation in the restored Parlour Rooms and head out to meet the newest additions to the garden.

Restoring Apollo and the Nine Muses to Stowe

As part of a wider project to restore Stowe to its former glory, the task of reinstating Apollo and the Nine Muses is one of the National Trust's most significant pieces of work since caring for the gardens at Stowe. Read all about how the project is developing.

Delve deeper

A green sloping field with a view above a lake running through a garden

'Stowedrops' and spring flowers walk

We're excited to bring you a new map and route to follow for 2020, with paths opened for the first time to see one of the best hidden treasures of the garden at Stowe where flowers blanket the banks as you walk from the Lamport Garden to the Gothic Temple. This new route is now open until 22 March, 10am-5pm. Grab a map from the New Inn visitor centre and head out on a spring walk.

A refreshing menu

Welcome in the warmer weather with refreshing main meals in the cafe and scrumptious cakes to rival any Mary Berry recipe. We use seasonal produce and herbs from our Farmhouse Garden to spruce up casseroles and add a zing to tasty treats.

Three ladies ching glasses together for a toast — Nothing says Happy Mother's Day more than a glass of prosecco

Stowe Buckinghamshire

Mother's Day - Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March

If you're looking for something that little bit extra special for Mother's Day, we've got just the treat. Organise a relaxing spring stroll in the gardens and head into the cafe for a Prosecco cream tea. Yes, we said prosecco! At £11.50 per person, it's sure to bring out those sunshine rays and happy feelings to show your mother how much you care.

Make a booking

Retail therapy

Visit the shop to discover some of the latest spring products to lighten the mood as winter recedes. If you're inspired by the gardens or fall in love with what you see on your visit, you'll find our plant sales benches stocked with our favourite flowers that you see at Stowe. Now every time you look at your garden, you'll have a memory to make you smile.

Beautiful designs in the spring 2020 range — Colourful patterns to brighten up your home

Family activities this spring

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

Family taking a closer look at spring flowers

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.

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.

Step into spring

Discover signs of spring with this guide of garden highlights and walk. From Martagon lilies to delicate Turks' head tulips, you'll find them on a warming spring walk at Stowe.