Guided Tours at Stowe Gardens
31 Mar–2 Apr, 7–9 Apr…
Join a volunteer-led guided tour at Stowe Gardens to learn about the gardens’ history. Tours last approximately one hour to 90 minutes and begin at Bell Gate.
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a scenic ceremonial county in South East England known for its historic market towns, natural beauty in the Chiltern Hills, cultural landmarks like Bletchley Park, and strong rail and public transport connections.
Near Stowe House
Stowe House is a lavish historic English country house known for its pioneering 21st-century restoration project, set within the renowned Stowe landscape with enchanting gardens. Visitors can explore the interior of the house and enjoy accessible facilities and food options onsite.
Relaxed House Openings
9 Oct
A relaxed opening of Waddesdon Manor’s historic house, with reduced noise, no videos and flexible entry and exit times for visitors who would benefit from a calmer visit. It is designed for neurodivergent adults and children, along with their family, friends or carers.
The Rothschild Story
7–11 Oct, 14–18 Oct…
An interactive display explores the history and family tree of the Rothschild family, including their connections to Waddesdon Manor and their interests in art, horticulture, nature and sustainability.
Near Waddesdon
Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire is a French Renaissance-style château set in expansive Victorian gardens featuring ornate fountains, a rococo aviary, and a woodland playground. Visitors can explore the impressive art collection inside the manor, enjoy family-friendly outdoor activities, guided garden walks, and dine at onsite restaurants and cafes.
October Half Term - Stranger Folk at Hughenden
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Families can use the Stranger Folk app to follow an interactive adventure inspired by British folklore at Hughenden, working together to heal a rift between the human and spirit worlds. The story features characters such as a mysterious Old Crone, goblins and boggarts.
Near Hughenden
Hughenden Manor is a Victorian mansion and former country house of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, featuring historic rooms, memorabilia, and extensive gardens in Buckinghamshire. Now owned by the National Trust, it offers visitors a blend of indoor historical experience and outdoor natural beauty with views over the valley.
A Rothschild Treasury: Tours
10 Oct (this Saturday)
A 45-minute guided tour explores selected objects in A Rothschild Treasury, sharing stories about their history and the Rothschild family’s collecting tradition.
Near Waddesdon Manor
Waddesdon Manor is a Grade I listed Neo-Renaissance country house in Buckinghamshire, England, managed by the National Trust and owned by the Rothschild Foundation. It features remarkable art collections, formal gardens, an aviary, and historic wine cellars, with public access including exhibitions, dining, and child-friendly activities.
Creepy Chilterns
7 Oct–2 Nov (another 24 days)
A self-guided trail for children aged 8–12 exploring myths, legends and mysterious folklore of the Chiltern Hills. Participants explore Hughenden’s house and gardens, uncover ghostly tales and local legends, and encounter magical creatures.
The Great Big Halloween Hunt Trail
3 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A family activity trail in Hughenden’s formal gardens, inspired by the children’s book The Great Big Halloween Hunt. Children can search, play and explore along the route.
October Half Term – Stranger Folk at Cliveden
3 Oct–8 Nov (another 30 days)
Families can use the Stranger Folk app to play an interactive folklore adventure around Cliveden, encountering goblins and other creatures. The event also includes scheduled children’s craft drop-ins and age-appropriate storytelling sessions.
2 miles from Wallasea Island
Wallasea Island is a wildlife-rich nature reserve featuring saltmarsh, mudflats, lagoons and grasslands that support a variety of birds, mammals and invertebrates. Visitors can explore multiple walking trails and wildlife viewing hides in a well-managed outdoor habitat with good wheelchair accessibility. Dogs are permitted on one trail on a short lead, and no food facilities are available onsite.
Located in High Wycombe
High Wycombe is a historic market town in Buckinghamshire, England, known for its rich furniture-making heritage, cultural attractions, and green spaces in the Chiltern Hills. It offers a walkable town centre with shopping centres, museums, parks, and theatres alongside good public and rail transport connections.
David Garrick: His life, his times and his Temple
11 Oct (this Sunday)
A fully illustrated talk by Ellis Jones explores the life of actor David Garrick, his Temple to Shakespeare, and his connections with France and the Huguenots. The talk takes place at the Dairy at Waddesdon Manor.
