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The Five Arrows Hotel Waddesdon Manor was built (1874-89) by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild to display his outstanding collection of art treasures and to entertain the fashionable world. On a hilltop overlooking the Aylesbury Vale, it is the last remaining complete example of 'le go'othschild'. The House combines the highest quality French furniture, textiles and decorative arts from the 18th century with magnificent English portraits and Dutch Old Master paintings. Waddesdon has one of the finest Victorian gardens in Britain, famous for its Parterre, seasonal displays, colourful shrubs, mature trees, statues and carpet bedding.
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Find stylish homeware and unique gifts for every occasion. Our exclusive product range are inspired by the gardens, collections and archive here at Waddesdon. Welcome to our online shop where you can browse our renowned range of fine wines, local produce & homeware celebrating Waddesdon. 49.95 45.00 Buy The colour is a deep ruby with purple nuances.
Online booking is essential for timed House entry. Visitors are advised to book in advance for Grounds admission, although there may be some tickets available on the day. Gardens, Aviary, Gift & Wine Shop, Takeaway refreshments (and indoor seating at the Stables) and Woodland playground. STEP 2: Please select a date - Book House Admission.
As a family, the Rothschilds were the greatest collectors of the 19th century, seeking the highest quality of workmanship and with a keen sense of historical importance. The houses that they built, the interiors they created and the magnificent Rothschild collections within them became known internationally as the 'gout Rothschild'.
We advise all visitors to check our dedicated web page for the latest information before visiting us. We also strongly advise pre-booking your House visit. Anticipated delays due to HS2 works on A41 between Aylesbury and Waddesdon for several months.
If visiting us, please download our map in advance. It shows the suggested route when walking between the car park and the Manor, location of ticket checkpoints, shuttle bus stops and the facilities that will be open. It will be useful for both regular and new visitors to Waddesdon. We have four different walks taking in different aspects of the gardens or wider estate.
Reviews (25)
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Lydia Morris
Jun 01, 2022
This is a beautiful place for history buffs and also a great day out.x I took my mum who was in a wheelchair the staff is friendly and didn't need to worry about access. The garden are very beautiful. If you a walker this is a great place to go. I have one gripe which is I wanted more information about the house there was staff about but was too busy to stop to get information and could possibly get in other people's way but they do have booklets to read on each room. Overall I had a great day and will go again.x
Dwight Smiley
May 30, 2022
Fantastic place. Great place to visit especially if want to see how the richer people in society lives. You could comfortably spend days there. Each area was opulent with the various wall coverings, carpets, parquet floors etc. The works of art adorning the walls are great from English and Dutch painters. I am adding a few photos to speak a thousand words.

The cellars, wines, jewellery. The stables were great for food. You're able to take as many photos as you like but without a flash . A National trust car is a must as you will certainly want to visit more than once.
Ian Kemeys
May 29, 2022
Fantastic place. The house is a must. A display of the wealth of the Rothchilds family but if you look beyond the opulence there is some fascinating exhibits. You will need up to 2 hours for the house. The gardens are lovely and very manageable but with some hilly parts. Book the house in advance and if your budget can stretch to it use the premium parking adjacent to the house. Worth the National Trust membership.
N. A.
May 25, 2022
Great attraction Wonderful grounds and lots of historical information a guided tour or the ushers should be able to provide more to the experience
Reena S.
May 12, 2022
I loved my visit here! This castle of a manor is stunning inside and out. I enjoyed seeing the decorations (chandeliers everywhere!), the family's gem display, and the wine cellars. Outside you will see the most beautiful fountains and flowers!
Evelyn Lockhart
May 01, 2022
What a beautiful house. Shame it was not used properly as a home. Amazing collection of art! Never seen rugs so big! The opulence was just outstanding. The dinning room and wine cellar are just impressive. We booked a 230pm entrance and felt rushed as the house closed at 4pm. Definitely visit again and go earlier.
Cheri Crystal
Feb 18, 2022
Lovely grounds! Gorgeous aviaries. Would love to visit when the manor house reopens. Fabulous for meetings. They took excellent care of us, the lunch consisted of fresh tasty sandwiches, crisps, and brownies. Great coffee. Will be back next year!
Zane Waldron
Jan 23, 2022
Amazing place to visit on a day trip. Got the coach up from parking spaces as brought new puppy along with us. Walked around Christmas market stalls and ate our lunch. Great day out. Would definitely recommend!
Jo Tomlin
Jan 14, 2022
Visited for the Winter Light Trail. From start to finish it was just a great experience and I am definitely going to revisit once the house is reopened. So well organised and the grounds were just beautiful with all of the lights. Fish & Chips were delicious and staff were all very polite and helpful. Just a lovely evening. Well done to all involved!
Kalpana Vekaria
Jan 11, 2022
The house is really grand from the outside and inside. If possible make sure you can view the inside of the house. The guides inside will give you a detailed insight to the history and all the collections within the house. The gardens are beautiful to view too. There's an aviary and stables up can visit within the gardens. I would highly recommend booking the shuttle bus to get your trip started sooner as its a long walk in.
Keerthy Nagaraj
Jan 10, 2022
What a beautiful mansion and grounds. We went for the winter lights and it was beautiful. The light show over the mansion is amazing. There is a tearoom + a fish & chip shop on the grounds. Toilets are clean.
Suzanne Sapsed
Jan 06, 2022
We've been to Waddesdon Manor a couple of times and the house and grounds are beautiful. The staff are welcoming and helpful. The Winter Lights illuminations aren't on the same level as, say, Kew Gardens, but the walk around the grounds makes up for that. And the children said the hot chocolate was great!
The Diva Soprano B.
Sep 14, 2021
My review is mixed for our visit to Wadderston. The house was spectacular and the interior tour was worth every penny. I would highly recommend the house tour. However, the reason I only gave two stars is because I was deeply disappointed in the afternoon tea and Rose Garden. The first photo on their afternoon tea website page looks beautiful but unfortunately it misrepresents what you will actually experience with teatime. Here's my take; 1.

