The Christmas Carnival and Christmas Fair at Waddesdon is now on until 2nd January!

We have visited already this year and really enjoyed it – it’s got a really really lovely Christmassy vibe to it with the Christmas market (which has some great stalls for gifts!) and the after dark light projections and illuminations around the grounds. The grounds and the house are beautiful as always but unfortunately the house is fully booked at weekends at the moment – you can still go mid week.

During the light hours you can explore the grounds, visit the park (which my girls love!) and the Christmas market. At the stables you can write a letter to Santa and decorate a bauble at an additional cost. Bauble decorating is £4 per child and the letter writing £1 per child.

Then after dark you can enjoy the light shows and projections. There is a walk that includes some illuminations that have been designed by local schools (you can vote for your favorite one) and beautiful lit up trees (including ones that you can press a screen to change the colour). There is also an impressive light projection show (see the image at the top) on the stables and a light tunnel all topped off with music to make it feel more special.

The whole thing is quite spectacular and feels really magical!  The outside of the house is also lit up which the kids were jumping over and dancing in :).

There is quite a distance between the car park and the festivities but there are regular shuttle buses that run between them and you are welcome to walk if you want to (thought I wouldn’t recommend it with young children). We found the whole thing really well organised considering how busy it is! be prepared to wait for the bus on the way back but you can watch the lights on the house or grab yourself a hot chocolate so its not all bad 🙂 Wrap up warm and wear sensible shoes!

We visited last year as well so this is our second Christmas visit and it is quickly becoming a tradition for us! Natural Trust members can get free entry (If you go midweek and visit the house the cost of entry to the house for NT members is £5, free for children under 5). For everyone else the costs are as follows.

£12 Adult, £6 Child, £30 Family (up to 2 adults + 3 children)
Standard prices: £10.80 Adult, £5.40 Child, £27 Family (up to 2 adults + 3 children).