May half-term: Shrapnel Boys Museum Trail

Join us at Stowe House this May half-term as we team up with Kids in Museums and Usborne for a free, family-friendly museum trail exploring children’s lives on the WWII Home Front—part of a month of events marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Best still, kids go free with a paying adult.

There’ll also be make-and-take poppy craft activities and a classic Dad Joke competition where you can submit your silliest ideas – winners will feature on our social media channels. Haven’t heard of what a Dad joke is? Well, let us explain… A Dad joke is a groan-worthy, pun-filled one-liner that’s so bad, it’s actually good. Here’s an example to get you started – and yes, we’ve made it suitably Stowe:

Why don’t secrets last long at Stowe House?
Because even the statues have ears!

Note: Within the May half-term holiday, the house will only be open from 25-28 May and 1 June.

Cost: The activity is free of charge. Normal admission applies.

Family-friendly facilities: baby change; café; lift for access with pushchairs; dress up and interactive play in our museum; picnic tables outside our visitor centre with lawn to play on.

Don’t fancy a big walk with little legs?

We understand that with little ones a walk through the National Trust Garden to the House can be daunting (whilst full of snacks, pitstops and bribery!). To make things a little easier, pre-book your admission tickets and you can arrange parking which is close to the house via a separate entrance to Stowe. Ta-da, happy faces all round.

Alternatively, enjoy the fresh air and let the kids run off some steam with a big day out at Stowe.