Christmas at Waddesdon Manor, near Bicester, is returning for the 20th year with indoor decorations and displays for the first time since 2019.

Outside, Waddesdon’s spectacular landscape and trees will be brought to life with a kaleidoscope of colour, lights and music as the illuminated light trail fills the grounds.

This year’s displays feature new light installations alongside some seasonal favourites.

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Highlights include the spectacle of the manor’s facade illuminated with dancing lights set to music and the gardens glowing with a cascading field of flames, a tunnel of twinkling stars and colour-changing, interactive stepping stones.

Elsewhere, Daffodil Valley will be transformed with over 5,000 orbs adorning the hillside to create a glittering blanket of lights, which turns into a sea of animation set to music.

At the stables, visitors will encounter a giant 22-foot Christmas tree composed of over 10,000 colour-changing pixels creating festive imagery.

Inside the Coach House Gallery, a new immersive light experience of installations exploring colour, patterns and reflections in light and sound will deliver a captivating sensory experience.

Another much anticipated highlight of the season is Waddesdon’s popular Christmas fair, which will be open from December 12 to 18.

Housed in wooden chalets decked with over 1,000 metres of festoon lighting, visitors will be able to browse over 70 specially chosen artisan stalls offering unique gifts and decorations.

There will also be an exclusive assortment of homeware, food, gifts and world-renowned Rothschild wines to purchase in the Waddesdon gift shops.

Also new for 2022, a dedicated, bespoke food village – from November 12 to January 2 – will complement the traditional Christmas Fair.

The village will offer a selection of takeaway food and drink to enjoy whilst exploring the grounds.

There will also be Christmas afternoon teas in the manor restaurant, fish and chips at the stables and an assortment of homemade cakes and biscuits, including crumble-topped mince pies, created in-house by Waddeson’s chefs.

Pippa Shirley, director of Waddesdon, said: “Waddesdon is breathtaking at any time of year, but at Christmas it has a particular magic.

“We are really delighted to be reopening the house again, after a break of two years and now with some of the most magnificent rooms included on the route for the first time.

“And to be extending the festive light train in the grounds, which brings our extraordinary landscape to life in a completely different way.

“I really hope this year there is something to surprise and delight everyone, whether a first-time visitor or one of the many who tell us their Christmas begins at Waddesdon.”

Visitors to the ground must pre-book tickets online, and Christmas at Waddesdon runs from November 12 to January 2.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1

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