Frequently asked questions

Bowhill Grounds are re-opening on Friday 3rd July and we’re looking forward to giving you a warm welcome! Outlined below are some questions you may have about your visit, our opening times and an explanation of how our new system will work so that we can ensure that our visitors and staff are safe whilst on site.

Pre-booking is essential to avoid disappointment as numbers on site are controlled especially around the courtyard area and we’ve introduced some simple rules to help you when you arrive. Booking can be done here

Safety Measures
Booking Tickets
Refreshments
Toilets
Adventure Playground
Four-legged friends

Safety Measures

When you visit we will have some new safety measures in place. We ask you to please respect the rules and guidance for your own protection and for others.

We will help to keep you feeling safe by;

  • Encouraging social distancing throughout the site for both visitors and staff with queuing areas marked where necessary
  • Providing additional cleaning of facilities
  • Operating a cashless payment system for both tickets and refreshments
  • Using perspex screens at customer windows
  • Providing hand sanitiser throughout the site
  • Completing the Good to Go accreditation scheme

We ask while you are visiting to please;

  • Pre-book a ticket before arrival
  • Be mindful of physical distancing and other visitors. We will have markers around the Courtyard and any queueing areas.
  • Use hand sanitizer when necessary. There are hand sanitizer units situated around the Courtyard, toilets and car park
  • Please do not visit if you feel unwell with any symptoms of COVID-19 or have come into contact with anyone who may have symptoms.

Booking Tickets

Why do I need to book online?

Booking online is essential to avoid disappointment and so that we are able to manage our daily visitor numbers and ensure that we comply with government guidelines, and to enable effective physical distancing especially around the Courtyard area where take away teas and coffees are available. It also means that we are able to reduce contact with staff making your visit safer for everyone.  Booking online also ensures we have a contact for you in case it is required for Track and Trace purposes.  If you do not book online it is mandatory for us to ask you for this information.

Do I need to print out my ticket?

Tickets can be printed or simply shown via smartphone on arrival

Can I book on the same day as my visit?

Yes you can book on the same day as you visit as long as there is availability. Ticket numbers are capped each day to enable effective physical distancing and car tickets are essential with each booking as parking will be limited.

Will you provide a refund or transfer for my pre-booked ticket if I need to cancel my booking?

Now that our grounds are open for business tickets with monetary value cannot be resold, exchanged, transferred to another date or refunded. If you wish to cancel a free booking please call 01750 22204 or email info@bowhillhouse.co.uk

Opening Times

Our opening times for July will be Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11am – 3pm.

Entrance Charges

For those who reside in the TD7 area, as a thank you for staying local and safe, we are offering free entry to the grounds for the days we are open in July. When booking we ask that you select the free entry ticket and that as well as your ticket you also bring proof of residence. For those travelling further than TD7 the entrance charge for the grounds will be £3 per adult with free entry for children.

What if I have a HHA, ASVA or other free entry card?

We’re looking forward to welcoming you back too, when booking please select the ‘Membership and Carer’ option and bring your current card along with you as proof of membership.

Carers can continue to access our places for free with an essential companions’ card, we would however ask that they book a ticket via the free entry option as part of the booking to allow us to control numbers on site.

What do I do on arrival?

Parking will be from the usual public car park, you will be directed here on arrival at the entry kiosk on the driveway. If you fancy a stroll, most of our walks are open to enjoy and are way marked from the entrance of the courtyard with a walks map on the information board and leaflet available on request.

There are accessible parking spaces at the front of the house, please advise on arrival at the entry kiosk and a member of staff will highlight the area to you.

Will we be able to get refreshments while we visit?

For those that are visiting the grounds we are able to offer takeaway from the Minstrel Tearoom in the courtyard. During July it will be a simple offering of hot and cold drinks, crisps, biscuits, tray bakes and ice-creams. We are hoping that we will be able to expand this as we move into August.

At the moment we are unable to provide picnic benches but we hope in the coming weeks this will change. In the meantime please bring along your blankets and enjoy your refreshments in our beautiful grounds.

Will there be toilets open on site?

Yes, we have mobile toilets for those visiting the grounds, but we would urge you if possible to go before you leave home. There will be three units on site and one of these will be accessible. If you require baby changing facilities please let a member of staff know.

Additional cleaning of toilets will take place during the day but there will also be wipes in the units which we ask you to use following your visit.

Will the Adventure Playground be open?

Unfortunately at this time we are unable to open our Playground as some remedial work is required. We will keep you updated on progress and a date for opening as soon as we can.

Can my dog visit the grounds too?

Our four-legged friends are welcome to visit the grounds with their humans but we ask that they are please kept on leads under proper control and that their owners clean up after them.