Bowood House and Gardens is a stately home near Calne in Wiltshire, about 18 miles from Bath, roughly a 35 to 40 minute drive. The 2026 season runs to 1 November, with an adult day ticket costing £18.20 and parking free, covering the house, gardens, arboretum, adventure playground and lake.
What is Bowood
Bowood has been the home of the Lansdowne family since 1754. The house holds Georgian interiors, paintings and historical items, including the laboratory where the scientist Joseph Priestley is credited with discovering oxygen gas while working there as the family's librarian. Outside, the parkland was designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown, with a lake, a man-made waterfall known as the Cascade, a Hermit's Cave and a Doric Temple built into the landscape.
It sits close to several other places already covered on this site, including Corsham, Lacock and Castle Combe, which makes it easy to pair with one of them or treat as a standalone day out from Bath.
Getting there from Bath
By car, Bowood is about 18 miles east of Bath along the A4, generally a 35 to 40 minute drive. The entrance to the House and Gardens is at the east end of Derry Hill village, off the Studley Crossroads on the A4; use postcode SN11 9NF for satellite navigation and follow the brown tourist signs. Note that the Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort has a separate entrance (the Golden Gates) that does not connect through to the House and Gardens.
Public transport is limited. Bus routes 33 and X33 run between Chippenham and Devizes via Derry Hill village, and route 55 stops on the A4 near the turning, from which it is about a mile and a half on foot to admissions. The nearest railway station is Chippenham, from where you would need a taxi or the 55 bus to Studley crossroads. In practice, this is a much easier trip by car than by bus.
Admission and season
House and Gardens opens for the 2026 season from Friday 27 March to Sunday 1 November, 10.30am to 5.30pm with last admission at 4.30pm. Adult day tickets are £18.20, senior (60+) £15.60, young adult (13-16) and junior (7-12) both £13.50, and child (2-6) £10.90. Visitors with disabilities and their carers get half-price admission. Parking is free.
The separate Woodland Garden, known for its rhododendrons and azaleas, has a shorter season: it is open from early April to early June only, at a different entrance off the A342 (postcode SN11 9PG for satellite navigation), so check dates before planning a visit around it specifically.
| Ticket type | 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Adult (17+) | £18.20 |
| Senior (60+) | £15.60 |
| Young adult (13-16) | £13.50 |
| Junior (7-12) | £13.50 |
| Child (2-6) | £10.90 |
What there is to do
The day ticket covers the House, Terrace Gardens, Walled Garden, Arboretum, Adventure Playground, The Den and Activity Barn, and the Parkland with its lake, Cascade, Hermit's Cave and Doric Temple. The Adventure Playground is aimed at children up to 12, with a pirate ship and treetop walkways, while younger children under 7 have their own area with a tractor trail, den building and water play. The Walled Garden has vibrant borders, greenhouses and wildflower meadows, and the Italianate Terrace Garden has formal planting and water features close to the house itself. On the first Saturday of each month during the open season, the playground, Den and café open early at 9.30am exclusively for visitors with additional needs or hidden disabilities and their families.
How it compares to other Wiltshire day trips
Bowood is a ticketed estate built around a working stately home, gardens and a large adventure playground, which makes it a good pick if you want a full day out that includes something for children as well as the house itself. That is a different shape of day out from Corsham or Lacock, both of which are historic towns you wander for free with a paid house or court to visit if you choose. See our guides to Corsham and Lacock for what those involve.
Castle Combe is different again: a small, preserved village that most people see on foot in an hour or two, with no ticketed attraction at its centre. If you want grounds to spend a whole day in with children in tow, Bowood is the stronger choice of the four. If you would rather see historic streets and buy nothing, Corsham, Lacock or Castle Combe suit better. For the full list of options within reach of Bath, see our day trips from Bath guide.
Planning your visit
Buying online in advance is recommended for faster entry, and is done through the Book link on Bowood's own website under House & Gardens Tickets. Gravel paths in parts of the grounds can make wheelchair and pushchair access difficult, though designated parking and wheelchairs are available near the House, and a drop-off point can be arranged on request. Dogs on leads are welcome across most of the grounds.