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Last updated on 14 September 12
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Stowe Landscape Garden

  3.9/5 (13 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 £7.15 (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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Reviews and Comments

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  • 8 months ago Gary Webb said

    Vast but beautiful! I can't praise this garden enough.
    So much has been achieved with this hugely important English garden, and there is much yet to accomplish for the team. The New Inn visitor centre was opened recently and makes a lovely 'original' entrance from which to explore the gardens. Take your walking shoes - theres lots to see and it all needs exploring! The planting, architecture, statuary and views, all very classical and refreshing.

    (4.0/5)
  • about 2 years ago Anonymous said

    Great day out! Beautiful, grande gardens with lots of space and freedom. Having a picknick, relax on the lawns or play with the kids? No Problem!

    (5.0/5)
  • about 3 years ago Dave and Jane Plumb, Coventry said

    My husband and I visited your gardens today, Wednesday 12th May, we arrived just in time for the 12 o'clock tour round the gardens with David Wilson. We would just like to say what a smashing walk it was. David was full of enthusiasm and a bottomless well of information! It really made the visit much more worthwhile spending the THREE hours in his company. Please pass on our thanks to him and the next time will he stay long enough for us to treat him to a cream tea.

    Dave and Jane Plumb

    (5.0/5)
  • over 3 years ago Angela said

    Just been to Stowe today 2nd January 2010, very cold day, all the lakes frozen over with hardly any free water for the poor ducks and swans to paddle.. but it was stunning in it's wintery beauty, most of the trees were bare and there was frost everywhere.
    We walked round snapping pictures of the various monuments and admiring the scenery. There were plenty of people around but it was not crowded even though it was a lovely sunny chilly day.

    It was just the job to blow all the Christmas cobwebs away and get some fresh air and exercise after the seasons excess.
    Cold but a smashing winter's day out.

    (4.0/5)
  • almost 4 years ago Peter said

    we went on a Sunday visit in August. The weather was dry and sunny so that obviously helped a lot. I was impressed. Everything was clean and accessible, easy walking paths, lots to see as you walked round the park. There are about 50 outdoor monuments, mostly on ancient Greek or Roman themes, and some nationalistic British ones. So it is open parkland with two lakes, and 17th C ideas of history set in stone.

    (4.0/5)

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