Bowood
The Bowood Estate, between Calne and Chippenham, is now welcoming back visitors to its Adventure Playground and 100 acres of Pleasure Grounds. With advance booking of entrance tickets, this first phase of re-opening Bowood House & Gardens to the general public will see visitors enjoying summer days outdoors once more at Wiltshire’s landmark family attraction.
To ensure that visitor numbers can be safely managed, visitors will be required to book their tickets online ahead of arrival at www.bowood.org/bowood-house-gardens/tickets/
Access to the Adventure Playground will be controlled using a timed, wristband system – wristbands will be allocated at Admissions on arrival, giving each family the chance to access the Adventure Playground for two hours during the course of their visit.
Session 1: 11.15am to 1.15pm
Session 2: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Session 3: 3.45pm to 5.45pm.
Within the surrounding ‘Capability’ Brown parkland there will be plenty to delight children and adults alike at Bowood as lockdown restrictions relax. Adventurous playtime will extend across the life-size Pirates’ Galleon, dare-devil slides and aerial walkways while more sedate pursuits will include picnicking; enjoying the rose garden on the Italianate Terraces fronting Bowood House; discovering the parkland that appeared in Poldark and the lake where Sanditon’s regatta scenes were filmed; strolling past the Cascade and on to the lakeside Doric Temple and marvelling at the historic trees within the Arboretum.
Bowood has been among the first to receive VisitBritain’s ‘We’re Good to Go’ accreditation. Launched on 25 June, this UK-wide industry standard assures the public that businesses can demonstrate adherence to the respective government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and checked that they have the required processes in place.
Bowood Estate Manager Marcus Lee said: “As people venture out again we are confident that Bowood’s very own special experience of being outdoors and surrounded by nature will – now more than ever – lift spirits and boost wellbeing.”
Those looking to a UK staycation can visit Bowood Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, just a mile away from the House & Gardens on the Estate. The Hotel re-opened to guests on Monday 6 July and the Spa is set to do so on Saturday 25 July.
Quintessentially English, Bowood has been home to the Lansdowne family since 1754. Bowood House (characterised by its Robert Adam-designed façade) first opened to the public in 1975. Since then, and with its Adventure Playground added into the equation, Bowood attracts some 120,000 visitors each year, with the five millionth welcomed in summer 2019.
