Summer adventures for families at Waddesdon Manor

Children running through the gardens at a National Trust site

This July and August bring the whole family to enjoy your summer school holiday. With lots of family friendly events to choose from, our magical woodland playground and plenty of open green spaces to run about in, you'll be guaranteed a great time.

Boy wearing a '50 Things' baseball cap at Studland Beach, Dorset/ National Trust

50 things to do before you're 11¾ at Waddesdon 

Have outdoor adventures and at the same time tick off some of you're 50 things to do before you're 11¾ in the grounds at Waddesdon.

Explore inside and out

Children can learn all about photography on this three day course at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Photography School at Waddesdon 

We've teamed up with Sharp Shots Photo Club Children to run this photography school for children aged 9 to 15 years old. Club. Over this three day course learn how a camera works, what exposure means and hot to compose amazing photographs. Your photos will be displayed in a photographic exhibition at the end of the course.

The elephant automaton at Waddesdon Manor, Bucks

Be our guest 

Discover what life was like at a 19th-century house party and watch our special musical elephant be wound up. For children aged eight to twelve. No adults allowed. 10.45am-12noon. Meet at the main door. Child £5, normal grounds admission applies. Book online at www.waddesdon.org.uk or call 01296 820414.

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 Sat and Sun, 11am-4pm until 19 March. 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 weekends Jan-Mar and every day in Feb half-term, 11am-4pm.

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