Stowe House

27/10/2026

🎃 From a party palace to a fireworks spectacular… make a day of it in Buckingham this Halloween! 🎆

Start your adventure here at Stowe House, once the magnificent party palace of the Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos, where there's plenty of half-term fun for the whole family.

We know that visiting a grand historic house with little ones can sometimes feel a bit daunting. All those priceless treasures, the temptation to touch everything and the constant worry about what might get broken! 😅

But fear not! We want families to feel welcome, relaxed and curious. Explore our magnificent State Rooms, get hands-on with the interactive exhibits in our museum and enjoy some playful discoveries along the way. There's no need to feel like you're walking on eggshells!

Before you leave, pick up a spooky sweet treat for later, browse our souvenirs or grab one of our mystery-wrapped Blind Date with a Book surprises to keep little readers entertained on those pesky INSET days.

Then head into historic Buckingham, where you'll find plenty of lovely local eateries for lunch before recharging your batteries for the evening's BIG event!

🎆 Buckingham's FREE Bonfire & Fireworks Night!

On Saturday 31 October, Bourton Park Paddock comes alive from 6pm with a torch-lit parade, live music, food stalls, a roaring bonfire and a dazzling fireworks display at 7pm. A fantastic community celebration and a rather spectacular way to round off your Halloween adventures!

Celebrate Buckingham with a BOOM! 💥

And why stop at one day? This northern corner of Buckinghamshire has so much to discover, from the home of motorsport and rolling countryside to independent eateries and wonderful places to stay.

We've put together a guide to help you explore what's on our doorstep. You might be surprised by just how much there is to see and do. Better still, make a weekend of it!

👉 bit.ly/StoweLocal



Discover Buckingham | Buckingham Town Council | Discover Northamptonshire | Experience Oxfordshire |

📷 Photography: Megan Taylor, Storm Videos and Andy Marshall. © Stowe House Preservation Trust and respective photographers. Fireworks photograph, Buckingham Town Council

26/10/2026

LAST-MINUTE AVAILABILITY!

🧪Calling all little witches, wizards and slime scientists!🧑‍🔬
Our Halloween Slime Lab is coming to Stowe House on Tuesday 27 October as part of our Howl-O-Ween Half Term activities.
Get ready to mix, squish and create your own spooky slime to take home.
🎟️ Last minute tickets, with availability remaining for the 11.00am–12.00pm session.
The Slime Lab is free but House admission tickets must be purchased as well. Places must be booked in advance and tickets are going fast!
Your admission ticket also includes access to the State Rooms, interactive Museum, A Pug in a Pickle mystery trail, Halloween Trail and make-and-take craft activities.
Under-5s go free and children aged 6–16 are just £3.
Book your Slime Lab place and admission at stowehouse.org

25/10/2026

24/10/2026

Tomorrow is , and our neighbours have plenty to celebrate! 💚

Head to Kettering on Sunday 25 October for a day of heritage, arts and family fun, including the full reopening of the Alfred East Art Gallery.

Expect children’s entertainment, local history exhibitions, live performances and historic venues to explore. There will even be vintage buses linking the activity hubs, so the journey can be part of the adventure!

Here at Stowe House, we may have a Buckinghamshire address, but there’s plenty of love for Northamptonshire on this side of the border.

Our local connections go back a long way: a Roman road linking Bicester and Towcester crossed the medieval parish of Stowe. Today, we’re delighted that so many of our Northamptonshire neighbours regularly make the journey to visit us.

Thank you for making Stowe part of your days out. County lines certainly don’t get in the way of a warm welcome.

And yes, our Towcester-based admin may be just a little biased… 😉

Explore the celebrations with Discover Northamptonshire, West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council. Info ➡️bit.ly/4hYxbCb

23/10/2026

From tomorrow, we’re moving to our winter opening hours, with the House closing at 3.30pm.

Wrap up warm, pull on your walking boots and set off a little earlier to make the most of your visit. Then treat yourself to a seasonal pumpkin latte and enjoy Stowe in the gentle embrace of autumn’s soft golden glow. 🍂☕️


Image with thanks Norman Trauts
Discover Buckingham

22/10/2026

Stowe Away: A brush pot with a rather grand makeover! 💙

Missing your Stowe House fix on a day when we're closed? Head to the V&A in South Kensington, where you can discover treasures that once called Stowe home.

Meet the Howzer Cup. It began life in China in the 1600s as a blue and white porcelain pot for writing brushes. A few decades later, it was given elaborate silver-guilt handles and a cover, probably by goldsmith Wolfgang Howzer, transforming it into quite the showpiece.

Look closely and your spot greyhounds perched on the handles and another hound sitting proudly on top. Even the lid's decoration echoes details painted on the porcelain below.

The cup later graced Stowe's collection before being sold in the Great Sale of 1848 to help settle the second Duke of Buckingham and Chandos's debts.

Today, you'll find it in the V&A's British Galleries, Room 56c. A little piece of Stowe history to brighten an autumn outing.

And you thought your pen pot was fancy... 😉

20/10/2026

It's easy to overlook what's beneath your feet...

While the pupils enjoy a well-earned break, our House Custodians and colleagues spring into action, tackling those essential maintenance jobs that simply can't be done during term time.

Last night, the magnificent oak floor of the State Music Room was treated to a fresh coat of wax, followed by buffing this morning.

It's easy to overlook what's beneath your feet when the walls and ceilings demand your attention, and statues and portraits draw you in with their stories. But our historic floors are every bit as precious as the treasures around them.

Some of these floorboards have been underfoot for centuries, and caring for them takes a watchful eye. Our House Custodians regularly monitor their condition, and we even have a carefully kept store of original boards salvaged from other restoration projects. Should a board split or need replacing, we can select one that matches in width, colour and wear, helping to preserve the character of these remarkable rooms.

It's a lovely reminder that sometimes it's the less glamorous, everyday jobs that make all the difference.

So here's a well-deserved shout-out to our brilliant Housestaff, who work tirelessly to keep Stowe looking its best, right down to the boards beneath our feet!


Stowe School

19/10/2026

Half-term can be as shifty as those pesky poltergeists: you never quite know which week it’ll land! But if you’re off with the children over the next three days, we’ve got a Howl-O-Ween day out for you.👻

Follow our Pug in a Pickle trail, enjoy some creepy crafts and browse our spooky Blind Date with a Book picks for young readers. The trail and crafts are included with admission, and the books are available to buy for a bargain.

We’re open today to Wednesday, 10.30am–4.30pm, then again Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, 10.30am–3.30pm.

Bring the Mystery Machine straight to the House. Pre-book your tickets and parking to make your visit a little less draining, fangtastic! 🧛

🎟️ Book here: bit.ly/VisitStoweHouse

12/10/2026

Last-minute tickets are still available for Michael Bevington’s talk at Stowe House this week, bringing our Vanbrugh300 lecture series to a fascinating close.

Book now: bit.ly/SHLectureMB
Thursday 15th, 6.00pm
Only £3.50