Visitor guide · Buckinghamshire
A Rothschild château on an English hill.
Waddesdon Manor is a French Renaissance-style country house built for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1889 to display his collection of 18th-century French decorative arts. This is an independent guide to visiting it — opening times, highlights, gardens, and how to get there.
Location
Waddesdon, Bucks
Built
1874–1889
Architect
G.-H. Destailleur
Nearest station
Aylesbury Vale Pkwy
What is Waddesdon Manor?
Waddesdon Manor is a Grade I-listed country house in Buckinghamshire, England, designed by the French architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur in the style of a 16th-century Loire Valley château. Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild commissioned it to house his exceptional collection of Sèvres porcelain, Savonnerie carpets, 18th-century French furniture and English portraiture by Gainsborough and Reynolds.
When Ferdinand's great-nephew James de Rothschild died in 1957 he bequeathed the estate and its collection to the National Trust — one of the largest and most complete gifts the Trust has ever received. Today the house is run by the Rothschild Foundation on the Trust's behalf, welcoming around 400,000 visitors a year.
This visitor guide is an independent resource. For tickets and up-to-the-minute opening information, always cross-check with the official Waddesdon Manor website.
Explore the guide
What to see
Highlights of the house
The Red Drawing Room, the East Gallery, the Bachelors' Wing, Ferdinand's Renaissance treasury and the Wine Cellars.
Outdoors
Gardens & parterre
The colourful Victorian parterre, Sundial Garden, seasonal displays and the historic Rococo aviary.
Journey
Getting there
Directions and travel times from Oxford, London Marylebone, Aylesbury, Bicester and by car via the A41.
Frequently asked
Where exactly is Waddesdon Manor?
Waddesdon Manor is in the village of Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire, England, at postcode HP18 0JH. It sits about six miles north-west of Aylesbury and roughly fifteen miles north-east of Oxford, off the A41 between Bicester and Aylesbury.
How long should I allow for a visit?
Most visitors spend between three and five hours at Waddesdon. Allow around two hours for the house, an hour for the gardens and aviary, and time for the stables courtyard, shops and one of the two restaurants.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
Yes. Timed entry tickets to the house are required and sell out on peak weekends, at Christmas and during half-term. Book on the official Waddesdon Manor website (waddesdon.org.uk) rather than at the gate.
Reviewed by The Visitor Guide editorial team. Last updated July 2026.