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.
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire blends historic university city charm with scenic countryside and heritage sites.
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.
Poisons, Potions and Plants Trail
17 Oct–1 Nov, 5–8 Nov
Visitors can follow an outdoor trail at Canons Ashby and discover spooky stories about plants such as deadly nightshade and witch hazel. The trail is aimed at families and includes a small gift at the end.
Near Canons Ashby
Canons Ashby House is a Grade I listed Elizabethan manor house located in Northamptonshire, featuring notable Jacobean plasterwork, historic family interiors, formal gardens, and the remains of a medieval priory church. It combines rich history with architectural and artistic heritage.
Meet Rembrandt: A slow looking experience
7 Oct–8 Nov (another 30 days)
Visitors can spend time looking at Rembrandt van Rijn’s *Self-portrait in a Feathered Bonnet* with a free audio guide as part of a slow-looking experience at Upton House.
Near Upton House and Gardens
Upton House and Gardens in Warwickshire is a 1930s honey-coloured country house featuring a world-renowned art collection and fine Chelsea porcelain, set within dramatic terraced gardens designed for leisure and pleasure. Visitors can explore the accessible ground floor of the house, extensive gardens, enjoy the Pavilion Café, and take part in family-friendly outdoor activities and seasonal events.
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.
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.
Exclusive Behind the Scenes House Tour with Cream Tea
16 Oct (next Friday)
A guided after-hours tour of Canons Ashby mansion led by the House and Collections Officer and an experienced House Guide. Attendees will see spaces and objects not usually open to visitors and hear about conservation work, followed by a cream tea.
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.
Behind the Scenes Tour
18 Oct (next Sunday)
A 60-minute guided tour of the rooms where Waddesdon Manor’s servants lived and worked, including how those spaces are used today and how the collection is conserved. The tour also visits the academic apartments, Treasury and Wine Cellars.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Upton social walks
19 Mar, 17 Apr…
Volunteer-led social walks explore the countryside around Upton House, with routes introducing participants to the local landscape, its nature and history. Two routes of different lengths and difficulty alternate throughout the year.
Near Upton House, Warwickshire
Upton House is a Grade II* listed stately home near Banbury, Warwickshire, noted for its extensive gardens, art collection including old master paintings and fine porcelain, and unique Art Deco interiors. It offers both indoor and outdoor experiences primarily as an art gallery and garden attraction managed by the National Trust.
Sir John Vanbrugh and the Making of Stowe
15 Oct (next Thursday)
Michael Bevington gives a lecture on Sir John Vanbrugh’s work at Stowe, including archaeological evidence for his buildings and his contribution to the landscape vision developed with Lord Cobham and Charles Bridgeman. The 60-minute talk is followed by audience questions.