Garden Finder > England > Buckinghamshire > Stowe Landscape Garden

Last updated on 31 October 08
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Stowe Landscape Garden

  3.8/5 (6 ratings)

Gardenvisit Editorial

Stowe evolved from an English Baroque garden into a pioneering landscape park. The progression is of the greatest interest. Although the end result does not have quite the drama which one might expect from such a famous place, there are many fine buildings and composed scenes. In the 1690s Stowe had a modest early-Baroque parterre garden, owing more to Italy than to France. This has not survived. In the 1710s and '20s Charles Bridgeman (garden designer) and John Vanburgh (architect) designed an English Baroque park, inspired by the work of London, Wise and Switzer. In the 1730s William Kent and James Gibbs were appointed to work with Bridgeman, who died in 1738. Kent and Gibbs designed more temples. Stowe began to evolve into a series of natural pictures, to be appreciated from a perambulation rather than from a central point. Kent's Temple of Ancient Virtue (1734) looks across the Elysian Fields to the Shrine of British Worthies. A Palladian Bridge was made in 1744. In the 1741 Lancelot 'Capability' Brown was appointed head gardener. He worked with Kent until the latter's death in 1748 and his own departure in 1751. Bridgeman's Octagonal Pond and Eleven Acre Lake were given a 'natural'shape. Brown made a Grecian Valley which, despite its name, is an abstract composition of landform and woodland. As Loudon remarked in 1831, 'nature has done little or nothing; man a great deal, and time has improved his labours'. Stowe is said to be the first English garden for which a guide book was produced. The Cobham monument has been restored and shows the owner in Roman dress.
Address - Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, MK18 5EH
Opening times - March to October - open 10:30am to 5:30pm Wednesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays. November to February - open 10:30am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. Closed Christmas.
Admission - Adult £6.90 (includes voluntary gift aid donation)
Website - Visit the Stowe Landscape Garden website

Designers and Influences

This garden has been designed and influenced by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, William Kent, Charles Bridgeman

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Recent Reviews

  • 2 days ago gianfranco said

    We visited the gardens on spec on a foggy November day. As we parked the car, the mists blew away, the sun shone in its winter glory, and we thoroughly enjoyed a strong walk through the park. Obviously, no flowers, but stunning scenery, interesting monuments - particularly the gothic church - a great afternoon out! We'll be back in the Spring!

    Gianfranco and Marian, very active and of pensionable age

    (4.0/5)
  • 4 months ago Daniel Robert Macey Simpson said

    When me and my friend recently visited stowe gardens it was a beautiful sunny day, which really brought out the life in the tree's. Of course, we were really high by that point. After riding our motorcycles and parking we rolled two fat joints and found a nice shady cove to dwell in whilst we smoked the little peice of our own Botanics! Around ten minutes after indulging the fine green, we found ourselves plodding our way to the nearest temple building and ravaging our packed lunches.It was so nice to see all the children playing and adults smiling whilst we two high boys enjoyed our meal, there was even a small caravan of pony riders which trotted past to our stoned amusement. With pink eyes and hungry stomachs we journeyed to the cafe'. To our high horror, there was an tremendous que, and no air-con, we tried to cut in front of a few people, but a lady put us in line, and being too high to argue, we fell back. after what seemed like forever, we had devoured three ice creams... EACH! and the girl at the till was exceedingly pretty, but as we were too high to act on this impulse, we continued our day. After a blurry 30 minutes, we reached a bench, which was good as we were both very worn out from all the giggling we had been doing non-stop. We rested on the bench, exchanging grins and hysterics for a while gazing into the eyes of passer-by's then decided we were both too high to stay here, so off we crawled, back to our motorcycles to end the day.
    Stowe in a nutshell was a fantastic day out whether your baked with your best friend, walking with your wife, or spending time with your kids, the only bone i had to pick was ther was no water fountains!!!

    (5.0/5)
  • 9 months ago Adam Hodge said

    Is this a garden or a landscape ? Definetly the latter ! I felt it was like an overblown Rousham.

    One is drawn from one vista to another through this other worldly romantic landscaped space ! Lovely, and yet a tad bizarre or at odds with todays agressive life and restrictive beurocracy.

    I love the space, romance, adventure and wonderful charm but at the end of the 'journey' getting back into the car is a rude snap back to reality.

    (3.0/5)
  • 11 months ago William said

    What's the point in arguing over what to call Stowe? Its a beautiful place and the Palladian Bridge is brilliant.

    (4.0/5)
  • 11 months ago George89 said

    No, 'landscape garden' is the best name for Stowe. It was designed as an 'enclosed place' (ie a garden) but it was inspired by paintings of classical landscapes.

    (4.0/5)

See all the reviews of Stowe Landscape Garden