Christmas 2017
Please note: information and tickets for Christmas 2018 will be available later in the year.
Tickets & prices
Most of the 18th-century furnished rooms in the house are ‘put to bed’ for conservation and cleaning from the end of October to March. We open some rooms (including the Bachelors’ Wing) beautifully decorated for Christmas, this year on a theme of an Enchanted Menagerie. We still have house tickets available to pre-book on weekdays between Christmas and New Year. House tickets up until the end of Christmas have now sold out.
Open Wed-Sun, 11 Nov - 2 Jan 2018 (closed 24-26 Dec)
Grounds
11am-6pm, Wed-Sun
From dusk, Winter Light
House
Enchanted Menagerie, decorated rooms in the house
11.30am-6pm, last entry 5.30pm
Visiting tips
Parking, shuttle buses and walking
- You may want to bring a torch too as some parking areas have limited lighting.
- There are four buses and two big bendy buses (kids love them!) continuously shuttling visitors to the house, but if you would prefer to walk the route is lit all the way.
- Our new, lit grass path has plastic matting and a woodchip surface. It is steep in places and after recent rain it has become quite muddy so we don’t advise this walk for anyone with a pushchair, wheelchair or scooter.
- Our bus queue may look long but it really does move quickly.
Staying warm
- Please wrap up in warm clothes and wear wellies or stout shoes.
- The Powerhouse, near the Manor Shop hot drinks and snacks kiosk, offers a warm place to sit and snack. You can also find warm covered seating, with sheepskins and blankets in the Wigwam cafe, where we serve hot ‘street-style’ food, cakes and drinks including mulled wine.
What’s the best time to come?
- Weekends are proving very busy during the Christmas season, if you are able to come on a weekday (Wednesday-Friday) you will find it is far less crowded here. We are open Wed-Sun until 2 Jan (except 24-26 Dec).
- Waddesdon Imaginarium light show projected onto the front of the house is better the darker it gets, we suggest it’s the last thing on your visit.
Tickets
Grounds
£10 adult, £5 child, £25 family.
National Trust and Art Fund members free
Grounds & house
All House tickets must be booked in advance for Enchanted Menagerie, decorated rooms in the house. This year there will be no House tickets for sale on the day. We advise visiting Wed-Fri.
£25 adult, £12.50 child, £62.50 family.
National Trust and Art Fund members £5 adult, £2.50 child, £12.50 family
Unmissable seasonal highlights
Waddesdon Imaginarium
11 Nov until 2 Jan 2018, dusk-6pm
From dusk, you can enjoy a new light and sound show projected onto the Manor created by the Guildhall School. Be dazzled by roaming porcelain animals, dancing musical clocks, fluttering clouds of butterflies and moths and spirited 18th-century portraits that lead you through a fantastical visual story of Waddesdon.
Electric Menagerie
11 Nov until 2 Jan 2018, 11am-6pm
Discover American artist Lauren Booth’s Electric Menagerie, light-based artworks throughout the grounds which evoke the Rothschild’s passion for natural history. See Waddesdon’s animals transformed into light, find a giant illuminated dragon, neon goats and parrots and even a flea circus as you explore the Aviary, Stables and grounds.
An Enchanted Menagerie, in the house
From 11 Nov until 2 Jan 2018, 11.30am-6pm
This year we celebrate the weird and wonderful animals of Waddesdon. See an elephant parade inspired by an 18th-century musical automaton to a life-sized zebra and trees decked with birds and mythical beasts. Please note that tickets must be booked in advance.
Family fun
Willow Lantern Walk
From 11 Nov – 2 Jan 2018
An illuminated trail down our woodland walk, featuring willow lanterns by local schools and a specially commissioned artwork by light artist Anna Whetstone.
Children's House Trail
From 11 Nov – 2 Jan 2018
Included in the children’s house ticket, pick up one of our free trails at the house entrance and have fun discovering unusual aspects of the collections.
Winter Light interactive map
Check out our interactive map showing where Lauren Booth’s artworks and other Christmas activities can be seen throughout the grounds.
Christmas food and drink
Somewhere warm to sit and snack
The Powerhouse is a heated indoor space you can take hot drinks and sit inside, feed a young baby or get children out of the cold. Opposite the Manor shop courtyard. Open 11am-6pm.
Festive afternoon tea in the Manor
11am-5pm, Wed-Sun, Sat 11 Nov – Tues 2 Jan
Savoury treats and sweet fancies served with a glass of prosecco.
Book now >
Festive Lunches in the Manor
11am-6pm, Wed-Sun, Sat 11 Nov – Tues 2 Jan
Enjoy a delicious festive lunch in the Manor Restaurant this Christmas.
Wigwam café
11am-6pm, Wed-Sun, Sat 11 Nov – Tues 2 Jan
Barney Wrobel returns in a bigger and better Wigwam Café, serving street food, hot chocolate, mulled wine and homemade cakes. Last orders 5pm.
The Treaterie
11am-6pm, Wed-Sun, Sat 11 Nov – Tues 2 Jan
Head to the Stables courtyard where you’ll find toasted marshmallows and handmade mince pies in the Treaterie. Last orders for waffles 5pm, stick waffles 5pm and pancakes 5.30pm.
Christmas shopping
Manor shop
Open 11am-6pm, Wed-Sun
You’ll find an exclusive range of bespoke jewellery, homeware, scarves, bags and more which have all been developed from objects in our collection.
Wine shop
Open 11am-6pm, Wed-Sun
Festively decorated and stocked full of great wines for your Christmas and New Year celebrations. Choose from individual bottles to boxed gift cases.
Online shop
If you can’t visit us in person then visit our online shop. With a great selection of unique gift ideas, books, stationery and food items. Together with our impressive range of Waddedson own and guest wines. Perfect for Christmas presents.
Christmas events
Christmas activities
We’ve lots of activities for all ages and tastes with late-night shopping for National Trust members, children’s trail and letter writing to Father Christmas.
Party the night away
Waddesdon Manor offers a unique atmosphere at Christmas time and the perfect venue for your party, with both the Dairy and Five Arrows Hotel offering Christmas party packages.
While the main rooms in the house are ‘put to bed’ for winter, we open some rooms beautifully decorated for Christmas. Watch this short video and see the house and grounds sparkle at Christmas.