Discover Waddesdon Manor’s snowdrops & more 

Liz Nicholls

As the season changes, Waddesdon Manor’s historic gardens transform into a winter spectacle, so why not plan a visit? 

Waddesdon’s striking French Renaissance-style château is surrounded by expansive parkland and manicured gardens, originally designed in the late 19th century for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Each season brings its own charm, but winter holds a special magic with early spring-flowering snowdrops, striking winter shrubs, and picturesque views that are only visible before the trees come into leaf.  

Image: Chris Lacey

This February, swathes of snowdrops will create impressive displays across Waddesdon’s gardens, including at the top of Daffodil Valley, the Tulip Patch and Baron’s Walk, where both single and double-flowering varieties flourish in the secluded woodland. A particularly poignant feature is the expanse of 83,000 snowdrop bulbs planted in 2019 in memory of the late Lady Rothschild—one thousand bulbs for each year of her life—forming a magnificent tribute between the Aviary Garden, Rose Garden, and Tay Bridge that continues to captivate visitors.  

For those eager to explore further, Waddesdon’s wider estate includes Eythrope, a private Rothschild garden boasting more than 70 different snowdrop varieties. Introduced in the early 1990s, these delicate blooms flourish near the walled kitchen garden and in naturalised drifts beneath the trees in the parkland and woodland garden. Exclusive Eythrope Parkland Spring Tours provide an opportunity to enjoy these displays, available by guided tour only and including lunch and Grounds admission to Waddesdon. 

Did you know… 

• In 2019, an additional 83,000 snowdrop bulbs were planted in Waddesdon’s gardens in memory of the late Lady Rothschild. 

• Over 100,000 daffodil bulbs transform Daffodil Valley into carpet of yellow each year. 

• For Spring 2025, nearly 20,000 daffodil, tulip, and hyacinth bulbs, along with over 19,000 bedding plants, will create seasonal formal bedding displays at the Parterre, Aviary, and North Avenue.