I expected such a spectacular manor house to have an elegant afternoon tea. Instead it was most unimpressive. 2. The room looked like servants quarters or a basic canteen room. Cheap tables, with uncomfortable plastic chairs. Doesn't even compare to the spectacular tea I had at Luton Hoo ( I highly recommend Luton Hoo afternoon tea)! 3. They were understaffed, leaving us parched for tea.

Unfortunately they didn't have milk on the table and by the time we got the server's attention, the tea went cold. It was just as hard to get their attention to ask for a second cup, which came just as we were leaving. So much for unlimited hot tea. 4. The savory food was not served on an elegant tiered stand. Instead on a plain, ugly flat plate (see photo). 5.

No Traditional finger sandwiches, not even one. 6. They ignored my request twice for no seafood. I made this request during booking and again when the server asked if we had any food allergies at the start of service. They then served me salmon on my plate! 7. No basic substitutions. I asked them if I could have a second croissant as a substitute for the salmon option they incorrectly served me and I was told they don't have a single croissant to spare. ( seems unrealistic and unreasonable). 8.

The savory options were unappealing, bland and disappointing. It was a struggle to get through this course. 9. The sweets were better and quite delicious. However, I was disappointed the scones didn't have raisins or the option to have them. The shape of the scones were unprofessional and wildly irregular to the point they didn't even look like scones.

I have been making them for years and not once have mine come out so oddly shaped. Also disappointing that we were only allowed ONE scone each. Isn't afternoon tea all about scones, clotted cream and jam. Would have been nice to have at least two scones each. Or the option to have one more. I would never recommend this afternoon tea! It was an absolute waste of money and my time.

The grounds were grand and beautiful. However, they advertise the Rose Gardens as a sight to visit but this was an unkept, overgrown Gladiolas's garden, with maybe one rose bush, that was almost bare ( see photo). Not worth the short walk to the rose garden, as you will be disappointed with the lack of roses. Definitely do the house tour and grounds but forgo rose garden and afternoon tea.
Susan C.
Mar 19, 2017
Overall this place is excellent for kids. There is a coffee shop for parents to refresh, and a new ice cream parlour will be opening very soon. There are three levels of playground space, swings, zip line, and a fun tube slide. Great for picnic or buy food here. Excellent for kids
Mei S.
Aug 08, 2015
Lovely place! Grounds are beautiful and the rooms are sumptuous, how the other lives. Owned by the famous Rothschilds banking family, this Victorian Mansion is now part of the National Trust, is opened to the public, and only an hour's drive from London. Tickets are timed to enter the building. From the car park entrance there is a shuttle bus taking you to the grounds and beautiful gardens.

