Planetarium Comes to Stowe House This Summer

If you’ve got a little space fan at home, I’ve spotted something brilliant happening just over the Northants border this summer. Stowe House is bringing back its inflatable planetarium for one day only, and with two different shows on offer, it could easily fill a whole morning or afternoon out for the family.

Stowe House is just a short drive from Northamptonshire, over in Buckingham, and it’s the kind of place that’s easy to overlook but well worth the trip — especially when there’s something a bit different on like this.

What’s Happening

On 28 August, Stowe House is welcoming back two family-friendly shows inside an inflatable planetarium, set up within the House itself. It’s a lovely way to give the kids a taste of the night sky during the day, without having to keep them up past bedtime.

We Are Aliens

This show takes families on a journey to Mars, Europa and distant exoplanets, exploring how our understanding of life on Earth helps guide the search for life elsewhere in the universe. It’s narrated by Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley from the Harry Potter films), which is a nice touch for any young Potter fans in the audience. The show runs for around 45 minutes and is suitable for children aged 6 and up.

Showtimes: 10.00am, 12.00pm and 3.00pm

An Incredible Introduction to our Night Sky

This one is a presenter-led tour of the night sky, hosted by award-winning UK Astronomy founder Ross Hockham. Expect a breathtaking projection of the stars all around you, a guide through our neighbouring constellations and solar system, and even a look into deep space. It’s interactive, with time built in for questions, so it could be a great option if your children like to get involved rather than just watch. Also around 45 minutes long and suitable for families with children 6+.

Showtimes: 11.00am, 2.00pm and 4.00pm

Good to Know Before You Go

• Tickets are £6.50 per show, per person
• Children must be 6 or older — no under 6s are permitted
• All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times
• Guests need to be able to walk unaided, as all seating is on the planetarium floor
• Arrive 10 minutes before your show — once it begins, there’s no entry due to the air-sealed setup
• Your ticket is only valid for your chosen time slot, so try not to be late
• This ticket covers the planetarium show only — it doesn’t include access to the Stowe House State Rooms, Discovery Centre, or the National Trust Stowe Gardens

Because it’s one day only with set showtimes, I’d recommend booking ahead if this is one for your calendar — especially if you want a particular time slot to fit around nap times or other plans.

Where and When

• Date: 28 August 2026
• Venue: Stowe House, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18 5EH
• Price: From £6.50 per show

This looks like a really easy way to add a bit of science and wonder into the summer holidays, and it’s the kind of day that could work well paired with a wander round the wider Stowe estate if you fancy making a full day of it. If you’re after more ideas to fill those summer holiday days, don’t forget I share the best family events across Northamptonshire (and just over the border, like this one) every week in my what’s on newsletter — it’s a handy way to keep on top of what’s coming up without having to search for it yourself.

And if you need a few backup ideas for the days when you’re staying closer to home, my free Rainy Day Ideas Pack is there to help fill the gaps.

The events listed in this guide are run by third-party organisers, and all details were correct at the time of publication, based on information from their official websites. However, changes or cancellations can happen at short notice. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend double-checking the event information on the official websites before making plans.