Waddesdon
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire & BerkshireFrench Renaissance-style château with an extensive art collection, landscaped gardens, aviary and woodland playground.
Waddesdon, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0JH
Book a visit
Important notice
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 18 February 2026
Asset Opening time House Closed Aviary 10:00 - 16:00 Gardens 10:00 - 16:00 Manor restaurant 10:00 - 16:00 Shop 10:00 - 16:00 Woodland playground Closed House exhibition Closed Coach House gallery Closed Food to Go outlets 10:00 - 16:00 Book a visitGrounds standard prices
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £14.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £7.00 House & Grounds standard prices
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £27.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £13.50 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Café
- Car park
- Coffee shop
- Dogs allowed
- Electric vehicle charging point
- Kiosk
- Restaurant
- Shop
- Toilet
Blue Badge and limited mobility parking in visitor car park. Free shuttle bus tickets for Blue Badge holders and essential companions. Wheelchairs available upon request (first come, first served basis). Changing places facility on the ground floor of the Manor (currently closed). Grounds: partly accessible, some loose gravel paths and steep slopes. Assistance dogs are welcome in house, garden and shuttle buses.
- Accessible toilet
- Changing Places
- Designated parking
- Level access to food outlet
- Level access to shop
- Lift
- Ramped access/slopes
- Seating available
- Steps/uneven terrain
- Wheelchairs available
- By road
- If you are approaching on the M40 (westbound) take exit 7 via Thame and follow the A418 into Aylesbury, then A41 from Aylesbury to Waddesdon Village. Check your route before setting off as there are HS2 roadworks near us and a new road system with temporary road signs. If you are approaching from the M40 (eastbound) take exit 9 via Bicester, then from Bicester follow the A41 to Waddesdon Village. The Manor is signposted from the village.Parking: Parking is free of charge, you will be directed to the Visitor car park on arrival by our signs. There’s a regular shuttle bus service from the car park to near the North Fountain and then to the Stables and finally back to the car park. Bus tickets may be purchased in advance with grounds admission or on the bus (card payments only). Adult £2.50, Child £1.50, Under 2s Free.Sat Nav: Enter Silk Street and HP18 0JH
- By train
- There are a number of railway stations nearby; Aylesbury Vale Parkway 4 miles; Aylesbury Town centre 6.5 miles; Bicester North roughly 13 miles away. Taxis are available at all stations. Walking is not advisable from these stations, as there are no footpaths and you would need to follow busy roads. Direct connection from London Marylebone to either Aylesbury Vale Parkway or Town centre.
- By bus
- Local Red Rose bus number 16 (Aylesbury-Marsh Gibbon via Waddesdon) or 17 (Aylesbury-Bicester via Waddesdon). Please note: this is an infrequent service and there are no buses on a Sunday. On arrival in Waddesdon village, walk through the main gates on Silk Street and you'll be directed towards the Welcome Pavilion. For timetable information see the Red Rose bus timetable
- Cycling
- From the A41, enter Waddesdon Village, the main entrance is signposted from the road. In advance of the Waddesdon Greenway, a new safe cycle and walking route joining Aylesbury Vale Parkway to Waddesdon Manor being open, we are allowing cyclists to use their bikes on the main route through the grounds. On arrival you will be directed to our Welcome Pavilion, where you'll need to purchase a grounds entry ticket, or show your National Trust membership card. If you wish you may leave your bike in our sheltered rack next to the electric charging points and continue into the grounds via our shuttle bus (£2.50 adult/£1.50 child). Alternatively, you may cycle up to the Manor along the main entrance road. Please dismount when you reach the closed main gate, and walk your bike through using the side pedestrian gate. Once through this gate you may continue cycling on the entrance road to the North Fountain. At this point a member of staff will show you where to safely leave your bike in a sheltered bike rack. You may wish to continue cycling to the Stables using the main entrance road where there is another sheltered bike rack in the parking area. When you are ready to leave, you can cycle down the exit drive, taking a right at the bottom onto Green Lane, and then back to the car park/Greenway, or exit via Silk Street and onto the A41.
Waddesdon, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0JH
Planning your visit
Plan your visit
Everything you need to know for visiting Waddesdon, including pricing, parking and access.
Dogs at Waddesdon
Waddesdon is a two pawprint rated place. Dogs are welcome on a lead all year round in the grounds at Waddesdon. They are also allowed in the Stables Café & Takeaway. You can bring along your four-legged friends to explore the grounds and wider estate together.
School visits to Waddesdon
The interactive programme at Waddesdon brings learning to life and covers a wide range of topics using the site’s rich resources. Suitable for primary, secondary and youth groups.
Group visits at Waddesdon
Find out everything you need to know about visiting Waddesdon with a group, from discounted rates to catering.
Highlights
House
French Renaissance-style château, built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in 1874 to house his collection of fine art.
Garden
Victorian-style gardens with Parterre, ornate fountains, statuary and seasonal bedding, with Rococo-style Aviary and woodland playground.
