Stowe House is opening parts of its historic interiors that are normally beyond the visitor route this October, including the Gothic Library and Japan Room, as part of special Secrets of Stowe tours.
The tours, running from 24 to 30 October, will also reveal eighteenth-century wall paintings uncovered by conservators on the East Grand Staircase Landing. The latest discovery still requires further funding for conservation, giving visitors an opportunity to see both the work already completed and what remains to be done.
The Gothic Library was designed by architect Sir John Soane, while the Japan Room provides another example of the layers of architectural and decorative history within the house.
Stowe House says the special tours are intended to take visitors behind the scenes and explore spaces that are not normally open to the public. The tours last one hour, with parts of the route accessed by staircase and therefore potentially unsuitable for visitors with limited mobility.
Adult tickets for Secrets of Stowe cost £15, with child tickets priced at £6. Advance booking is required.
A closer look at Vanbrugh’s Stowe
The special tours form part of a wider programme at Stowe this autumn, including an exhibition examining the work and influence of Sir John Vanbrugh.
Stowe and Sir John Vanbrugh: Architecture, Politics and Power runs from 19 October to 01 November, exploring the architect’s designs, political connections and contribution to the development of Stowe.
The exhibition is included with House admission and features historic illustrations, newly commissioned photographs and original plans.
The programme is part of Vanbrugh300, a year-long celebration marking 300 years since Vanbrugh’s death. Stowe is one of six historic places associated with the architect taking part in the national programme.
Vanbrugh’s relationship with Stowe dates to the early eighteenth century, when he worked with Richard Temple, Viscount Cobham, as the estate was transformed into one of the country’s most ambitious country houses and landscapes. His surviving work at Stowe forms part of a much larger architectural story involving successive generations of owners and architects.
Alongside the exhibition, Michael Bevington will give a talk on 15 October examining Vanbrugh’s role in the making of Stowe and the architectural and landscape ideas that shaped its development.
Visiting Stowe this autumn
The house continues to offer guided visits to its State Rooms, where the architecture and interiors provide an insight into the ambitions and lives of the families associated with Stowe.
Standard House admission is £9.50 for adults, with National Trust adult members paying £7.50. Children aged six to 16 pay £3, while admission is free for Historic Houses members.
The House is open daily from 10.30am to 4.30pm until 26 October, with winter hours of 10.30am to 3.30pm from 27 October. Stowe advises visitors to check the booking calendar before travelling because the building occasionally closes for school or private events.
The house and gardens have separate visitor arrangements, while Stowe House’s admission income supports the independent charity responsible for running and restoring the building.
For visitors travelling from Oxfordshire, Stowe’s position near Buckingham makes it a potential day trip for those interested in historic houses, architecture and cultural heritage.
