Woodland garden tours within our Wiltshire estate
Woodland Garden
A separate attraction on the Bowood Estate, only open for six weeks during the flowering season, our Woodland Garden offers breathtaking vistas of colour and beauty. Covering over 30 acres and considered one of the county's most exciting gardens, this garden is an oasis of bluebells, azaleas, magnolias, and rhododendrons.
Please note, our Woodland Garden is currently closed and will re-open from mid-April to early June 2025.
A Horticulturist's Paradise
The Jubilee Garden is a magnificent four-acre section within our Woodland Garden, originally laid out around 1854 by the 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne. Continuing this cherished family tradition, the current Marquis has devoted over 12 years to expanding the Rhododendron Walks, beginning work on the area now known as the Jubilee Garden in 2006.
Our Woodland Garden also surrounds the family mausoleum, one of Robert Adam’s most celebrated classical designs, commissioned in 1761 by the widow of the 1st Earl of Shelburne. Recently, these gardens became the site of an extraordinary horticultural discovery, where over 30 original hardy hybrids, once thought to be extinct, were found. These remarkable plants date back to the 1854 plantings by the 3rd Marquess, while the present Marquis’s great-grandfather significantly expanded the gardens after his return from India, where he had served as Viceroy.
Woodland Garden Guided Tour
Join an exclusive guided tour of Bowood's stunning Woodland Garden — dates and prices for 2025 coming soon!
Led by an expert guide, each step along the pathways reveals a new vista of natural beauty. From the intricate details of individual flowers to the sweeping colours of hundreds of vibrant shrubs, this tour is a captivating journey through one of Bowood’s most enchanting landscapes.
The Nosh Box
You can enjoy a selection of refreshments at the Woodland Garden, courtesy of The Nosh Box. Indulge in a tempting selection of homemade cakes and locally sourced tea and coffee, all served from a charmingly restored vintage horse trailer. Situated near the admission kiosk, The Nosh Box accepts both cash and card, and picnic benches are available too.
Useful Information
Please note that wheelchair access to remote areas of the park can be limited as there are some paths with fairly steep gradients and different terrains. Wheelchair-accessible toilets are available near the Admission Kiosk.
Parking is available, free of charge, adjacent to the Admissions Kiosk.
Toilets are available at the entrance by the Admissions Kiosk.
You can find the entrance to our Woodland Gardens just off the A342, Devizes Road, between Derry Hill and Sandy Lane villages. If using a Sat Nav, please use the postcode SN11 9PG.
Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome to join as you explore our Woodland Gardens.