Visiting Stowe: What to expect during your visit

In this article you’ll find everything you need to know about what's open and what to expect from your visit. Please remember that Stowe is a no smoking or vaping site (indoors and out) and dogs must be on a lead at all times.

Parking and arrival

Please have your tickets, close to hand as you arrive and you’ll be asked for your surname on arrival. We've set up a welcome point with our friendly team as you enter the car park, to check your booking and guide you through to park. 

Please arrive within your half-hour timeslot, to help maintain social distancing. If you’re more than 10 minutes late for your arrival slot then entry will be at the discretion of the property team. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like until closing time at 5pm when the car park and gates will be locked.

Campervans that are used for transport are welcome for pre-booked visitors, but are not permitted to stay overnight. At this time we’re unable to welcome caravans and coaches.

Staying safe

To help keep everyone safe, please follow social distancing and government guidance when you visit. Look out for signs while you’re here which will explain any changes to how you can access different parts of the site. There is a one way system in place along the car park path, but in all other areas we encourage you to give people space and enjoy the views.
You’ll find sinks for hand washing in the available toilets. 

If you’re showing any of the symptoms of coronavirus, or if you've been in contact with anyone that has the virus in the last 14 days, please don’t visit.

Facilities

Unisex toilets - including access and baby change facilities - are available at the New Inn. These are sanitised by our team throughout the day. Toilets aren’t currently available in the garden.

Our shop is now open Wednesday - Sunday, and we look forward to welcoming you. Payment is by card only. Every purchase you make, helps keep Stowe special.

Our café is currently closed, but we have Good Times Café UK here for fresh coffee and light refreshments on your arrival. Our picnic area at the New Inn is open, and you are welcome to picnic anywhere in the garden. We ask that you take your rubbish home with you and follow the countryside code. 

Accessibility

Unfortunately we're not able to offer a buggy service at this time. We are also not currently offering the hire of Powered Mobility Scooters (PMVs). Benches are located around the site for you to rest and enjoy the view on your walk.

Dogs

Dogs on leads are welcome in the garden everywhere. Please use the dog bins for dog waste. We also have dog drinking bowls at several points at the New Inn.

Exploring the garden

Our gardens are looking lovely, but they won’t be quite as you’re used to seeing them. We’ve had a limited number of gardeners for many weeks, while everyone stayed home and stayed safe.

We have a small team in now, but nowhere near what we’re used to, so the gardens aren’t perhaps as well-groomed as you might be expecting. Please bear with us as we do what we can as soon as we can, and enjoy the landscape and nature around you.

All of the garden is open and yours to explore, and we have recently opened Lamport Garden. Some of our monuments and buildings remain closed.

Please don't bring any BBQs or light any fires during your visit.

Bikes at Stowe

We’re sorry but standard bicycles are not permitted in the garden regardless of the cyclist's age, to keep the garden a safe environment for everyone. We welcome under 5s on trikes, starter bikes with stabilisers, or balance bikes (no pedals), and under 11s on push/kick scooters. 

And lastly...

How to book

All visitors must book a ticket in advance, including members. Entry and parking is free for members, but please bring your membership card with you. Non-members will need to pay in advance.

• Please book one ticket per person, except for children aged 5 or under as they don’t need a ticket.
• You’ll need to choose a 30-minute arrival time for the day you want to visit.
• The timeslot is for your arrival time only 
• Tickets are for your use only and are not available for resale
• We'll send your booking confirmation by email. Please make sure you fill in your correct email address when you book to ensure you receive your confirmation email.

Every Friday we'll release new bookings for visits the following week. You can book up to 18 hours before a timeslot. 

Due to limited spaces, we’re asking that you only book once a week to allow others a chance to visit.

Help support key workers

To say thank you to our nation's key workers and all they have done for us, we're encouraging visitors to keep the first and last slots of each day free for key workers to use. While we are unable to 'reserve' these slots exclusively for key workers, we hope you will join us in thanking them by leaving these times free. If you or someone in your group are a key worker, please take the opportunity to book these early and late timeslots.
 

Cancellations of tickets

Stowe property staff cannot process cancelled tickets.  Please call EventBrite on 0344 2491895 to release your tickets for someone else to book.