Waddesdon’s wild wonders, including family wanders!

Liz Nicholls

Activities & Events, Round and About

Among the wonders at Waddesdon manor this month are two highlights from the Zoolab animal-lovers, including exotic animal handling & a woodland trail

Do you love wildlife? Well, make a beeline for Waddesdon manor this month where you can get up close and personal to creatures from afar as well as our own native neighbours who live in the woods!

The Zoolab team are offering Creepy Critters sessions, 11am-4pm on 18th, 20th, 26th & 27th October, when you can meet your witch or wizard host who will introduce you to an array of fascinating creatures, including snakes, lizards, tarantulas, and much more.

These fun, interactive shows are suitable for all ages and are the perfect way to enjoy some spooky Halloween fun with family and friends; adult £6pp, child £8, plus normal grounds admission applies.

The Autumn Adventure Trail, 10am-4pm from 2nd to October (except 7th & 8th) invites you to pick up your trail map and resources pack and take a walk down Miss Alice’s Drive to find all the animal signs. Along the way, Zoolab characters will introduce you to some amazing animals you might find in the woods here in the UK. Keep your eyes peeled for wild squirrels, birds and bugs; free with grounds admission.

And the animal antics don’t stop there! The Flights of Fancy: Birds at Waddesdon exhibition runs until 27th October, as does the Guercino: King David and the Wise Women exhibition. The autumn game dinner on 19th is sold out but why not book in for a spooky afternoon tea on 26th or 27th October?

Autumn is a season of beautiful change, and now until early November it is a great time to explore the gardens at Waddesdon as they transition to hues to scarlet, gold and orange. Collect conkers as you go and warm up with a hot drink from one of Waddesdon’s food-to-go outlets.

It’s also your last chance (until 20th October) to catch up the Guercino at Waddesdon: King David and the Wise Women exhibition in the Red Ante Room in the House, Wed-Sun, 11am-4pm. Over 350 years since they were created, five paintings by renowned Bolognese painter Guercino are on display together for the first time in a historic exhibition at Waddesdon.

Shining a spotlight on one of the great painters of 17th-century Italy, this exhibition brings together King David and Guercino’s depiction of three sibyls – female prophets from classical antiquity – alongside his recently rediscovered Baroque masterpiece Moses, which is on display to the public for the first time ever. Free with house and grounds admission.

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