Eating
Eat at the Manor Restaurant and Stables Café or enjoy seasonal food-to-go, all made by our talented chefs. Opening times vary, please check website for details.
Shopping
Gift & Wine shop offering fine wines, gifts and unique pieces inspired by Waddesdon's art collection.
Things to see and do
Discover the house at Waddesdon
Built by the Rothschild family in the 19th century, Waddesdon was inspired by the chateaux of France. Within its dramatic architecture is an impressive collection of furniture, paintings and works of art.
Garden walks
From March-October, join one of our volunteer guides on a free 45-minute walk to explore the gardens, seasonal highlights, the history of Waddesdon and the Rothschild family.
Conservation Hub
Inside the Conservation Hub learn how we are implementing the Sustainability Strategy at Waddesdon and how we encourage everyone to reconnect with nature.
Woodland Playground
Please note that the playground is currently closed for works.
The Aviary
Discover the ornate Rococo style Aviary, an important conservation centre for endangered exotic birds.
Family days out at Waddesdon
From the woodland playground, den building and bug hunting to events at weekends and during school holidays, there’s lots for families to do at Waddesdon.
Eating and shopping
Eating and shopping at Waddesdon
Enjoy delicious food and refreshments made by our chefs on-site daily. There are a range of food outlets located at the Manor and Stables. Options available include the Manor Restaurant, Food-To-Go and Coffee Bar, Stables Café and Takeaway. Find Rothschild wines, great gifts and one-off pieces at the Gift & Wine Shop at the Manor and visit the Stables Gift Shop too.
Top trails
Baron's walk at Waddesdon
Follow in the footsteps of Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild on this route through woodland, past beautiful artworks and offering impressive views of the wider Waddesdon estate.
Spotlight events
Putting the House to Bed Tour
Step inside the house while it is closed for winter and see behind the scenes on this guided tour
Winter Walking Tours
Join us for a free, volunteer-led guided walk to see seasonal highlights.
Upcoming events
Water Garden Walk at the Dairy
Discover the beauty of the Water Garden and its contemporary sculpture, followed by a traditional Cream Tea at the Stables Café.
Putting the House to Bed Tour
Step inside the house while it is closed for winter and see behind the scenes on this guided tour.
Mother's Day Afternoon Tea
Make Mother’s Day truly special with our sumptuous afternoon tea, featuring a delightful selection of savoury treats and sweet fancies.
The Pudding Club: Mother's Day
Our Pudding Club flips the saying “save the best until last” on its head by showcasing not one but three fabulous desserts created by Craig Clark, Executive Chef and Pastry Extraordinaire.
Four Seasons
An exhibition of light works exploring time and place, and the influence of nature, landscape and the environment by Bruce and Tink Munro.
About Waddesdon
Surrounded by views of Oxfordshire, the Chilterns Hills, the Vale of Aylesbury and just a train ride away from London, Waddesdon Manor, is an ideal place for relaxing with family and friends.
Explore this French Renaissance-style château built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in 1874 to entertain the fashionable world and to house his collection of fine art. We're continuing the tradition today of entertainment and hospitality with events celebrating food and wine, and opportunities for you to explore our history, collections and gardens through changing exhibitions and special interest days.
Step back in time in the Victorian style gardens, gaze at flamboyant colours on the parterre amid the ornate fountains and statuary. Hear the rare and exotic birds calling from the roccoco style Aviary found in the heart of the gardens. Alternatively spend a fun filled day with the family, and have an adventure in the woodland playground which winds through the trees, making use of the natural environment to create a magical area to play. Why not explore the trail around the gardens; hunt for bugs and spot wildlife along our woodland walk?
There's fresh, homemade food including cakes and other treats from food-to-go outlets. Shop for wine, great gifts and unique pieces inspired by the collection in our Manor shop.
Waddesdon Manor is managed by the Rothschild Foundation (charitable trust) on behalf of the National Trust. All proceeds from Waddesdon's restaurants and shops is invested in the care of the gardens, house and collections.
History
The history of the house at Waddesdon
The foundation stone at Waddesdon was laid in 1877, three years after Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild bought the estate. From hosting royals to evacuees, discover the manor’s story.
The history of the garden at Waddesdon
The vision of Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, the garden was created at the end of the 19th century. He wanted to create something beautiful for his guests to see at every turn.
Art and collections
The collection at Waddesdon
The Rothschilds were great collectors, and Waddesdon is known for its treasures. Discover paintings, sculptures, prints and over 300 precious objects in the Rothschild Treasury.
Our work
Sustainability at Waddesdon
At Waddesdon we are committed to working in a sustainable way by protecting the environment and reducing pollution and waste wherever possible.
Explore the film locations of Rebecca
Discover which locations at Waddesdon played their part as Manderley, in the 2020 Netflix adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic mystery.
Support us
Volunteering opportunities at Waddesdon
If you enjoy meeting new people, are positive and have some time to give, why not consider volunteering? You can learn new skills, share your passions and make a real difference.
