*************
Garden Owners,
Please copy this information and paste it into an email to:   wb [at] armchair-travel [dot] com

Please make any changes in BRIGHT RED in your email back to us.

Regards,
Armchair Travel Co Ltd
http://www.armchair-travel.com
*************



Garden Name: Waddesdon Manor
Last Modified: 19/01/2011
Garden ID: 0134

pic: 0134_Waddesdon.jpg

Owner: National Trust
Address:
Waddesdon
Aylesbury

Postcode: HP18 0JH
County: Buckinghamshire

tel: 01296 653232
fax: 01296 653208
website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-waddesdonmanor
email: suzy.barron {at} nationaltrust.org.uk

Features: 
Aviary in grounds. Fountains, parterre and statuary.

English Heritage Grade:
II*

Opening Times:
8th Jan - 27th Mar (weekends only) 10-5
30 Marth - 31th Dec Weds-Sun (inc. Bank Holidays & 26th April, 19th, 20th & 27th Dec), 10-5

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
July/August

To see: 
Summer Bedding

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: No
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: 30th Mar - 31st Dec - check own website for day openings and times
To visit the house a grounds ticket must be purchased. All visitors require a timed ticket for the house, bookable up to 24 hours in advance from the booking office, open Monday to Friday 10 to 3 on 01296 653226 (£3 booking fee per transaction) or free online at www.waddesdon.org.uk. There are a limited number of house tickets and they sell out on busy days, especially weekends and throughout December

Admission Prices:
Gift Aid Admission (Standard Admission prices in brackets)
House and gardens weekends: adult £17 (£15.40), child £13 (£11.70). House and gardens weekdays: adult £15 (£13.60), child £11 (£10).
Gardens weekends: adult £8 (£7.20), child £4.50 (£4). Gardens weekdays: adult £6.50 (£5.90), child £3.50 (£3.10). Admission free for children in August.

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: Yes
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: No
Only on Lead: No
Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
Only guide dogs allowed in grounds.
Braille and audio guides to house.
many events - see own website


Designer: Ferdinand de Rothschild
Description of Garden:
These gardens are considered one of the finest Victorian gardens in Britain, with a parterre, seasonal displays, colourful shrubs, carpet bedding, statuary, fountains, contemporary sculpture and parkland. At its heart lies the rococo-style Aviary housing exotic birds and known for breeding endangered species. 

They can be enjoyed at any season. Guided walks take place from April to September.


History: 
The gardens today are essentially the ones laid out by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild and his French landscape designer, Elie Laine. When Baron Ferdinand bought the estate in 1874 the central hill was mostly farmland with few trees. In the next ten years a dramatic transformation took place. The crown of the hill was levelled off and planted with mature trees, drives and banks were created and formal gardens were planted and decorated with sculpture.

Waddesdon Manor and Gardens were bequeathed to the National Trust by the Rothschilds in 1957.

Local Inns: 
Bell Inn

Accomodation: 
Hartwell House, Aylesbury
Five Arrows Hotel, Waddesdon

Restaurants: 
Bottle & Glass, Gibralter
The Crown, Cuddington
Green Dragon, Haddenham

Village/Town/Sightseeing: