The challenge
Stowe House’s previous website lived under the umbrella of Stowe School and other partner organisations. This made it difficult for the House to stand out as a visitor attraction in its own right.
The visual identity also followed National Trust guidelines, limiting the House’s ability to express its unique character. Stowe House Preservation Trust needed its own brand – one that would capture the textures, stories and significance of the building and its collections, while giving the team more control over content, ticketing and visitor journeys.
The solution
HdK worked closely with the Stowe House team to create a fresh, independent brand identity inspired by the building itself.
The new identity draws heavily from the texture of the building and the collection: the colours, patterns and iconography are intrinsic to Stowe House, making it a truly bespoke solution.
For the website design, HdK drew up a new streamlined sitemap that improves user experience and visitors’ engagement. Careful consideration has been given to accessibility and load speed, as well as to the site’s content which was thoroughly rewritten to fit into the new structure.
We designed and built a new website from the ground up, using WordPress. The structure was completely rethought – from streamlined site maps to simplified user journeys – and the content was rewritten to reflect the new brand tone. To achieve this, we ran workshops with the team to brainstorm user flow and key content, as well as the different functionality requirements that different types of users would expect from the site.
Visitors are now able to get familiar with the house, its collection and surroundings, and book their admission directly through the website thanks to a bespoke ticketing system. Two types of ticketing pathways were integrated, allowing users to book tickets for general admission – such as house tours and the visitor centre – and for specific events that run throughout the year.
We also developed a digital collections section to make the archive more accessible to researchers, academics and curious visitors alike.
The result
The result is a future-facing website that celebrates the past while making it easier to engage with the present.
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A visual identity that reflects the character and heritage of Stowe House
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An independent website that positions the House as a destination in its own right
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A fully integrated ticketing system, streamlining the visitor experience
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A public-facing digital collections archive for researchers and enthusiasts
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Better accessibility, faster load times, and an improved user experience
