Visitor Information for Bowood House & Gardens in Wiltshire

House & Gardens opens from Friday 27th March - Sunday 1st November 2026.

House & Gardens: 10:30 – 17:30, last admissions 16:30
Treehouse Café: 10:00 – 17:00
The Stables: 11:00 – 16:00 (weekends & holidays)
The Kiosk: 11:00 – 16:45 (weekends & holidays)
Bowood House and Terrace Shop: 11:00 – 16:30 (last entry 16:00)
Walled Garden: 12:00 – 16:30 (last entry 16:00)
Adventure Playground and The Den: 10:30 - 17:15 (Equipment locked from 17:00)

Only working assistance dogs are permitted at the House & Gardens. When possible, please ensure your dog is wearing their recognisable harness or jacket.

At the Woodland Garden, dogs on leads are welcome (open Friday 3rd April - Sunday 7th June 2026). Please note the Woodland Garden is a separate attraction to the House & Gardens on the Bowood Estate, has a separate entrance and Car Park.

Bowood Woodland Garden opens Friday 3rd April to Sunday 7th June 2026.

The Woodland Garden features over two miles of pathways. However, wheelchair access to remote areas may be limited due to steep gradients and varied terrain. Wheelchair-accessible toilets are available near the admission kiosk.

The Woodland Garden has a separate entrance from Bowood's House & Gardens, located just off the A342, Devizes Road, between Derry Hill and Sandy Lane villages. The postcode is SN11 9PG. Free parking is available adjacent to the admissions kiosk, where toilets are also located.

Tickets can be purchased online, season ticket holders receive complementary access to the Woodland Garden.

Yes, if you are staying at our hotel during our House & Gardens' open seasons, you receive complimentary access to the house, gardens and woodland garden. Please speak to our team for more details, either by phoning us on 01249 822 228 or emailing hotereception@bowood.org.

House & Gardens opens on Friday 27th March - Sunday 1st November 2026.

Woodland Garden opens on Friday 3rd April - Sunday 7th June 2026 and has a separate entrance than the House & Gardens, located just off the A342, Devizes Road, between Derry Hill and Sandy Lane villages. The postcode is SN11 9PG. Free parking is available adjacent to the admissions kiosk, where toilets are also located.

House & Gardens opens from Friday 27th March - Sunday 1st November 2026.

We offer discounted day tickets for visitors with disabilities and their registered carers, at 50% off standard ticket prices for the House & Gardens and woodland garden. Please present one of the following documents, dated within the last 12 months, along with your ticket confirmation at admissions:
1. Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance letter
2. Personal Independence Payment letter

3. Access Card
4. A letter from a GP or consultant confirming the need for a full-time carer (diagnosis not required).

SEND HOUR - We also offer a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) hour. On the first Saturday of each month during the open season, the Adventure Playground, The Den, and Treehouse Café will open at 9.30am exclusively for visitors with additional needs or hidden disabilities, and their immediate family or registered carers. For any questions, please email houseandgardens@bowood.org.

House & Gardens opens on Friday 27th March - Sunday 1st November 2026.

We ask all our visitors to pre-book day tickets online in advance, which allows faster entry into the grounds on the day. Tickets for our tours available on selective dates throughout the season, must be purchased in advance online. All workshops and events must be booked online in advance, and for third-party events, please purchase tickets directly from direct websites.

Workshops and events are subject to separate terms and conditions. Groups of 15 or more receive a discount and must be booked before arrival. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Kent at l.kent@bowood.org.

Yes, you will receive the House & Gardens day ticket cost as a discount from a full priced season ticket. Please speak with admissions on the day to upgrade or email: houseandgardens@bowood.org

Please create an account online before purchasing your tickets. This will enable you to log into your account to change your date of visit online up to 24 hours before your arrival (only available on day tickets to the House & Gardens).

2026 Season Tickets including discounted disabled and registered Carer season tickets are available to purchase online.

2026 season ticket cards will not be posted, these can be collected on your first visit of the 2026 season, when showing your confirmation email at admissions.

They must be used only by the named person(s) on the season ticket card and cannot be transferred to another person, a photo will be taken on your first visit to collect your card(s).

These will replace all 2025 cards. On each visit Season Ticket holders must show a valid card at Admissions. If the card is lost or stolen please report to a member of staff at Bowood House & Gardens.

Season Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable and are only valid from 27 March to 1 November 2026.

A season ticket is only valid for the named person/people on the season ticket card and cannot be transferred to another person/people.

