Family-friendly things to do at Stowe Gardens

A lady with her child at the Temple of British Worthies at Stowe Landscape Gardens — Visitors near the Temple of British Worthies at Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Adventures await your family at Stowe Gardens this season with lots for children of all ages to discover and acres of space for them to run in and stretch their legs. Leave your worries behind, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and set off hand-in-hand with your children into the majestic gardens.

Planning your family visit

Here's the information you need at a glance to help plan your day out at Stowe Gardens:

Baby-changing facilities and accessible toilets are available
There are buggy friendly routes around the garden
Sturdy buggies for the garden are recommended rather than strollers
Breastfeeding is welcome
The café is located around the corner from the New Inn and a children's menu and high-chairs are available
Pocket money gifts and children's books are available to buy in the shop

Cycling at Stowe

We'd love for you to cycle to Stowe Gardens and you can lock bikes up in the spaces provided in the car park. Small scooters and balance bikes can be taken into the garden but please don't bring bikes with pedals.

Wooden Bridge at Stowe Gardens Buckinghamshire | © Polly Stock Photography

Family-friendly events

Summer Staycation at Stowe - 28 June - 31 August

With different events and activities each week, make Stowe your weekly staple throughout the holidays. Events and activites include Active August, Mindful Movement, Nature Wellbeing Walks, Children's Summer Crafts and Summer Storytelling.

Plus choose from one of our free fun-filled family trails, participate in lawn games or climb Cobham's Pillar!

Diwali at Stowe - 17 - 21 October

Celebrate Diwali with us at Stowe! Learn more about the festival, paint Diyas (clay oil lamps) and view our beautiful Mandala in the Parlour Rooms. Don’t forget to snap a shot at our selfie station too!

Spirits of Stowe - 25 October - 2 November

Head to Stowe this Autumn for a spooktacular Spirits of Stowe Halloween trail! Spot ghosts in the garden, solve spooky puzzles in our free activity booklet and learn more about some of the ghosts said to haunt New Inn.

Missing & Moving Temples Trail and A-Z of Amazing Things at Stowe Gardens - Always Available

Missing & Moving Temples is a fun-filled family trail where you can solve puzzles in our free activity booklet and learn more about Stowe's past and present temples and monuments.

A-Z of Amazing Things at Stowe Gardens takes visitors on an adventure around Stowe where you can learn fun facts about nature, architecture and history!

Family-friendly things to do in the garden

Re-wild the children at Stowe Gardens by getting outdoors, away from the tech, and tuning into nature. The garden and parkland provide the ultimate backdrop for igniting imaginations. Explore a world of lakes, hidden woods, enormous temples, colourful reflections and twisted trees as you play and have fun on your family adventure.

Here are a few of the things to look out for in the garden:

Explore the hidden depths and woodlands of Lamport Garden - perfect for that game of hide and seek
Stop by the Sleeping Wood with its meandering paths
Find the birds and farm animals dotted around the lakes and fields

What do you need to know when visiting the garden?

Stowe Gardens is large, so plan a route to decide how far you'll go and choose rest stops along the way
There's plenty of benches dotted around for when those little legs need a break
To dodge rain showers, use the temples as shelters
There's plenty of spots that make for a perfect picnic, so bring along a blanket or use one of our accessible picnic benches for your family feast (please no BBQs)
We're happy for you to play in the gardens - bring a ball or a kite - just be mindful of other visitors and your surroundings as there are a number of lakes, animals, trees and slopes around the gardens