  The neutron capture cross section of $^{154}$Gd was measured from 1 eV to 300
keV in the experimental area located 185 m from the CERN n\_TOF neutron
spallation source, using a metallic sample of gadolinium, enriched to 67$\%$ in
$^{154}$Gd. The capture measurement, performed with four C$_{6}$D$_{6}$
scintillation detectors, has been complemented by a transmission measurement
performed at the GELINA time-of-flight facility (JRC-Geel), thus minimising the
uncertainty related to sample composition. An accurate Maxwellian averaged
capture cross section (MACS) was deduced over the temperature range of interest
for s process nucleosynthesis modeling. We report a value of 880(50) mb for the
MACS at $kT=30$ keV, significantly lower compared to values available in
literature. The new adopted $^{154}$Gd(n,$\gamma$) cross section reduces the
discrepancy between observed and calculated solar s-only isotopic abundances
predicted by s-process nucleosynthesis models.
