Waddesdon Manor Garden
5.0/5 (3 ratings)-
Parties / Large Groups
Waddesdon Manor offers groups discounted entrance to the House and Gardens and the chance to book exclusive guided tours with highly knowledgeable Waddesdon Guides before the House is open to the public. There is also a guided tour of either the Ground Floor, First Floor or Bachelors’ Wing adding to the range of tours and walks. Also audio visual presentations can be booked. At the Waddesdon Plant Centre, situated in the old kitchen garden, group members get 10% off full priced items purchased on the day of their visit. Special areas have been allocated for coach parking and passengers can be dropped off at, and collected from, the front of the House or the Stables. A refreshment voucher will be issued to all coach drivers transporting pre-booked groups.
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Open House
Waddesdon Manor was built at the end of the 19th Century (1874-89) by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the style of a French early 16th century château. Baron Ferdinand was an inspired collector and the house was designed to accommodate his fine collection of French 18th century furniture, Sèvres porcelain, English portraits and other exceptional examples of the decorative arts. When Ferdinand died in 1898 he left Waddesdon to his sister, Miss Alice. Upon her death the house passed to James de Rothschild, a cousin from the French arm of the family. James inherited a substantial part of his father Baron Edmond’s great collection. In 1957, in order to ensure its future in perpetuity, Waddesdon was bequeathed to the National Trust by James de Rothschild, although his widow, Dolly, continued to manage the house until her death in 1988. The Manor is open to the public for viewing - see opening times and admission prices.
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Parking
Parking is available.
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Disabled Access
ACCESSIBILITY Car Parking Designated car parking areas have been set aside with drop-off at the House if required. Gardens Most areas are accessible although there is some gravel and a few steep and uneven paths. A map showing suitable routes is available from the Ticket Office. House Wheelchairs and a braille guide are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Large-type information booklets are available in some rooms. Audio Tours available. All areas are accessible to wheelchair users, but due to fire regulations only two wheelchairs are permitted on any floor at the same time. There is limited access to the Prints & Drawings Rooms and the Wine Cellars so it is essential you arrange in advance to view these areas please call: 01296 653226 between 10.00am and 3.00pm Monday to Friday. Typetalk Typetalk is available at Waddesdon Manor. For further information on how to use this service please Click Here Lavatories There is a designated lavatory for wheelchair users adjacent to the main lavatories at the House and the Stables. Assistance dogs welcome. Please ring in advance if you require special assistance tel: 01296 653226 we are always happy to help.
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Shopping
Waddesdon’s shop has won a reputation as one of the best of its type. The Gift Shop, created in former services areas at the east end of the Manor, sells many products exclusively designed for Waddesdon, inspired by the history and contents of the House. To complement the cellars, the Wine Shop stocks a wide range of Rothschild wines from around the world and sells them by the case. Waddesdon Plant Centre has an illustrious horticultural pedigree. It stands on the site of Top Glass, the huge range of glass houses and walled kitchen gardens, seven acres in total, built for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. These were the largest in private hands in England at the end of the 19th century and provided all the fruit, vegetables and flowers for the Manor. Sadly the glass houses had to be demolished in 1975 due to structural problems but part of the fruit wall, which was once the longest in Europe, still survives at the entrance to the Plant Centre. It offers highly knowledgeable and expert staff specialising in indoor and outdoor plants including a horticulturist who also advises and buys for the Manor gardens. Beautiful arrangements can be made to order, there is also a landscape design service.
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Restaurant
Within the gardens of Waddesdon Manor you can enjoy a meal at one of our two licensed restaurants (the Manor Restaurant and the Stables Restaurant), or have a snack and a drink al fresco at the Summerhouse. At the Plant Centre, the glass house café is open for coffee, lunch and tea and offers delicious sandwiches, paninis, soups and cakes. The opening hours are: Monday-Saturday 10.00-5.30, Sunday 10.30-4.30.
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Light Refreshments
Afternoon teas and a range of home made biscuits, scones and cakes are available at all our catering outlets.
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Picnic Area
The gardens provide an abundance of beautiful areas to picnic.
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Alcohol license
The Manor Restaurant and Stables Restaurant are licensed premises.
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Special Events
NEW IN THE GARDEN AND PLANT CENTRE AT WADDESDON EARLY SPRING 2011 SEED WEEKEND At the Waddesdon Plant Centre On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 February From 10.00am Growing your own has never been so popular and now is the time to plan your spring sowings. Choose from the wide range available and swap your own varieties with other gardeners. On Sunday 20th February we are delighted to be joined by Colin Randel of Thompson & Morgan. On leaving school Colin worked for 18 months at Hampstead Gardens, a market garden near Newbury and under the Head Gardener at Donnington Castle House. Since then he has worked in the horticultural seed trade for over 40 years, trained in the commercial vegetable sector at Suttons (http://www.suttons.co.uk/) from 1969 until 1976 and moved with the Company to Torquay until 1996. He then moved to Mr Fothergill’s (http://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/) as Vegetable Seed Manager from 1996 to 2000, and since at Thompson & Morgan (http://www.thompson-morgan.com/) as Vegetable Product Manager. He has been a member of the RHS Vegetable Trials sub committee since 1995 and Chairman since 2006, also a member of the RHS Fruit, Vegetable, and Herb committee since 1995. TULIP FESTIVAL After last year’s success we will be hosting a Tulip Festival from 16 April 2011 with de Jager tulips. Tulips have always been an important part of the spring display for Waddesdon and for 2011 the Parterre will be filled with a dazzling array of tulips. As keen gardeners appreciate it is difficult to predict exactly when the tulips will be in flower so we recommend keeping an eye on the website where we will post details of which varieties are in flower at what time. RARE AND UNUSUAL PLANT FARE Waddesdon Plant Centre Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 April 10.30 – 4.30 See rare and unusual spring plants from a selection of specialist nurseries. Some of those who will be there include: Mrs Mitchells Kitchen and Garden Cottage garden plants, especially hardy geranium, phlox, garden chrysanthemum and michaelmas daisies. Plus a selection of handmade speciality preserves from the garden. www.mrsmitchellskitchenandgarden.co.uk Home Farm Plants (Bovingdon) Family nursery growing hardy perennials, seasonal cut flowers and specialising in Delphinium elatum. www.homefarmplants.com The Wildflower Patch A range of over 20 Wildflower plants and bulbs, native to customer’s address and to suit every planting position. www.thewildflowerpatch.co.uk Little Heath Farm (UK) Hardy Plants, particularly shrubs and alpines. www.littleheathfarmnursery.co.uk Bulls Green Nursery Rose growers, lilacs, and alpines. Tel – Michael Newberry 01438 798650 For further information please call 01296 653226 or see our website www.waddesdon.org.uk.
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Family/Baby changing facilities
There are baby changing facilites.
