Waddesdon Manor was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1885 to display his collection of arts and to entertain the fashionable world.
Opened to the public in 1959, Waddesdon Manor is managed by the Rothschild Foundation, a family charitable trust, on behalf of the National Trust, who took over ownership in 1957. It’s home to the Rothschild Collections of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts.
Gardens
Designed for Baron Ferdinand’s guests, Waddesdon’s gardens are now enjoyed by all visitors for their beauty and calm.
For Families
We’ve lots to keep you and the family entertained during your visit. From our Woodland Playground cut into the side of a hill where you can also hunt for bugs or build a den, to events at weekends and during school holidays.
Aviary
Filled with colourful and exotic birds, the Aviary was a ‘must-see’ for Baron Ferdinand’s guests when doing a tour of the garden in the 1890s. Beautifully restored, it now takes part in important conservation breeding projects of endangered species. Many of the species we keep at Waddesdon are rare and endangered from the beautiful Palawan Peacock Pheasants to the songful Rothschild’s Mynahs.