3 miles from Nether Winchendon House
Nether Winchendon House is a Grade I listed Medieval and Tudor manor house in Buckinghamshire, featuring historic architecture and surrounded by extensive gardens and parkland. Visitors can tour the house on selected dates by pre-booking.
Tiny Tots Halloween Trail
9 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A Halloween activity trail around New Inn for children aged six and under, with playful actions such as walking like a mummy, flapping like a bat and meowing like a cat.
Near Stowe Gardens
Stowe Gardens in Buckinghamshire are a prestigious English landscape garden featuring extensive parkland, architectural monuments, classical temples, and historical structures designed by prominent 18th-century architects and gardeners. Managed by the National Trust, the gardens offer a significant outdoor visitor experience with preserved landscapes and classical architecture, a visitor centre, and a rich heritage of garden design.
'The Polar Failure': Uncovering the hidden images of the 1875 Arctic expedition
7 Oct 2026–28 Jun 2027 (another 262 days)
An immersive exhibition at Hughenden Manor explores Britain’s 1875 Arctic expedition through more than 100 historic photographs, rare objects and narration. Visitors can learn about the journey and the experiences of the crews of HMS Alert and HMS Discovery.
2 miles from West Wycombe
West Wycombe is a historic village in Buckinghamshire known for its National Trust properties including West Wycombe Park, caves, the Mausoleum on the hill, and St Lawrence's Church with a unique golden globe tower. The village has notable historical architecture and attracts tourists with its blend of indoor exhibits and outdoor heritage sites.
Saved for the Nation
7–11 Oct, 14–18 Oct…
A display celebrating the transfer to the National Trust of two paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds: portraits of Joanna Leigh and the actor David Garrick. It also explains the Acceptance in Lieu scheme through which the works entered the national collection.
David Garrick and Huguenot music in England
11 Oct (this Sunday)
Bloomsbury Baroque present a concert celebrating actor David Garrick and his connections with France and the Huguenot community. Music by distinguished composers is interspersed with short narratives about Garrick and the Huguenots.
Autumn Boating at Cliveden
8–11 Oct, 15–18 Oct…
Visitors can take a boat trip on the River Thames at Cliveden, choosing from self-drive electric launches, a skippered cruise, pedal boats, rowing boats or Canadian canoes. The event also highlights Cliveden’s historic association with boating on the Thames.
Near Cliveden
Cliveden House is a historic Italianate mansion in Buckinghamshire managed by the National Trust with extensive formal gardens, woodlands, and themed outdoor areas. It features a richly decorated interior with notable rooms and art, a historic clock tower, and a unique outdoor maze. The estate provides diverse visitor experiences including house tours, garden walks, family-friendly activities, and dining options.
Autumn-Winter Outdoor Play at Dunstable Downs
7 Oct 2026–28 Feb 2027 (another 142 days)
Families can enjoy outdoor play at Dunstable Downs, including a welly wander, building woodland dens, making muddy creations, and playing outdoor hopscotch while exploring seasonal changes and wildlife.
Near Dunstable Downs
Dunstable Downs, the highest point in Bedfordshire, is a chalk escarpment in the Chiltern Hills offering outdoor activities like gliding and kite flying, with rich natural history and ancient archaeological sites. It is managed by the National Trust and accessible via walking trails.
Zombies of Lamport Trail
9 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Follow a zombie-themed trail through Stowe Gardens, solving puzzles to help a scientist find an antidote and clear the zombies from Lamport. The trail is designed for children aged 6 and over.
2 miles from Buckingham Chantry Chapel
Buckingham Chantry Chapel is a historic 15th-century chapel in Buckingham, noted for its Norman doorway and status as the oldest building in town. Owned by the National Trust, it is currently open to the public as a second-hand bookshop, offering visitors insight into medieval ecclesiastical architecture and local heritage.
Weighbridge Second-hand bookshop pop-ups and seasonal displays
7–8 Oct, 31 Oct…
Visitors can browse second-hand books and seasonal displays at the Weighbridge bookshop, including pop-ups themed around poetry, Halloween, remembrance, Christmas and Jane Austen Day.
Near Cliveden
Cliveden is a historic estate in Buckinghamshire featuring impressive formal gardens, extensive woodlands, and limited guided tours of the house which is now a luxury hotel. Visitors can enjoy family-friendly activities including walking trails, a play area, boating on the Thames, and cafés. The site offers accessibility features and welcomes dogs in many areas.