Country houses
Bowood House: a chauffeured day
Bowood House, with the car waiting while you visit. Capability Brown was commissioned in the 1760s to create the park, with its sinuous lake, rolling lawns and fine trees. Robert Adam added the Diocletian Wing, or Orangery, to the Little House, which survives today as part of Bowood House. The chemist Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen in the laboratory at Bowood on 1 August 1774 while working there as librarian and tutor. Opening: house & Gardens open from Friday 27 March to Sunday 1 November 2026, 10:30am to 5:30pm with last admission at 4:30pm; the house itself has last entry at 4pm.
How the day runs
By road: Mayfair 1 hr 59 min, Heathrow 1 hr 35 min, Oxford 1 hr 31 min. The Manor House is the nearest hotel on our list, 12.1 miles off. Corsham Court is around 31 minutes on if you want a second house. The chauffeur waits on the estate or nearby while you see the house and gardens.
- Mayfair, London to Bowood House1 hr 59 min, 103.3 miles, in clear traffic
- Heathrow Airport to Bowood House1 hr 35 min, 90.4 miles, in clear traffic
- Oxford to Bowood House1 hr 31 min, 70.7 miles, in clear traffic
Times are for clear roads. Allow longer on event days and at peak hours.
Worth knowing
Bowood has been the home of the Lansdowne family from 1754, set within a landscape park created by Capability Brown.
Source: bowood.orgCapability Brown was commissioned in the 1760s to create the park, with its sinuous lake, rolling lawns and fine trees.
Source: bowood.orgRobert Adam added the Diocletian Wing, or Orangery, to the Little House, which survives today as part of Bowood House.
Source: bowood.orgThe chemist Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen in the laboratory at Bowood on 1 August 1774 while working there as librarian and tutor.
Source: bowood.orgThe Italianate Terrace Gardens, designed by the architect Sir Robert Smirke, were completed in 1818.
Source: bowood.orgBowood House is in Derry Hill & Studley, Wiltshire.
Source: wikidata.orgThe nearest railway station by road is Chippenham, roughly 24 minutes away by car.
Source: wikidata.orgMeasured by road, the nearest main airport is Bristol Airport, around 71 minutes and 43.4 miles away.
Source: wikidata.org
Price this journey
We have started the journey for you. Change either end to the exact address, choosing it from the suggestions, and pick a date and time to see the full price.
Questions
When is Bowood House open?
Opening: house & Gardens open from Friday 27 March to Sunday 1 November 2026, 10:30am to 5:30pm with last admission at 4:30pm; the house itself has last entry at 4pm.
Can we combine Bowood House with another house?
Corsham Court is around 31 minutes away by road.
Which railway station is handiest?
Chippenham, 24 minutes by car.
Our undertaking
- 60 min
of waiting after landing on every airport collection, without charge.
- Nothing
is added after the quote unless you ask for more on the day. Airport fees, parking and tolls are in it.
- 24 hrs
before collection, cancel or move the journey at no cost.
- In full
refunded if we ever cancel a journey, however late the notice.