Bowood House & Gardens - Travel Trade

About

Whether you are a special interest group, U3A, tour operator or a group of friends, there is something to suit all interests at Bowood House & Gardens. With a variety of group packages and guided tours available, you can spend the day exploring the four-acre Walled Garden before immersing yourself in the history of Bowood House.

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Trade Product Information and Experiences:

NEW FOR 2026

2025 saw us celebrate the 50th year of Bowood being open to the public. To celebrate the anniversary, Bowood opened the Walled Garden to all visitors for the first time ever. We are pleased to confirm access will continue next year throughout the 2026 open season.

Garden Tours (duration of 90mins) with Exclusive access of all 4 acres of the Walled Garden will also continue, weekdays at 10:30 - 12:00 prior to general opening.

In 2026, we also have the House Exhibition titled “1776: Secrets, Spies and the American Revolution”, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Lord Shelburne had a friendship with Benjamin Franklin, which led to accusations that he was secretly in contact with Franklin throughout the war. This exhibition will explore both politics and relationships, as well as delving into the world of eighteenth-century espionage, something Franklin played a huge part in.

Additional NEW features for 2026 include, a Garden Exhibition entitled ‘The Lifecycle of Plants’ featuring illustrations of plants from the Bowood collection by The Bath Society of Botanical Artists, displayed in the Garden Studio within the Walled Garden. The exhibition will feature paintings of plants from the Bowood Gardens and Arboretum.

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Bowood House

Enjoy a beautiful day visiting Bowood House, surrounded by acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscape and stunning gardens. Bowood House, home to the Lansdowne family since 1754, has a fascinating history. The Big House, as it was known, was demolished in 1955, leaving the most perfectly balanced Georgian structure, full of fascinating family memorabilia, including the room in which Dr. Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen gas on 1st August, 1774.

Garden Tours

Book an exclusive morning guided tour of Bowood's Gardens, featuring the Walled Garden with it's four distinctly different one-acre squares. A truly special experience as our guides tailor each tour to suit the season and the flowers in bloom, from the trailing wisteria to a wall of climbing roses.

Throughout October you can expect to see the most breathtaking autumnal colours as you explore the grounds that come alive at this time of year. Awash with crisp oranges and deep red hues, it’s worth wrapping up warm and enjoying the beauty of our Arboretum.

This tour package includes admission to the House & Gardens, a 10% catering discount card and a 90-minute tour to include the Walled Garden. (Minimum group size 15+).

Woodland Garden

The Woodland Garden, located two miles from Bowood House, open from mid-April to early-June, subject to the flowering season. Wind your way through a series of pathways and see an oasis of bluebells, azaleas, magnolias and rhododendrons. This separate attraction is highly recommended in combination with a visit to the House & Gardens.

For those with a keen interest, why not enjoy an exclusive guided tour of the Woodland Gardens. As you are led along the rides by your expert tour guide, each step opens a new vista of breathtaking beauty, from the minute detail of the individual flower to the grand sweep of colours formed by hundreds of shrubs. You can expect carpets of bluebells, and an oasis of azaleas, magnolias and rhododendrons.

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Booking Information:

Lisa Kent, Groups Coordinator: l.kent@bowood.org  

Direct Line: 01249 810968

Opening Dates: 1st April -  2nd November 2025

Trade Prices – Group/FIT rates (2025) Prices may be subject to change please check with business directly.

GROUP ADMISSION TO BOWOOD HOUSE & GARDENS
Adults (17+) - £14.00
Seniors (60+) - £12.00
Add on a tour of Bowood House for only £3.50 per person

Garden Tour – no catering £19.00 pp.(Minimum group size 15+)

GROUP ADMISSION TO BOWOOD WOODLAND GARDEN
Adult (17+) £8.00 pp
Senior (60+) £7.00pp
(Groups 15+)

Woodland Garden Guided Tours – Adult £13.00 per person, includes admission to the Bowood Woodland Garden, 60 minute tour (Groups 15+)

Min group size: 15 +

Languages: English

Duration of visit: 2-3hours minimum

Coach Parking: Yes

Suitable for Education / Corporate / Incentive visits: Yes – Please enquire for specific requests.

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Additional Information:

Please enquire for prices if you wish to arrange a combined group visit to the Woodland Garden with one of our House & Garden Tours. Visits can be tailored to your requirements and can include prebooked catering and dedicated parking for disabled visitors. To help you promote your visit we can send you leaflets as well as supply you with information and stunning images to use.

Coach drivers receive complimentary access to Bowood House & Gardens and a refreshments voucher to be redeemed in the Treehouse Café.

Please note that this attraction requires walking on some uneven terrain and may not be suitable for those with mobility issues.

A Group Brochure is available to download HERE