This November, Christmas at Waddesdon—the much-loved festive extravaganza in Buckinghamshire—returns with magical lights and music, the gardens aglow and more for visitors to enjoy than ever:
- The Manor is back! Admire sparkling decorations and themed displays inside the house for the first time since 2019
- A new route around the house takes visitors through the magnificent Red Drawing Room, Dining Room and Conservatory, all magically transformed for the first time at Christmas
- See Waddesdon’s spectacular landscape brought to life as the longest-ever illuminated light trail winds through the grounds
- Immersive light installations to captivate the senses create a new family-friendly exhibition at the Coach House Gallery
- Enjoy unique seasonal shopping as Waddesdon’s traditional Christmas Fair returns from 12 Nov – 18 Dec
- Discover our new, bespoke Food Village and indulge in a fabulous selection of takeaway food and drink to enjoy whilst exploring the grounds
Inside the Manor
Built to entertain on a spectacular scale, where better to inspire than Waddesdon Manor? After a two-year break, Christmas returns to the house with lavishly decorated rooms offering plenty to delight and surprise visitors of all ages.
Step inside a Waddesdon-inspired wonderland and see the magnificent setting of the Red Drawing Room, Dining Room and Conservatory sumptuously decorated for the first time as you follow a new route through the house.
Traditionally, much of the Manor is ‘put to bed’ for cleaning and conservation over the winter, so the decorated rooms on display this Christmas offer visitors a uniquely different experience of Waddesdon. Each room celebrates an aspect of the house, its history and its collections to mark 20 years since the Manor first opened at this time of year.
From famous portraits to beautiful porcelain, festive decorations will take inspiration from the Manor’s many treasures, and, in the Dining Room, a newly commissioned peacock sculpture by renowned paper artist Andy Singleton will create an additional sense of wonder. Along the route, a series of light installations reflecting Waddesdon’s outdoor displays—including suspended butterfly lights and a corridor of illuminated clouds—link the indoors and outdoors together and bring a touch of Winter Light magic to the Manor at the most wonderful time of the year.
In the Grounds
Outside, Waddesdon’s spectacular landscape and magnificent trees are brought to life with a kaleidoscope of colour, lights and music as the longest-ever illuminated light trail fills the grounds.
This year’s displays feature mesmerising new light installations alongside some seasonal favourites. As twilight falls, highlights include the spectacle of the Manor’s façade illuminated with dancing lights set to music and the gardens glowing with a cascading field of flames, a tunnel of twinkling stars (the perfect photo opportunity) and colour-changing, interactive stepping stones.
Elsewhere, Daffodil Valley will be transformed with over 5,000 orbs adorning the hillside to create a glittering blanket of lights, which turns into a sea of animation set to music. For keen Instagrammers, a new ‘WADDESDON’ selfie spot—with a huge sign of illuminated letters—is also sure to be a hit. Don’t forget to tag posts with #ChristmasAtWaddesdon.
At the Stables, visitors will encounter a giant 22 ft Christmas tree composed of over 10,000 colour-changing pixels creating festive imagery. Inside the Coach House Gallery, a new immersive light experience of installations exploring colour, patterns and reflections in light and sound will deliver a captivating sensory experience for all the family.
Christmas Fair
Another much-anticipated highlight of the season is Waddesdon’s popular Christmas Fair (12 Nov – 18 Dec). Housed in charming wooden chalets decked with over 1,000 meters of festoon lighting, visitors will be able to browse over 80 specially chosen artisan stalls offering the very finest—and often unique—gifts and decorations. Against the backdrop of the floodlit Manor, it’s a shopping experience not to be missed.
There will also be an exclusive assortment of homeware, food, gifts and world-renowned Rothschild wines to purchase in the Waddesdon gift shops. New for this Christmas, the popular Waddesdon Rothschild Collection range of own-label wines has been redesigned and expanded to include an exemplary English sparkling wine, small batch and limited-edition gins, chocolate, honey, beer and local chilli oils, jams and chutneys, all produced exclusively for Waddesdon.
All profits go towards the upkeep of Waddesdon, a Rothschild House and Gardens.
Food Village
Also new for 2022, a dedicated, bespoke Food Village (12 Nov – 2 Jan) will complement the traditional Christmas Fair, offering visitors a fabulous selection of takeaway food and drink to enjoy whilst exploring the grounds.
For an extra special treat, there will also be Christmas afternoon teas in the Manor Restaurant, fish and chips at the Stables and a delicious assortment of homemade cakes and biscuits, including unbeatable crumble-topped mince pies, created in-house by Waddesdon’s talented chefs.
Pippa Shirley, Director of Waddesdon, says: “Waddesdon is breathtaking at any time of year, but at Christmas, it has a particular magic. We are really delighted to be reopening the House again, after a break of two years and now with some of the most magnificent rooms included on the route for the first time, and to be extending the festive light trail in the grounds, which brings our extraordinary landscape to life in a completely different way. I really hope that this year there is something to surprise and delight everyone, whether a first-time visitor or one of the many who tell us that their Christmas begins at Waddesdon. It’s a place where memories are made.”
OPENING DATES, TIMES AND TICKETS
All visits to the grounds and house must be pre-booked online to avoid disappointment, including for National Trust members.
Christmas at Waddesdon
Wednesday–Sunday, 12 November 2022–2 January 2023 (inc. 19, 20, 27 Dec & 2 Jan 2023), 12–7 pm
NB. the whole property is closed from 24 to 26 Dec
Decorated rooms in the house
Wednesday–Sunday, 12 November 2022–2 January 2023 (inc. 19, 20, 27 Dec & 2 Jan 2023), 12.30–7pm (last entry 6.30pm)
NB. advance booking of timed tickets is essential for all house visitors, including National Trust members.
Illuminated light trail in the grounds
Wednesday–Sunday, 12 November 2022–2 January 2023 (inc. 19, 20, 27 Dec & 2 Jan 2023), 12–7pm (last entry 6pm)
NB. the Winter Light trail will continue in the grounds from 6–22 Jan 2023, Fri to Sun.
Christmas Fair
Wednesday–Sunday, 12 November 2022–18 December 2022, 12–7 pm (last entry 6 pm)
NB. included with Grounds entry or House & Grounds entry
Food Village
Wednesday–Sunday, 12 November 2022–2 January 2023 (inc. 19, 20, 27 Dec & 2 Jan 2023), 12–7pm (last entry 6pm)
NB. included with Grounds entry or House & Grounds entry
Prices from: £18.20 Adult, £9.10 Child (Grounds only) | £32.70 Adult, £16.35 Child (House & Grounds)
National Trust member prices from £5 Adult, £2.50 Child (Grounds only) | £7.50 Adult, £3.75 Child (House & Grounds)
Full details of prices and online booking information, are here: www.waddesdon.org.uk/christmas
