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Waddesdon Manor House in Buckinghamshire

Right after my weekend in Germany, we headed off as a group of 5 to Buckinghamshire, specifically to Aylesbury to visit this manor house called Waddesdon Manor.  Lawrence had stumbled upon this place a few months ago and asked if we were keen to visit.  Together with Jixian and Rongxuan, we set off bright and early on a Saturday morning.

K, wanting a relaxing weekend, suggested staying over outside London on Saturday rather than driving back on Saturday itself.  On hindsight it was such a good suggestion.

It took us about 2h to drive to Aylesbury where this manor house is.  As Christmas is drawing near, they have decorated the house to be Christmas worthy, and also a Christmas market on their grounds too.  The entrance tickets we bought even had a specified timing, in order to stagger the visitors.  

This house is set on a sprawling estate - right where the entrance and ticketing booth was, we needed a shuttle bus to bring us to the house.  It also stops at the stables where a cafe and the shops are.  

According to Lawrence, the original owner of the house loved the french chateau designs and hence commissioned to build his in a similar style after buying this sprawling piece of land in the middle of nowhere (after some war).  The town seems to be built around this house because really, it is in the middle of nowhere.

Just arrived!  In front of the manor house.

K and Lawrence

What a cute coffee/ tea van

Finally it was time for us to enter the house.  This year's theme is Lights and Legends.  Many of the rooms are decorated to different cultures and some inspired by children's stories.

With Rongxuan - just stepped into the house where we would be treated with loads of beautifully decorated Christmas trees



This one's decorated with loads of small Chinese lanterns

This was a table set with an elaborate lamp as the centrepiece, whereupon close inspection, it's made up of many broken plates.  Interesting.

And an elaborate fireplace

This one's decorated with Russian dolls
Look at this chandelier

With cute baskets

The Indian themed room

The English themed room

Baubles

Finally the last tree we saw

We finished the tour in 20min (hah) and thankfully the guys had foresight to book a table at the restaurant so whilst waiting we walked around the Christmas market.  I finally bought our Christmas wreath for our front door from a local florist who had a stall at the market - with real foliage and pine cones.  I was so excited!

What a sunny and beautiful day

Christmas market with a lot of local sellers

Lunch was a two course meal, really good cod fish I had and the guys ordered the Turkey.  We planned our next move.  We would walk to the stables, and then follow the light trail (another special thing for Christmas).  We would then leave the estate and drive 20min to Bicester Village where the outlet shops are.  Dinner would be at somewhere convenient.  Finally we would then drive 40min to Tring where our inn was.

Ok, set, go!


An overview of the stables where it was really crowded

K was very intrigued by this pop up doll house

How many people does it take to figure out where we are?
A banker, a shipping exec, a lawyer and an eye specialist...

Soon the sun started to set and by 430pm it was pitch dark.  The moon was out and I took quite a few dusk pics.  I especially love taking pics of bare branched trees in winter.  There is something magical about them I think.


It's like seeing the skeletons of the trees

More skeletons

Yes one more :)

I will save the best for last (in my view).  The romantic looking Waddesdon Manor all lit up with the moon in the sky.  What a beautiful place and I'm so glad we came near Christmastime to see it in all its glory.  This is probably one of the few places which we visited that had minimal tourists.  Again it's because…. this is in the middle of nowhere.


It's funny how we change our minds within that afternoon.  When we arrived we marvelled at the sight in front of us and dreamily said "if only we own such an estate!".  By the time we left, we were all tired out and said "omg no no, too big!"  Can you imagine walking from one end to the other?


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