Summer adventures for families at Waddesdon Manor

Children running through the gardens at a National Trust site

Wednesday to Sunday this July and August bring the whole family to enjoy your summer school holiday. With the grounds to explore, our magical woodland playground and plenty of open green spaces to run about in, you'll be guaranteed a great time. Don't forget we are closed on Mon & Tues.

Mimi the Mynah, the Waddesdon mascot, eating an ice cream
Waddesdon   Buckinghamshire

Summer Holidays

Have an outdoor adventure at Waddesdon this summer. Explore the grounds using your senses, have a wild picnic and have a go at photographing nature.

Find out more
The Aviary at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Plan your visit 

Your visit to Waddesdon will be slightly different from usual. Takeaway food and drinks are available at the Stables and Woodland Cafe, and the toilets, the Aviary, Woodland Playground and shop are open. The wine cellars and house remain closed. A tiny dedicated team of gardeners (without our volunteers) and have not been able to plant our usual summer bedding displays. Since March they have focused on general maintenance and keeping the trees healthy, so the formal gardens are not as manicured as they’d usually be. From Weds 22 July, shuttle buses will be running between the car park, Manor and Stables. As there are strict capacity limits, bus tickets must be purchased in advance with grounds admission.

Small child splashing in puddles, Waddesdon Manor, Bucks

50 things to do before you're 11¾ at Waddesdon 

Have outdoor adventures and at the same time discover nature in different ways with 50 things to do before you're 11¾ in the grounds at Waddesdon. Splash in puddles, fly a kite, build a den or search for wild animal clues along Miss Alice's Drive.

A group of friends enjoying a picnic

Can I bring a picnic? 

We have some great areas in the grounds to enjoy a picnic. Head past the Aviary on the way to the Rose garden and lay your blanket under the shade of the trees. Or you can use one of the picnic tables near the bottom of our woodland playground.

Children enjoying Waddesdon Manor's Woodland Playground

Into the woodland 

Play all day long in our magical woodland playground. Tiny tots can enjoy gentler play at the bottom of the hill, with plenty of soft bark to land on, while young teens can go fast on a zip wire or whizz down our giant contour slide. Sitting right next to the Stables café it's a great place for families to enjoy. Open Wed to Sun, 10am-5pm. Check our full opening times for school holiday opening details.

A plate of delicious fairy cakes from one of the restaurants at Waddesdon Manor, Bucks

The Stables Café for families 

Perfect for little ones and mums and dads, just next to our woodland playground. Serving hot drinks, snacks, lunches and afternoon tea, so you can refuel ready to carry on playing. Open Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.

Luna cinema at Waddesdon Manor, a National Trust property in Buckinghamshire
Waddesdon   Buckinghamshire

The Luna Cinema at Waddesdon

The Luna Cinema returns to Waddesdon Manor this September with four great films on big screen set against the backdrop of the House on the North Lawns.

Book now
Useful info for grown-ups
  • Baby-changing and feeding facilities at both the Manor and Stables
  • Front-carrying slings and hip-carrying infant seats are available for loan when visiting the house
  • Children's menus are available in both our restaurants
  • Plenty of open spaces for running about
  • Under 5's can bring their scooters and small bikes into the grounds. We suggest the pathways near the aviary and rose garden are the best places to use