Here are some helpful answers to frequently asked questions about visiting the house and grounds at Waddesdon Manor.
Ticketing
Lost your booking or not received your confirmation email?
If you do not receive a confirmation email and PDF tickets within an hour of making a booking, please check your spam folder.
If you still can’t find them, please email [email protected]
Gift Aid
To support the charity that cares for Waddesdon Manor, its gardens and collections, with a Gift Aid donation on your admission, you must confirm that you pay enough UK income tax or capital gains tax in the current tax year with the checkout declaration at the end of the booking process.
For more information please see Gift Aid.
Cancellations and Refunds
Please be sure that you have chosen the right date and time slot at the time of making your booking, as Waddesdon Manor are not able to offer exchanges or refunds once tickets have been purchased.
We don’t authorise, or have any control over, the sale of tickets via third-party websites. Our tickets may not be resold.
Bad weather or safety cancellation
Inevitably bad weather can affect any open-air event. If we have to cancel the event as it is unsafe to proceed (for example high wind, heavy snowfall or icy conditions), visitors will be offered an alternative date. No refunds will be offered simply if the weather isn’t very good. Any decision to cancel the event will be taken by 9am on the day of an event and communicated to ticket holders as quickly as possible.
On Arrival
Where can I park?
Our visitor car park has over 1,000 spaces and is clearly signposted upon arrival. There are dedicated spaces for Blue Badge holders and accessible parking, available on a first come basis.
How do I get from the car park to the Manor?
A regular shuttle bus service runs a circular route approximately every 10 minutes. You can pick it up from the Welcome Pavilion at the car park and get on and off at the North Fountain near the house, the Stables and back to the car park.
You can book bus tickets in advance when booking your Grounds ticket or purchase them on the day, £2.50 adult, £1.50 child for a return/all day ticket. This applies to all visitors, including National Trust, Art Fund and RHS members.
There is then a short, flat walk of 100m from the North Fountain to the house.
Alternatively, there is a hard-surface lit walking path to and from the car park that takes around 25-minutes to walk. Some parts are steep so please wear appropriate footwear. Before walking up to the Manor, you will need to show your ticket at the Welcome Pavilion where you will then be given a paper gate ticket to access the speed gate along the walking path. Please note that you will need to scan these paper tickets to open the speed gate on route to the Manor.
What time do the onsite shuttle buses run?
10am-5.30pm. The last return bus to the car park departs from the North Fountain & Stables at 5.30pm. Buses run continuously throughout the day, with an approximate 10 minute wait time at each of the bus stops.
Can I take a pushchair on the bus?
Yes, each shuttle bus has space at the front for up to three pushchairs without folding them.
Can I walk to the Manor from the car park?
Yes, there is a hard-surface footpath route linking the car park to the main gardens. It takes 20-25 minutes to walk and there are some steep sections.
Before walking up to the Manor, you will need to show your ticket either on your phone or printed out at the Welcome Pavilion where you will then be given a paper gate ticket to access the speed gate along the walking path. Please note that you will need to scan these paper tickets to open the speed gate on route to the Manor.
Can I charge my electric vehicle?
We have four spaces in the visitor car park signposted for the purpose of electric vehicle charging. Spaces are suitable for a 16A EV Type 2 charging socket. We don’t have any connecting cables, so please remember to bring yours with you. Use of the posts is free, but on a first come, first served basis.
We do not currently have any EV charging in our accessible parking bays.
More about getting here, parking & access>
Entry to the House
How do I book and enter the house at Waddesdon Manor, and do I need a ticket?
Entry to the house is by timed ticket only, to help manage visitor numbers and protect the historic interiors. Everyone needs a ticket, including National Trust members and children under 5. You can pre-book tickets online, or book them at the Welcome Pavilion near the car park, at the blue Visitor Information building near the Manor, or the Manor main entrance. Advance booking is strongly recommended, especially on weekends and during holidays, as tickets often sell out. From March to October, the last entry is 3.20–3.30pm.
Is there a Guided tour with my Ticket?
No. Once in the house you are free to explore at your own pace, our knowledgeable volunteer House Hosts are on hand to answer any questions you may have.
We also have room guides available to pick up on the door or digitally via the Bloomberg app. The Bloomberg app can be used either during your visit or from anywhere in the world. Use the guide to discover the different rooms in the Manor and to find highlighted works on display. There are also additional sections which explore the gardens, history of the Manor, and changing exhibitions as well as special audio and video content. Download the free app through your app store or start exploring online by clicking here. We recommend downloading the app ahead of your visit for ease.
There are some special tours and events which run during main season and can be booked in advance.
If you are planning to visit with 15+ people, see our Groups page
How long does it take to see the House?
We recommend a minimum of 1 hour in order to appreciate the house to its full. On average people will spend 1 hour 30 minutes visiting the house.
Is there an audio tour of the House available to hire?
An audio guide is available via the free Bloomberg app. Use the guide to discover the different rooms in the Manor and to find highlighted works on display. There are also additional sections which explore the gardens, history of the Manor, and changing exhibitions as well as special video content. Download the free app through your app store or start exploring online by clicking here. We recommend downloading the app ahead of your visit for ease.
