Everything you need to know for Christmas

• Sat 14 Nov- Sun 3 Jan 2021, Wed-Sun, 12noon – 7.30pm
• Also open on Mon 21 and 28 Dec and Tue 22 and 29 Dec
• The whole property is closed 24-26 Dec 2020
• Last admission 6pm, last bus to the car park 7.30pm

• Sat 14 Nov- Wed 23 Dec, Wed-Sun, 12noon – 7pm
• Also open Mon 21 & Tue 22 Dec 2020
• Last admission 6pm, last bus to the car park 7.30pm

Grounds admission – Weekdays
• £16 Adult, £8 Child,
• £40 Family (up to 2 adults + 3 children)
• National Trust: £5 Adult, £2.50 Child

Grounds admission – Weekends
• £18.50 Adult, £9.25 Child,
• £46.25 Family (up to 2 adults + 3 children)
• National Trust: £7.50 Adult, £3.75 Child

Shuttle bus
• £1.50 Adult, 75p Child
• Free for infants under-5, Blue Badge holders and registered carer
• Wheelchair, mobility scooters, pushchairs and buggies free

Premium Parking
• £15 per car

Limited number of spaces in the private car park at the top of the hill behind the North Fountain must be booked with your Grounds admission (see map)

Advance booking online
All grounds admissions, bus tickets and premium parking spaces must be pre-booked. All visitors must have their own valid tickets, which must be produced, along with any valid membership card, to gain entry to the event

Tickets will not be on sale at Waddesdon. Anyone arriving without a booking will unfortunately be turned away

Either bring PDF tickets to be scanned on your phone or print at home and bring them with you

We don’t authorise, or have any control over, the sale of tickets via third-party websites. Our tickets may not be resold

Book tickets>

Waddesdon, like many other heritage sites and the National Trust, has lost significant income because of the coronavirus lockdown. Our ability to generate revenue relies on having visitors on site for ticket, retail and catering sales. These opportunities were curtailed while we were closed and  continue to be affected by the long-term guidance on distancing and capping visitor numbers

We have introduced a modest event charge for all visitors this Christmas, which will help cover the costs of our special programme of light installations and light trails

How much is the event charge?
£5 adults/£2.50 child weekdays
£7.50/£3 weekends

Redeeming your voucher
As a thank you for your understanding that Christmas will be a little different here this year, we will be giving every visitor a £5 adult/£2.50 child voucher to redeem in Waddesdon’s on site catering or retail outlets as well as the Five Arrows on the day of your visit. Bookings for the Five Arrows must be pre booked via their website. The Five Arrows >

Your voucher will be included in your ticket PDF and must be scanned in our shops/cafes at the time of purchase

• Vouchers must be presented along with a valid entry ticket for that day
• No minimum spend
• Vouchers cannot be used with traders in the Christmas market
• Vouchers have no cash value and no change will be given
• All unredeemed vouchers will be regarded as donations to support care of the gardens and collections at Waddesdon

All grounds admissions, bus tickets and premium parking spaces must be pre-booked online for all visitors

• National Trust, Art Fund, HHA and RHS members, and local resident pass holders must also pre-book by selecting Concessions on the ticket page
• Valid membership cards must be produced along with booking to gain entry on the day
• Free tickets for toddlers and under-5s must also be booked to avoid overcrowding
• Select the time of your arrival. This is to ensure visitor arrival is spread throughout the day
• Tickets will not be on sale at Waddesdon. Anyone arriving without a booking will be turned away

Book tickets>

Please select one of the parking, bus or walking options when you book online. Each bus has limited capacity and there will not be space for every visitor, so bus tickets must be booked in advance.

• Walking to the Manor takes about 20 mins from the car park, along a woodchip path which has a steep section
• Premium Parking spaces can be booked online, £15 per car, these are in the private car park at the top of the hill behind the North fountain, see location on map
• Bus tickets £1.50 Adult / £75p Child should be booked online with your admission tickets
• Bus tickets are valid for all journeys made on the day of your visit
• Free visitor car park includes Blue Badge parking
• Blue Badge holders and their carer must each book a bus ticket (free of charge)
• Children under-5 travel free on buses but must have a seat booked for them
• Face coverings must be worn on buses

Christmas at Waddesdon is an event presented in the natural landscape and Waddesdon is on a hill. Most visitors will walk from the car park along a wood chip path, which includes steep sections; tthis path may not be suitable for all pushchairs and buggies.

Pre-booking a Premium parking space or shuttle bus tickets at the time of booking admission tickets is recommended for those who might find the walk difficult. It is unlikely that there will be availability to book these on the day.

The Winter Light trail around the Pleasure Grounds is almost all on flat and tarmac surfaces

The When You Wish Upon a Star trail down Miss Alice’s Drive between the Woodland Café and the Stables has an unfinished surface and steep gradients which may be challenging in wet conditions

Wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first come first served basis, these cannot be reserved

Read more about accessibility at Waddesdon>

Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome in most outdoor areas. It can get crowded at peak times and there are lots of lights, cables and speakers at doggy level which may cause your dog distress. We would suggest that the experience at Christmas might not be suitable for our four legged friends. However, if leaving them behind is not an option then please read about

Bringing your dog to Waddesdon>

Treat yourself to a famous Waddesdon Christmas Afternoon Tea of savoury treats and sweet festive fancies accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine and tea of your choice. Book your teas in advance online

Festive food-to-go is available from the Treaterie at the Stables, Woodland café and Manor terrace coffee bar. Use your redeemable voucher or pay by card only. Serving until 7pm

There will be a variety of independent street food traders at the Christmas Fair

Card payments only at Waddesdon’s own outlets and stalls at the market

More about Christmas food & drink>

• Toilets are open (including at the Welcome Pavilion). We have not been able to adapt the spacing in all toilets, so please use hand sanitiser before entering and be considerate of others by keeping your distance
• The Changing Places accessible toilet within the Manor is available for those who need it. Please ask a member of shop staff to assist you
• Face coverings must be worn on the shuttle buses, at the Christmas Fair, Parallels – light in motion installation in the Coach House, in the shops, toilets, food-to-go outlets and all indoor spaces
• Please bring a face covering with you (unless you are medically exempt or under 11 years of age)
• Please wash you hands before and during your visit. We encourage you to also bring your own hand sansitiser
• Hand sanitiser is provided in both the upper and lower playground areas
• Drinking water taps are provided near the Woodland Café, Coffee Bar and at the Stables

This is an outdoor event so please ensure you wear appropriate warm, waterproof clothing and footwear

Please bring hand sanitiser and a face covering with you (unless you are medically exempt or under 11 years of age). Face coverings must be worn on the shuttle buses, at the Christmas Fair, Parallels – light in motion installation in the Coach House, in the shops, toilets, food-to-go outlets and all indoor spaces

Lighting may be low level in some areas in the grounds, so you may wish to bring a torch

See all visiting tips>

We encourage you to take photos on your visit and share them on social media with #ChristmasAtWaddesdon.

We occasionally use photographs taken at Christmas at Waddesdon for promotional purposes. If there is photography taking place on the day of your visit there will be signs to notify you and your permission will be sought before taking your photograph.