Bowood House & Gardens
Extensive gardens and parkland with Classical house at its heart, extensively remodelled in the mid-twentieth century.
Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0LZ
Facilities
-
Cafe / restaurant
-
Easily accessible without car
-
Facilities for children
-
Free parking
-
Parkland / open spaces
-
Picnic area
-
Shop
- Wheelchair ramps/routes
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible parking
- Guide dogs welcome
Discover a day of adventure, nature and heritage at Bowood House & Gardens in the Wiltshire countryside.
Legendary Adventure Playground: Children aged 12 years and under can set sail on the iconic pirate ship and conquer the exhilarating treetop aerial walkways, giant slides and jumping pillows. Young explorers aged 7 years and under can navigate the tractor trail, build woodland dens, construct sand castles and discover water play. During rainy days, step inside for interactive play with building tools, soft play farm animals and a play kitchen.
Breathtaking Parkland: Explore idyllic parkland designed by ‘Capability’ Brown with sweeping views and hidden gems including a Cascade, Hermit’s Cave and Doric Temple.
Rare Arboretum: Wander amongst rare, record-breaking trees and spot some of Bowood’s abundant wildlife.
Vibrant Gardens: Stroll through the Italianate Terrace Garden with its formal design and delicate water features. Enter the Walled Garden to find vibrant borders, greenhouses and wild flower meadows.
Historic House: Step inside Bowood House, the cherished home of the Lansdowne family since 1754. Admire Georgian architecture, fine art and historical treasures including the laboratory where Dr. Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen gas.
For the latest events at Bowood, see their website.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
Open 27 March to 1 November 2026.
10:30 – 17:30. Last admission 16:30.
Not free for Historic Houses members. See Admission for details.
From 2022, Bowood House will no longer be offering free entry to Historic Houses members. If you live nearby and would like to visit Bowood frequently, you can purchase a season ticket on their website.
See Bowood’s website for details of Day Ticket entry prices.
This house is not part of the Free for Members scheme, but is one of many houses on our website that we support to promote their tours, weddings, filming and other commercial offerings. To see all the places you can visit as a Historic Houses member, please visit our ‘Free for Members’ listings page here. Or to find out more about how the membership scheme works and how it supports our work to protect independent heritage, visit our page here.
Whether you’re a tour operator, special interest group or planning to visit with friends and family, we have a variety of tours and packages at Bowood House & Gardens.
Contact
- Wheelchair ramps/routes
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible parking
- Guide dogs welcome
Getting here
Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0LZ
Public Transport
Bus – Routes 33 and X33 (Chippenham to Devizes) go through Derry Hill village. Route 55 stops on the A4 close to the turning into Derry Hill village.
Train – The nearest main line station is at Chippenham. Taxis are available or take the 55 bus to Studley crossroads.
Driving
Please use the postcode SN11 0LZ. Bowood is easily accessible from the M4 at Junction 17 and is located between Chippenham and Calne, off the A4.
- The landscape around Bowood House was designed by ‘Capability’ Brown.
- Robert Adam worked on the interiors of the House.
- Dr Priestley identified Oxygen at Bowood House in 1774.
- Jan Ingenhousz worked on his discovery of Photosynthesis at Bowood House.
- Bowood House was a Red Cross Hospital during WWI and a school following the war.
Forthcoming events
‘The Great Gatsby’ Outdoor Theatre at Bowood House & Gardens
Bowood House & Gardens
Summer Adventures – Outdoor Exploration
Bowood House & Gardens
Wiltshire Game & Country Fair
Bowood House & Gardens
Summer Adventures – Archery
Bowood House & Gardens
Summer Adventures – Outdoor Wall Climbing
Bowood House & Gardens
Summer Adventures – Mini Rovers Driving
Bowood House & Gardens
History Talk at Bowood House with Dr. Lizzie Rogers on ‘1776: Secrets, Spies and the American Revolution’
Bowood House & Gardens
Drum Lampshade Making Workshop at Bowood House & Gardens
Bowood House & Gardens
Indian Block Print at Bowood House & Gardens
Bowood House & Gardens
Silver Jewellery Workshop at Bowood House & Gardens
Bowood House & Gardens
Autumn Wreath at Bowood House & Gardens
Bowood House & Gardens
Candle Making Workshop at Bowood House & Gardens
Bowood House & Gardens
Historic Houses nearby
Lydiard House & Park
Lydiard Park, Lydiard Tregoze, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 3PA
Corsham Court
Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 0BZ
Westonbirt House
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QG
Become a Historic Houses member
Explore the nation’s heritage from just £71 per year.
Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.
Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.