A photo will be taken on your first visit when you collect your card which will link to your account.

A season ticket offers a wealth of benefits, including unlimited access to the House & Gardens throughout the open season, along with access to the woodland gardens from mid April to early June. You will also enjoy a 10% discount on guest day tickets, allowing up to five guests per visit when accompanied by the season ticket holder.

Complimentary entry to seasonal trails is included, as well as a 10% discount at the Treehouse Café, The Stables, The Kiosk, and Terrace Shop. Season ticket holders also receive discounts on guided tours and exclusive discounts on selected workshops and events throughout the season.

Find out more about the benefits of being a season ticket holder, here.

Yes, you can visit the woodland garden during the opening season as much as you want. You do not need to book tickets, just show your 2026 ticket card on arrival. Please note, our woodland garden opens from Friday 3rd April to Sunday 7th June 2026.

Season ticket holders can access Bowood’s seasonal trails on a complimentary basis. Any events operated via a third party and held in the Bowood grounds incur a separate entry fee.

House & Gardens opens on Friday 27th March - Sunday 1st November 2026.

Entry to Bowood is granted only to the named holder of the ticket, and you must bring your confirmation email and relevant paperwork for your first visit, including disability documentation if applicable. Aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. You will then be given a card to bring with you on every visit.

Season tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Complimentary car parking is available next to admissions. For the safety of your pets, please do not leave them in parked cars. While we strive to provide a secure environment, Bowood cannot assume responsibility for any damage, accidents, or losses that may occur while using our car park.

There are no overnight parking or camping facilities on the estate. However, our hotel is just a short walk away. View our rooms and suites, here.

For more information please visit our Food & Drink page here

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult in the grounds at all times.

Wheelchairs are available at the House & Gardens on a first-come, first-served basis.

We offer half-price admission for visitors with disabilities and their carers. Assistance dogs are welcome, ideally with a recognisable harness. Gravel paths may make wheelchair and pushchair access challenging, but designated parking and wheelchairs are available (subject to availability). A drop-off point near the house can be arranged upon request, with car keys held for security reasons.

Accessible toilets are in the Treehouse Café, and baby changing facilities are also available. Please note, garden tours and certain areas, such as the upper floors and parts of the gardens, may be difficult to access due to stairs and uneven terrain. You can read our Accessibility Policy, here. If you have any questions, please contact our team, here.

The Adventure playground is for children aged 12 and under, with older children only allowed if supervising a younger child. The Space Dive, featuring a 19-foot vertical drop, is also limited to children 12 and under. The Den and Activity Barn are suitable for children aged seven and under.

Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising their children in all areas, including the playground and The Den. While staff are available during school holidays and weekends, supervision remains the parents' responsibility.

Zip Wires, Jumping Pillows and large slides are closed during heavy rain for safety, but the house, grounds, and The Den remain open.

Bowood House & Gardens is a great place to be during periods of hot weather, but also requires a little extra care.

Here's everything you need to know:

Top Tips:

• Check our website and social media pages for any updates regarding changes due to weather warnings.
• Remember to pre-book your tickets so you can be through the gates quicker and spend less time queuing.
• Keep hydrated, bring water bottles which can be refilled in the Treehouse Café on request.
• Bring a wide brimmed hat, to keep the sun off.
• Bring sun cream with you.

Take it steady:

• Find a shady place to sit and enjoy a picnic, we have some very large trees and shaded areas within the Arboretum and Adventure Playground.
• Avoid running around, take your time and enjoy your day with us.
• Come into Bowood House later in the day, view our exhibitions, the perfect place to be cool and to learn more about the history of Bowood House.
• We sell ice cream in the Treehouse Café

Our Parkland and Gardens are dry at this time of year, therefore please follow this guidance.

• Extinguish cigarettes properly, don’t throw the end on the ground and never throw cigarette ends out of car windows.
• Don’t leave bottles or glass in woodland/grassland; sunlight shining through glass can start fires. Take them home and put them in a recycling bin.
• Do not bring disposable BBQ’s under any circumstances.
• Please do not leave your car engine running once you have parked up, this can cause fires on the grassland.
• If you see a fire, do not attempt to tackle it - leave the area as quickly as possible and report it by calling 999, then alert the Bowood team.

During extreme weather, there may be changes within the Adventure Playground and The Den, these include:

• Slides within the Adventure Playground closing.
• Jumping Pillows within the Adventure Playground closing.