Please bring your own headphones/earphones and device to use the Bloomberg app. A small number of loan devices are available to borrow from the main entrance of the house, but please note we are unable to provide headphones.
What can I take into the House?
To help protect Waddesdon’s historic interiors, visitors are asked to carry small bags (under 35 x 45cm) at the front of their body. Bags which exceed these measurements, including bags which are folded down to reduce their size, will not be permitted inside and must be left for free in Visitor Information. Rucksacks with frames, suitcases, and picnic hampers are also not permitted inside the house. Food and drink are not allowed inside the house to prevent accidental damage to fragile textiles. Water is available; please ask a member of staff for assistance.
Are dogs allowed in the House?
Guide dogs who are trained to support a disabled person or person with a long-term medical condition are welcome in the house. Whilst emotional support animals provide comfort, we are not obliged to permit them access on the basis of providing emotional support.
Visiting with Babies & Young Children
What is the easiest way to explore with young children?
- Should your family have any access requirements, please get in touch of your visit or speak to a member of the team on the day.
- Prams and pushchairs are not allowed inside the House as the visitor route is narrow and they could inadvertently cause damage. Prams and pushchairs can be left outside the front door of the house under cover.
- In the house, babies should be carried in a front sling or hip-carrying seat which can be provided free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
- For safety reasons, children may not be carried on shoulders during your house visit.
Where can I feed or change my child?
- Bottle feeding of babies is not allowed inside the House to protect our fragile collection of historic textiles.
- Baby changing facilities can be found in the Manor; access is via the Manor Shop. There are no baby changing facilities within the house visitor route.
- A Changing Places facility with a hoist, is available on the ground floor of the Manor via the Gift Shop. Please ask a member of staff for a radar key should you need one.
- There are designated areas around the house for feeding babies, and private facilities on the ground floor for parents who prefer privacy. Please ask a member of the house team for assistance.
- We request that parents leave potties in the Visitor Information building close to the Manor.
- Baby changing and feeding facilities are available at the Manor and Stables.
Can my child bring their bicycle?
Children under five may bring small bicycles into the grounds, but please keep to the pathways. These can also be taken on the visitor shuttle buses.
Photography in the House
What is permissible?
You are welcome to take photos and videos for personal, non-commercial use, as long as flash is turned off, to protect our light-sensitive collections. Please note that flash photography and the use of tripods are not permitted. We ask that you respect the privacy of our staff and refrain from taking pictures/ videos of them. There may be some items or displays that are on loan from other organisations who have stipulated that items cannot be photographed as part of the loan agreement. These will be clearly signposted. We may ask that you refrain from taking photographs in narrower areas of the manor to ensure other visitors are able to pass. Photoshoots and professional photography are not permitted in the house without prior agreement. To arrange a photoshoot, please contact [email protected].
Accessibility in the House
Does the House have wheelchair access?
Yes. Most areas of the house are accessible; however, there’s limited access to the Treasury via a chair lift. Our historic lift, which services the first floor, is quite limited on space and not all scooters or wheelchairs can be accommodated. We’ll be able to advise on whether your mobility aid will fit in the lift at the point of admission to the house.
On occasion, we may therefore request that a mobility scooter or wheelchair user transfer into one of our house wheelchairs upon arrival at the house entrance. However, if for any reason this isn’t possible, you’re welcome to use your own scooter or wheelchair on the ground floor.
We have wheelchairs suitable for use inside the house which are located in the main entrance and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Food and Drink
Where can I eat?
There are a variety of food and drink locations on site. Please click below for more information.
Can I bring a picnic to Waddesdon Manor?
Yes. You are more than welcome to enjoy our picnic benches or bring a blanket and enjoy the gardens. Either bring your own food or pick something up from one of our food outlets.
Grounds and Gardens
Where can I cycle?
You may cycle to the Welcome Pavilion located in the visitor car park which is accessed via Silk Street. Please dismount when you reach the Welcome Pavilion where our staff can show you where to securely leave your bike. Once you’ve obtained or shown your grounds entry ticket, you can either walk up to the Manor or take the shuttle bus.
Where am I allowed to smoke?
Smoking is prohibited within 20m of all buildings for health and safety reasons. You are permitted to smoke within the grounds and gardens, but please be respectful of other visitors and dispose of your cigarettes within the bins provided.
Dogs
Where can I walk my dog?
Dogs are welcome anywhere in the grounds with the exception of the Aviary and Woodland Playground.
For wider walks, view our Estate Map. Please enjoy the countryside responsibly by using marked paths, following the Countryside Code, keeping dogs on short leads, and using the dog waste bins provided. Some paths cross fields with livestock, so please take care.
Well behaved dogs are allowed on the shuttle buses.
Please keep dogs on short leads at all times and use the dog waste bins provided.
What buildings can my dog enter?
Well behaved dogs are allowed on the shuttle buses.
Dogs are permitted in the Stables Café however they are not allowed inside any other building including the house, shops and Manor Restaurant.
Please keep dogs on short leads at all times and use the dog waste bins provided.
Are dog water bowls available?
Dog water bowls can be found at the Welcome Pavilion, Manor Terrace and Stables.