Stowe Gardens - National Trust
Stowe, Buckinghamshire
About Stowe Gardens - National Trust
Stowe is a fantastic family day out in Buckinghamshire, with sweeping landscapes, lakes, winding paths and grand monuments that spark children's imaginations. The vast gardens and parkland offer plenty of space for families to explore, picnic and enjoy the outdoors together.
Families can follow scenic trails, discover hidden temples and bridges, enjoy lakeside walks and take part in seasonal events and family activities throughout the year.
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WHAT'S ON THIS SUMMER
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Pokémon joins Stowe's Summer of Play
Date: 23 July – 21 August 2026
Time: 10am – 5pm
Price: Included with normal admission (free for National Trust members)
Get ready for a summer packed with outdoor fun at Stowe. Summer of Play, supported by Pokémon, brings festival-style family activities to the Paddock (aka the Festival Field). With dedicated play zones, Pokémon-themed adventures and plenty of opportunities to relax and explore, it's an ideal summer day out for families.
From New Inn, visitors can head into the gardens with a copy of the 32 Things to Do trail and activity booklet. Along the way, children can take part in playful challenges, discover lawn games and find new ways to engage with the landscape while exploring the famous gardens.
There will also be several performers providing entertainment throughout the summer at Stowe too. See below for dates:
■ Come to my Party (Circus workshop sessions) – Wed 29 July and Wed 19 Aug
■ iSing iDance iAct (Circus skills, movement, dance) – Thurs 30 July, Thurs 6 Aug, Thurs 13 Aug, Thurs 20 Aug and Thurs 27 Aug
■ Storm in a Tea Cup (Circus workshop and amazing bubble displays) – Sat 1 Aug and Wed 26 Aug
■ Aaron Williams (Party dances, games, competitions, balloon modelling, juggling to the renowned toilet roll machine) – Wed 5 Aug and Wed 12 Aug
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Children's Summer Crafts
Date: 5, 12 and 26 August
Time: 10am-11am, 11am-12pm
Price: £2 per child. Pre-booking required.
Join our team of volunteers and get crafty! There will be two one-hour sessions per day.
■ Wed 5 August: Cardboard animals
■ Wed 12 August: Windsocks
■ Wed 26 August: Pom pom ice creams
Family trails and seasonal activities
Stowe regularly offers family-friendly trails and seasonal evening include Summer of Play, giving children fun challenges and interactive ways to explore the landscape.
A giant outdoor adventure
With 250 acres of gardens to explore, children can discover hidden woodland, walkes, winding paths, grand temples and monuments. There are plenty of opportunities for hide-and-seek, wildlife spotting, and imaginative play.
Easy, family-friendly facilites
Families benefit from buggy-friendly routes, baby-changing facilites, a café with a childrens menu and high chairs, picnic areas, and plenty of benches for rest stops, making it easy to spend a whole day exploring.
Facilities
Toilets
Onsite Parking
Accessible Toilets
Baby Changing
Food Available
Wheelchair Friendly
Pushchair Friendly
Opening Times
Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00
During the winter, Stowe Gardens closes at 16:00
Pricing & Tickets
- Child (5-17) : £7.50
- Adult (18+-18+) : £15.00
Under 5s free.
Family (2+2) £37.50
Family (1+4) £22.50
National Trust members free
Parking free
RHS members free (one person free entry per membership)
Summer 2024
Little People, Big Dreams trail free with normal admission.
Plan Your Visit
Typical visit time 2 - 3 hours
Suitable for Kids and Adults too
Food & Drink Options
At the cafe you can grab freshly made sandwiches, sausage rolls, pasties and baked goods.
Hot food is served daily between 12:00 - 14:30.
There are children's lunchboxes with hot chocolate, Pom-Bear crisps, chocolate bars and fruit juices.
FAQs
Parking
Toilets
Family Friendly Options
Food & Drink
Accessibility Information
Tickets & Bookings
Private Hire & Birthday Parties
Public Transport
Contact Details
Transport Information
On foot
Stowe Gardens is 1½ miles from Buckingham, take a stroll up Stowe Avenue for monumental views to arrive at The New Inn.
By Train
There are a number of train stations nearby: Bicester North 9 miles; Milton Keynes Central 14 miles. Taxis are available at all stations. Direct connections from London Marylebone and Euston stations, both with only a 50-minute journey.
By Bus
Stagecoach X5 bus runs from Oxford to Cambridge and stops in Buckingham town, 1.5 miles from Stowe.
The Arriva X60 bus runs from Aylesbury to Milton Keynes, stopping in Buckingham town, 1.5 miles from Stowe. On arrival at Buckingham High Street, walk uphill and on to West Street, continuing on the A422 until you reach a right turn for Stowe Avenue. Follow the 1.5 mile avenue until you reach the New Inn.
By Bike
1½ miles from Buckingham, take a ride up Stowe Avenue for spectacular views to arrive at The New Inn where you'll find cycle racks located in the middle of the car park on the left next to the visitor path.
Verification & Last Updated
Verified Status:
This attraction has been claimed and verified. All information has been recently checked.
Last Updated: 13:51 16/07/2026
Stowe Gardens - National Trust Reviews
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