Bowood House and Gardens launches 50th anniversary events programme

Bowood House and Gardens has released its events programme ahead of the estate reopening to the public on Tuesday 1 April.

Bowood House & Gardens in Wiltshire has released its vibrant events programme ahead of the estate reopening to the public on Tuesday 1st April for the 2025 season. 

From the quirky and unusual to inspiring family fun, Bowood House & Gardens’ events offer something for everyone in celebration of its 50th anniversary. All activities will be held at Bowood and run through to autumn 2025.

Bowood opens its Walled Garden to the public for the first time on Tuesday 1st April. The Walled Garden has remained private to the Lansdowne family for the past 270 years.

Guests are also invited to explore the 50th anniversary exhibition located inside Bowood House. General admission includes entry to the Walled Garden and the 50th anniversary exhibition.

Bowood welcomes Giffords Circus from Thursday 1 May to Tuesday 6 May 2025. Providing a traditional circus atmosphere for the whole family, thrilling guests with entertainment from acrobats, jugglers, horses, musicians, and dancers. Tickets start from £10 per child (aged three to 14) and from £20 per adult.

Adventure Cinema, the outdoor cinema experience, returns to Bowood from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 May 2025. A fantastic line-up of films is available to enjoy on the House’s front lawn, with seven screenings across the three days. Tickets are launched at end of February on their website.

Masters of Motoring hosts its Classic & Sports Car Show at Bowood on Sunday 8 June 2025. A competition judging a range of supercars, classic cars, and sports cars will take centre stage on the lawn in front of Bowood House during the luxury event. Tickets start from £25 per adult.

Bowood House Triathlon returns on Saturday 21 June, offering athletes the opportunity to swim, bike and run in Bowood’s ‘Capability Brown’ landscape. Tickets start from £65 per adult.

Celebrating its 10th year, Classic Ibiza is an open-air celebration of White Isle-inspired house music, reinvented by a 32-piece Urban Soul Orchestra, headline DJs and live vocalists. It is an opportunity for generations of all ages to come together and enjoy iconic music in Bowood’s grounds.

The event will run on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 July. Tickets are £25 per child (aged five to 12), £35 per teen (aged 13 to 17), and £49.50 per adult. Children under five are free.

Bowood’s grounds transform into a magical outdoor theatre during the summer holidays. Productions include Emma by Jane Austen on Saturday 2 August 2025, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on Friday 8 August 2025, and Shakespeare’s Macbeth on Friday 15 August 2025. See the website for the ticket prices.

The Wiltshire Game & Country Fair returns to Bowood for its 18th year on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August 2025, offering the whole family a day of entertainment. From falconry and jousting displays, craft, food and drink stalls, to chainsaw and dog shows, this fair has something for everyone.

Fancy getting creative or learning a new skill? Bowood holds a range of workshops, including floristry, copper foil glass and silver jewellery making. An introduction to Candle Making Workshop is on Saturday 11 October 2025, with two sessions at 10am and 2pm. Attendees have the opportunity to take home their own piece of Bowood by making soy scented candles infused with dried flowers from the Walled Garden. Tickets start from £65 per person.

Visit www.bowood.org/whats-on to see the full list of 2025 events and buy tickets.