We went for Champagne High Tea in the Manor restaurant. A really nice experience and day out. It is served a portion each, so you have your own separate plate and small stand. We sat in the area outside under the awnings right next to the entrance to the building which when walking up from the path to the building, you would not have realised that was part of the restaurant, it looks like an information centre from afar, as there were people milling around the front! We had not realised until we left, that this area to the right of the entrance was part of the restaurant.
Zed Z.
May 20, 2015
This review is for the food at the restaurant in Waddesdon Manor - one belonging to Baron de Rothschild. The restaurant is within the main manor building, with few small tables, thus lending an intimate feel to the dinner service. The menu highlights (and uses only) ingredients from within 20 mile range of the restaurant, most of them raised or grown from within the the property. The wine selection is impressive and come mostly from Rothschild vineyards worldwide. All in all, an enjoyable meal!
Christian S.
Sep 20, 2010
The grounds are great, but don't waste the extra on going into the house unless you really like porcelain or paintings. The house is NOT for kids! There is no information in the house on it's history either.
Finders K.
Jun 23, 2010
Waddesdon Manor was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild to display his outstanding collection of art treasures and to entertain the fashionable world. A wonderful chateau with beautiful gardens, this is a great cultural venue according to our Bicester team.
Qype User Addjo
Jan 17, 2009
Gr8 place to visit if you have extra time and extra money and if you like old places to visit, you will also find some resturant.its between aylesbury and bicester, so if you live in aylesbury or bicester its very easy to visit.
Qype User Bonker
Nov 17, 2008
As A National Trust Member we gain access to the house and grounds free, in the summer we use the grounds as an extension of our garden for picnics and fun with the kids. Beautiful grounds and not far from Aylesbury. During the summer months we try and get there most weekends either for a picnic or just for an hour walking around the grounds, sets the day off nicely.

Even in the autumn and winter its a great place for a walk and my daughter loves the childrens outside play area. Christmas in the West Wing is a must, its beautifully decorated for Xmas and the trees are out of this world. The children can do a quiz as they go around which keeps them entertained while you soak up the Christmas atmosphere. It is on timed entry and prebooking is probably well advised if you don't want too long a wait in the cold.
Qype User Atparr
Oct 14, 2008
Waddesdon Manor is a wonderful place to visit, especially on al ovely sunny day. That way you make the most of the gardens. There are a couple of restaurants on the site, which are both very good. And there is also a new childrens play area, which can get a bit busy.
Qype User Siann
Oct 05, 2008
Absolutely stunning. Beautifully kept gardens to walk around and the decor of the house is rich and gorgeous. You can fill a entire day here, but it might be worth taking a picnic if you are on a budget. It is worth visiting at any time of the year, but particularly when the house is decorated for Christmas.
Qype User Nadiro
Sep 21, 2008
We love this place and have visited so many times! Its stunning to walk around the grounds and woods in the spring and summers months with beautiful colours, although it's quite magical in the winter too! A beautiful day trip with the family or if like us a romantic walk for a lazy day!
Keith T.
Aug 02, 2008
I have lost count of how many times we have visited and how many guests we have taken there. The property really is a jewel in the National Trusts crown. It's also very different from the other Trust properties as it's typically french, build by Baron Rothschild. As well as the stunning gardens there is plenty to keep you occupied including the Aviary which includes Rothchilds own breed of Minor Bird.

The Stables offers the best food but it can get very crowded. Waddesdon used to be a nice place to go for a quiet day out but since the NT have signed a deal with Sky TV it does feel that the place is over run with small children and people with prams. This isn't necessarilly a bad thing but it can get very crowded and no longer serves as a truly relaxing day out. Waddesdon hosts a number of interesting events throughout the year including seasonal treats suc has when the house is decorated for Christmas (previous themes include underwater fantasy, Beatrix Potter and a giant sweet factory).

The early morning walks to see the wildlife on the grounds are a very nice (if not early) way to enjoy the house and it's fascinating grounds and it's occupants. The first time we went on such a trail we did see some badgers up close but we have not been so lucky since. Mainly due to the expanding number of people on these trails and the noisy gravel which now covers the trail! I highly recommend Waddesdon for a truly interesting full day out. And I've not even mentioned the interior of the house!.
Qype User MissGo
Nov 18, 2007
WADDESDON MANOR built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild is definite must for all those people who are interested 17th century art. The manor which was built to display his magnificent collection of treasures, textiles and decorative arts form that era. Other than the collection there are truly magnificent grounds to walk in. You can also buy momentos to recall your visit from their shop.