Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

We love going to Waddesdon Manor as it's excellent for families, often has various activities on and isn't too far from home. Currently they have Winter Light at Waddesdon: Bruce Munro.

Waddesdon Manor

We arrived late morning, and went to see if we could get some tickets for the house (I've not been round but readitdaddy and C have) but it's so popular the only time left was very late afternoon so we passed this time. We headed down to the stables to "hug a husky". There were about 8 lovely husky's to stroke, cuddle and have your photo taken with. You could even sit on a sledge and have your photo taken pretending the husky is pulling you along a snowy scene (for a small price).

hug a husky

When we could finally drag ourselves away from the huskys we had lunch outside the stables as the cafe was really busy. The garden chairs had thick sheep skin throws on so no cold bottoms whilst enjoying yummy pumpkin soup, hot dogs or the NT must have scone and tea.

cosy and warming seats

A did quick check to make sure that the reindeers and Santa's sleigh would be ready for christmas day.

fly reindeer fly

 Then we took a stroll down the hill to the plant centre for the christmas food market, plenty of local food and drinks to try and lots of gifts to buy, we didn't come away empty handed.

we found these dens to explore on the way to the plant centre

 We had a walk back up the hill and through the play area. It's a really fantastic woodland play area, the footpaths were lit up, the trees and also reindeer along the way. There is something for every age from swings to zip wires that keep the kids amused for ages.

one of the play areas

can you spot the owl

We then took a trip down Miss Alice's Drive, it's a wonderful woodland walk with something to explore at every turn. Lots of different bug hotels, board hotels to lift (sadly only found a worm), stepping stone logs and weave a fence.

checking under the board hotel

stepping stone logs

Once we got back to the top of the hill and the house again we took a look around the aviary, its a magnificent looking structure with some unusual birds housed there.

day turns to night

 By now the sun was just setting so with glow stick in hand we headed off to winter light at Waddesdon.

glow stick

 These are 6 works of art displaying light in different ways and to an amazing effect. It was lovely to see young and old exploring and enthralled by the installations. We had to walk round twice to see it again as it got darker.

Brass Monkeys

Water-Towers

Tepees

Parliament of Owls

Mynah Words

River of Light

I think River of Light was our favorite installation, I had to go to the bottom of the hill to get the view looking up

River of Light