Please be aware that in the event of inclement weather, Jumping Pillows and large outdoor slides may be closed for safety reasons. All other attractions will remain open as usual. We are unable to offer reductions or discounts due to weather conditions. Bowood management reserves the right to close the House & Gardens in exceptional circumstances.

Please email us at houseandgardens@bowood.org with your name, the date you visited, and a brief description of the item. We will check our lost property items to see if this has been handed in and come back to you.

Please note: We will hold your items for three months from the date found, or until the end of the season.

We welcome amateur photography for private, non-commercial use in our grounds.  Inside the House no flash photography can be used and we encourage you to share your photography on our social media.

Bowood does not permit photography or filming on its property for commercial or financial gain nor reproduction without consent from the Bowood Estate.  All requests for permission to undertake professional or semi-photography should be referred to the Bowood Estate by emailing s.forwood@bowood.org.  For press enquiries please contact marketing@bowood.org.

Please note the following policy applies;

• Unauthorised drone use is not allowed in the House & Gardens nor wider Estate.
• Unauthorised professional or semi-professional filming, photography or photoshoots which give financial gain* is not allowed.
• We do not allow filming or photoshoots for engagement, pre-wedding, or weddings.
• For commercial filming and photography please see information here.

*Financial gain – earning reward, money either directly or indirectly, promoting your business, selling imagery to photography libraries, agencies, or publishing.

Please note that smoking or vaping is not allowed on site.

Unfortunately all bicycles including children’s bikes, scooters, skateboards and rollerskates are not allowed within the grounds of Bowood or our Woodland Garden. Parking is available opposite the admissions point and bicycles can be left in our car park area but entirely at the owner’s risk. If you choose to cycle to us, please be aware that the roadways are very narrow.

After - school offer for arrival between 15:30 - 17:30 last entry 16:30 day ticket discount, term time only during the open season.

50% off Bowood House & Gardens full price day tickets (excluding bundle option 1,2 and 3). Only available to be purchased on the day and for the same day at admissions from 15:30.

RHS members receive complimentary entry to the woodland garden only. Please ensure you show your RHS membership card on arrival to gain access. Our woodland garden is open during the flowering season from Friday 3rd April - Sunday 7th June 2026. Tickets can be purchased online or on the day.

Unfortunately, we no longer offer complimentary access for Historic Houses members. You can book your day tickets, here.

Adult 2for1 day ticket to Bowood House & Gardens from 1st May - 31st June 2026

Adult 2for1 day ticket to Bowood Woodland Garden from 1st May - 31st May 2026

Must show your 2for1 card on arrival at admissions, tickets can be purchased online from 1st May or on the day at admissions.

Yes, we do. Find out more about group tours and visits, here.

We do offer discounted group rates to groups of 15 or more. This needs to be booked in advance. Please contact Lisa Kent by emailing l.kent@bowood.org for prices and to book.

No, Bowood's House & Gardens will remain a cash-free site as well as the Woodland Garden.

Swimming or paddling in the lake, cascade, or fountains is strictly forbidden. Fishing on the lake is by annual permit only — day tickets are not available. Please call 01249 812102 for more information.

HOUSE & GARDENS
What3words address: ///wacky.admire.spurted will get you to our Studley entrance gates for Bowood House & Gardens.

Can I travel to Bowood using 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.
It is approximately 1½ miles from the entrance gate to Admissions for the House & Gardens.

Train – The nearest mainline station is Chippenham.  Taxis are available or you can take the 55 bus to Studley crossroads.

Which entrance do I use?
The entrance to the House & Gardens is at the other end of Derry Hill village, just off the A4.  You will enter via a White Gate.  If using Satellite Navigation, please use postcode SN11 9NF.

All are signposted from the A4 and A342.
Please note: There is no access from the Golden Gates entrance to Bowood Hotel, Spa, and Golf Resort opposite the Lansdowne Arms public house in Derry Hill.

The Woodland Garden (open mid April to early June) located off the A342 between Derry Hill and Sandy Lane.  For Satellite Navigation please use the postcode SN11 9PG.

Is there a car and coach park at Bowood?
Free parking is available opposite the Treehouse Café and the main Admission point as well as the Woodland Garden.

Can coaches drop passengers at Bowood House?
It is possible for coaches to drop off and collect passengers from the House by prior arrangement.  Please call 01249 812 102 for all group booking enquiries.

For more information, please call: 01249 812 102 or email: reception@bowood.org