Looking for a summer holiday adventure close to home? Gather the family and join us on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August for the Vanbrugh300 Family Weekend, a lively celebration of creativity, storytelling and hands-on discovery across Stowe House and Gardens.
This special weekend forms part of the nationwide Vanbrugh300 Festival, a year-long programme celebrating the life, work and legacy of Sir John Vanbrugh. As one of six participating heritage sites, Stowe is bringing his extraordinary world to life through a packed programme of family experiences.
At the heart of the weekend are our Big, Bold & Baroque drama workshops – pre-bookable sessions taking place at 11.30am, 2.00pm and 3.30pm each day. Families will step into Vanbrugh’s imaginative universe through movement, storytelling and play, discovering how his dramatic buildings were designed to stir emotion, spark imagination and tell stories on a grand scale.
Alongside this, visitors can join guided tours of the wider house complex, running regularly throughout the day between 11.00am and 3.00pm (on the hour). These tours go beyond the main rooms to explore the working life of the estate and highlight Vanbrugh’s influence on the design and function of Stowe as a lived-in, working building, revealing spaces and stories not usually open to visitors.
On Sunday 2 August, the story continues outdoors with fast-paced, interactive storytelling performances on the South Front Lawn at 11.00am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm and 3.00pm. Meet Vanbrugh as architect, playwright, soldier and spy in a mischievous retelling full of comic chaos, audience participation and unexpected twists.
Alongside these headline experiences, visitors can explore a full day of activities including a special exhibition in the Marble Saloon, family crafts, a self-led garden trail, local pop-up food vendors and more. Entry to Stowe House is just £3 for the weekend (under 5s free), with free access to the National Trust gardens throughout.
To make the most of your visit, we strongly recommend pre-booking House admission and all workshop spaces in advance, as capacity is limited and demand is expected to be high.
Whether you come with family, friends or a community group, this is a weekend designed for sharing stories, making memories and seeing Stowe in a completely
new way.
Visit stowehouse.org to book your places and plan your visit.