THINGS TO DO AT BOWOOD, WILTSHIRE
Garden Tours
Head Gardener Tours
On a few selected dates throughout the season, Bowood’s Head Gardener, David Glass, provides a 90-minute guided tour of the stunning gardens. Set next to Bowood House, the Italianate Terrace Garden has a formal design, with an upper, lower and east terrace, and is brimming with vibrant flowers and delicate water features. Located behind towering walls the four acre ‘secret garden’ of the Walled Garden offers meticulously designed flower beds, Kitchen Garden, Greenhouses and a Sensory Garden. David will give an overview of the history of the gardens and the plants that are featured and also share how his team care for the gardens throughout the year. These tours include exclusive access to the Walled Garden prior to public opening and access to private sections.
Dates are available across the spring, summer and autumn so that visitors can admire the blooms across the seasons, from tulips in the spring, to roses in June, to beautiful mixed borders in the summer. Our seasonal displays are outlined below, although timings can vary according to the weather. Anyone who joins a Garden Tour and would like to return for another Garden Tour later in the same year will be given a discount card to redeem against another tour date.
• April - Spring flowers including colourful tulips and daffodils
• May - Early summer with Wisteria and early flowering shrubs
• June - Midsummer displays of early wall roses and wildflower / pollinator meadows
• July - Rose beds and vivid borders briming with summer colour
Tickets for Head Gardener Tours include self-guided access to the House, Gardens and Pleasure Grounds (including the Arboretum, Doric Temple, Cascade and Hermits Cave). Furthermore, these tickets will be issued with a 10% discount card, which can be redeemed in the Treehouse Café to purchase arrival refreshments plus option to use throughout your visit (for drinks, light lunches or afternoon refreshments). The discount card can also be redeemed in the gift shop, situated within Bowood House.
Garden Tours
On a few selected dates throughout the season, individuals can join a 90-minute guided tour of the stunning gardens. Set next to Bowood House, the Italianate Terrace Garden has a formal design, with an upper, lower and east terrace, and is brimming with vibrant flowers and delicate water features. Located behind towering walls the four acre ‘secret garden’ of the Walled Garden offers meticulously designed flower beds, Kitchen Garden, Greenhouses and a Sensory Garden. Tour guides will give an overview of the history of the gardens and the plants that are featured. These tours include exclusive access to the Walled Garden prior to public opening and access to private sections.
Dates are available across the spring, summer and autumn so that visitors can admire the blooms across the seasons, from tulips in the spring, to roses in June, to beautiful mixed borders in the summer. Our seasonal displays are outlined below, although timings can vary according to the weather. Anyone who joins a Garden Tour and would like to return for another Garden Tour later in the same year will be given a discount card to redeem against another tour date.
• April - Spring flowers including colourful tulips and daffodils
• May - Early summer with Wisteria and early flowering shrubs
• June - Midsummer displays of early wall roses and wildflower / pollinator meadows
• July - Rose beds and vivid borders briming with summer colour
• August - Kitchen Garden, beds and borders
Tickets for Garden Tours include self-guided access to the House, Gardens and Pleasure Grounds (including the Arboretum, Doric Temple, Cascade and Hermits Cave). Furthermore, these tickets will be issued with a 10% discount card, which can be redeemed in the Treehouse Café to purchase arrival refreshments plus option to use throughout your visit (for drinks, light lunches or afternoon refreshments). The discount card can also be redeemed in the gift shop, situated within Bowood House.
Historic Parkland & Arboretum Tours
On a few selected dates in the Autumn season, Bowood provides a guided walk of one of the finest early examples of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s work in this country. This walk includes the Arboretum of rare trees in the Pleasure Grounds behind the Walled Garden, which is regarded as one of the best places in Britain to look at trees. Collectively the trees provide the visitor with a stunning spectacle of seasonal colours whether it be bark, flower, fruit, foliage or autumn tints. Discover rare record-breaking trees, breathe in the fresh air and spot some of Bowood's local wildlife. Tour guides will provide you with detailed information on the history of the parkland and advise you on how the team care for the grounds throughout the year.
Tickets for the Historic Parkland & Arboretum Tour include self-guided access to the House, Terrace Garden, Walled Garden and Pleasure Grounds (including the Arboretum, Doric Temple, Cascade and Hermits Cave). Furthermore, these tickets will be issued with a 10% discount card, which can be redeemed in the Treehouse Café to purchase arrival refreshments plus option to use throughout your visit (for drinks, light lunches or afternoon refreshments). The discount card can also be redeemed in the gift shop, situated within Bowood House.
Find out more about Bowood's Trees & Shrubs by downloading our Tree Guide book.
