Bowood House & Gardens opens for the 2026 season on Friday 27 March, offering locals, day trippers, and tourists alike more history, natural wonder, and outdoor adventure than ever before.
From the historic house to the landscaped parkland and Adventure Playground, the estate offers a varied day out for visitors of all ages.
The 2026 programme features a fresh historical exhibition at Bowood House, a botanical art exhibition in the newly opened Garden Studio, and new features for the Adventure Playground. Bowood’s gardeners are also developing a new Dry Garden, reflecting the Estate’s evolving approach to planting in a changing climate.
Lord Kerry, Chief Executive and 11th generation custodian of Bowood, said: “It is an immense pleasure to share this historic country house and gardens with our guests, bringing history, nature, and adventure to everyone. This beautiful place presents a unique environment where guests can pause, reconnect, and create memories.
“I hope that our guests enjoy the curated exhibitions in the house and garden studio, discover the sights, smells, and sounds of nature at the Woodland Garden, explore our new Dry Garden, and join us at one of the many events on the Estate this season. As we open our doors for the 2026 season, I am deeply grateful for the unwavering commitment of our team. Their hard work ensures we continue to safeguard Bowood’s rich heritage for future generations, while providing our guests with truly captivating experiences.”
Inside Bowood House, this year’s seasonal exhibition ‘1776: Secrets, Spies and the American Revolution’ marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and explores Lord Shelburne’s links with America. Lord Shelburne, owner of Bowood in the 18th century, played a pivotal diplomatic role during his lifetime. Visitors can discover the role of diplomacy, secret correspondence, and invisible ink, as well as the significance of the Treaty of Paris and its impact on Lord Shelburne’s career at the exhibition.
‘The Lifecycle of Plants’ exhibition is displayed in the Garden Studio within the Walled Garden throughout the 2026 season. The exhibition features botanical illustrations by The Bath Society of Botanical Artists, capturing plants from Bowood’s own collection. All artwork reflects the Estate’s gardens and Arboretum, celebrating the detail and structure of plants at every stage of growth.
Visitors can also follow Bowood’s new Arboretum Tree Trail and discover 24 significant trees across the grounds, including a number of rare and champion specimens. Informative labels along the route share fascinating facts about each tree, encouraging guests to look more closely at Bowood’s historic and diverse collection.
Within the Walled Garden, Bowood’s gardeners are creating a new Dry Garden this season. Located within the existing formal layout, the area focuses on drought tolerant planting suited to dry, sun-exposed conditions. It showcases a selection of plants including salvias, agapanthus, achilleas, echinaceas, grasses, and succulents. The Dry Garden forms part of Bowood’s approach to test plant varieties in response to changing climate conditions, and visitors can observe its early stages as it evolves throughout the season.
During the winter closure, Bowood’s ever-popular Adventure Playground has been enhanced with a new water play area in The Den. Designed for younger visitors, the space features interactive water channels and hands on elements that encourage sensory play. The water play area also offers a welcome way to cool down on warm days, complementing the Estate’s well-known pirate ship, aerial walkways, and zip wires.
Bowood’s Big Easter Adventure returns from Saturday 28 March to Sunday 12 April 2026, inviting families to explore the grounds through a series of puzzles and challenges. Ten giant eggs are hidden around the grounds, with children tasked to unscramble letters and riddles to claim a chocolate reward.
From Friday 3 to Monday 6 April 2026, visitors can also take part in the golden egg challenge. Five golden eggs and one rainbow egg are hidden daily across the estate. Golden egg finders can exchange their prize for a large chocolate treat, while the rainbow egg winner will receive a family season ticket. The Easter programme marks the start of a wider calendar of seasonal events running throughout the Bowood House & Gardens 2026 season.
The Estate’s Woodland Garden opens from Friday 10 April to Sunday 7 June 2026. A separate attraction within the wider Bowood estate, the Woodland Garden opens for just six weeks during its peak flowering season. Covering more than 30 acres, it is considered one of the country’s most remarkable spring gardens, renowned for sweeping displays of bluebells, azaleas, magnolias, rhododendrons, and camellias. The rare and mature tree collection creates striking vistas of colour throughout the valley landscape.
Day Tickets for the 2026 season are on sale now. Season Tickets are also available for unlimited access to the House & Gardens and Adventure Playground.
A range of events are available throughout the 2026 season, including Family Activities, Garden Tours, Music, Open Air Theatre, Sport, Exhibitions, History Talks and Creative Workshops. Visit www.bowood.org/whats-on for more information.
For more information and to book, please visit www.bowood.org.
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