Bowood House & Gardens |
||||||||||
|
People come again and again to rediscover the enchantment of Bowood - a family stately home embracing a whole world of fascination in the splendour of a bygone age. Fine rooms filled with superb furniture, porcelain and family heirlooms collected over the centuries. The Adam Orangery, originally designed as a conservatory for orange and lemon trees, is now a magnificent gallery for important 18th and 19th century works as well as Old Masters.
The Chapel, designed by Sir
Charles Cockerell, is still used for family services; the great Adam Library holds over 5,000 leather-bound volumes; and the Sculpture Gallery, furnished with superb Flemish tapestries, is remarkable for its collection of classical and 19th century marbles. You will see the Bowood laboratory where Dr Joseph Priestley, tutor to the 1st Marquess of Lansdowne's son, discovered oxygen in 1774.
The Exhibition Rooms contain fascinating displays of furniture, pictures, ivory, costumes, silver, miniatures and other family heirlooms from
Georgian times to the Indian Raj. Among the most exciting exhibits are Napoleon's death mask, Byron's Albanian costume, the glittering Kieth jewels and an exceptional collection of English watercolours, including works by Bonnington and Turner.
Glorious Parkland to Explore
The house and grounds of Bowood lie within one of Britain's most beautiful parks designed by 'Capability' Brown. Gently sloping lawns stretch away from the terraced rose garden to the tranquil lake beyond, while other splendours include the Arboretum,
Pinetum, Doric Temple, Cascade Waterfall and Hermit's Cave. The Rhododendron Walks
Bowood's Rhododendron Walks are situated in a separate spectacular 50-acre garden 3 miles from the house. This woodland garden of azaleas and rhododendrons is considered to be one of the most exciting gardens of its type in the country and is open during the six week flowering season from late April to early June.For the Children
Children under 12 love spending the
whole day at Bowood playing in one of the finest adventure playgrounds in the country. Here is adventure, fun and excitement galore aboard the life-size pirate ship, complete with rigging and crow's nest! There's an amazing Space Dive (for those who dare), giant slides, chutes, trampolines, high level rope-walks - and lots more besides to keep children happy for hours on end!
|
Opening Times
|
|
(2006 times)
1st April to 31st October:Daily, 11.00am - 6.00pm. Last admission 5.00pm or an hour earlier after the autumn clock change. |
|
Admission Charges
|
|
(2006 prices)
House and Gardens:Adult £7.50; Senior Citizen £6.50; Child 2-4yrs £3.80; Child 5-15 yrs £5.00. Group Rates: Adult £6.50; Senior Citizen £5.50; Child 2-4 yrs £3.00; Child 5-12yrs £4.00. Rhododendron Walks: Adult £4.70; Senior Citizen £4.30. £1.00 discount if combined with a visit to the House & Gardens on the same day. Children under 16yrs Free. |
|
Directions
|
|
House & Gardens Entrance off the A4 in Derry Hill Village, midway between Calne and Chippenham. Sorry, no Dogs. Rhododendron Walks: Entrance off the A342 Chippenham to Devizes Road, midway between Derry Hill and Sandy Lane Villages. Sorry, no dogs. |
| Show map of Bowood House & Gardens... |
|
Nearby Attractions
|
|
Castle Combe Circuit
(9 Miles)*
Since its opening in 1950, some of the most famous names in motor racing have left their tyre tracks around Castle Combe's challenging tarmac. |
|
Courts Garden
(9 Miles)*
The Courts is a peaceful family garden with its roots in the past. From the bustling high street of Holt, you pass through an unassuming gateway into a quiet corner. |
|
Lydiard House & Park
(12 Miles)*
Lydiard Park, the ancestral home of the Viscounts Bolingbroke, lies in beautiful parkland within easy reach of junction 16 on the M4. The Palladian house, church, formal parkland and surrounding pasture are the striking remains of a great estate. |
| more nearby attractions... |
|
Nearby Hotels
|
|
Travelodge Chippenham Leigh Delamere M4 Eastbound is located on the M4, close to Chippenham, and provides contemporary quality accommodation and an ideal base for exploring the Wiltshire countryside. Swindon, Bath and Bristol are all within easy reach. |
|
The Methuen Arms is an elegant town house hotel set in the pretty market town of Corsham, only eight miles from Bath. All 24 rooms are individually decorated with ensuite facilities. |
|
A short drive through the medieval wool town of Bradford on Avon brings you upon this magnificent Jacobean Manor House. |
| more nearby hotels... |
|
Nearby Self Catering
|
Copyright © 1999-2008 Excelsior Information Systems Limited.
All rights reserved.
Press Room Terms of Use Privacy Link to Us Self-Catering Advertising Index Site Map

