What’s on at wonderful Waterperry this year
Waterperry, just outside Oxford, is a popular summer destination for many of our local music and arts lovers.
Here is the list of everything that is going on in the Arts at Waterperry Gardens this year.
Waterperry Gardens 2024 events:
Handmade Oxford 2024: Friday, June 21 and Saturday 22, 10am-5pm, Sunday 23, 10am-4pm
Handmade Oxford will bring together over 150 of the most exciting UK-based makers featuring a curated selection of fine arts and craft including Jewellery, Fashion & Textiles, Ceramics & Glass, Sculpture, and more. Handmade Oxford also offers a packed programme of craft workshops, demonstrations, and engaging talks, which will keep visitors occupied throughout the festival whilst enjoying the beautiful gardens, there will certainly be something for everyone. Live music by local musicians and local artisan food will add to the fun festival atmosphere. Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information and booking details.
Hamlet – The Lord Chamberlain’s Men: Sunday, June 30, 7pm-9pm (doors open at 6pm)
The Lord Chamberlain’s men will be presenting one of the greatest plays ever written – Hamlet. Join them this year as they stage this extraordinary play and ask the biggest question of all – to be or not to be. Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information and booking details.
Songs of Love at Waterperry – vOx Chamber Choir: Saturday, July 13, 5pm (doors open at 4.30pm)
vOx will be performing love songs, folk songs and madrigals from Monteverdi to Lauridsen in the stunning surroundings of the amphitheatre at Waterperry Gardens. The ticket price includes admission to the eight acres of landscaped gardens designed by Beatrix Havergal during an extended interval. All ages are welcome (under 14s must be accompanied by an adult).
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information and booking details.
Celebrating Ceramics and Desire Jewellery & Silversmithing: July 19-21
Craft In Focus is making a spectacular comeback to Waterperry Gardens with not one, but two fantastic events this year – the Celebrating Ceramics Festival and the Desire Jewellery and Silversmithing Fair. Visit to meet, engage with and purchase from over 200 talented exhibitors on the lawns in front of Waterperry House. One ticket gives admission to both events.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information and booking details.
Summer Garden Trail: Wednesday, July 24, 10am to Sunday, September 1, 5.30pm
Orienteering family fun during the summer holidays. Enjoy exploring the ornamental gardens, using directions and clues to follow the sculpture trail! £4.50 per child with a prize (compass supplied), tickets available from the Gift Barn, pre-booking not required. Children must be accompanied by an adult for whom the standard garden entrance fee applies.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information.
The Wind In The Willows: The Musical presented by Boxtree Productions: Sat, 27th July, 5pm - 7.30pm
When Mole gets fed up with cleaning her home she decides to leave her burrow and head out on an adventure! She meets Ratty, Toad and Badger and discovers a love of the river and the joy of the open road. However, that egocentric Toad is convinced to steal a car by those meddling weasels! Featuring hilarious comedy, magic and fantastic toe-tapping songs be sure of an evening of wonderful open-air theatre that the whole family will enjoy.
The Performances will begin at 5pm and will be approximately 2hrs long including an advised 20-minute interval.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information and booking details.
Moonrakers: Sunday, July 28, 6pm-8.30pm
Four-piece Moonrakers (www.moonrakers.net) perform sparkling and unique arrangements of traditional British folk songs and tunes as well as their own compositions. Their multi-instrumental show comprises harp, cello, fretted instruments, whistles, and female/male vocals.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information and booking details.
Waterperry Opera Festival 2024: Friday, August 9 - Sunday, August 18
The opera festival with a difference… not just grand opera, but family fun and entertainment too over 10 days across the Waterperry Estate.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information and booking details.
Oxford Storytelling Festival: Friday, August 23 - Sunday, 25
The fourth year of this intimate weekend festival, weaving magic with stories, spoken word, poetry and song. A true feast for the senses. We are very excited to be able, once again, to present some of the UK’s best storytellers alongside some exciting musicians and entertainers, in a beautiful setting: Waterperry House and Gardens.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information and booking details.
Waterperry House Open weekend: Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1, 10am-5.30pm
A chance to meet the owners of Waterperry Estate, the School of Philosophy and Economic Science. Varied selection of lectures, talks and tours throughout the ‘open house’ weekend. No pre-booking is required, house open from 10am until 5.30m.There will also be opportunities to have guided tours of the frescoes and other areas of the house throughout the day in addition to tours of the ice house.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information.
The Little Mermaid presented by IK Productions: Saturday, August 31, 5pm - 6.30pm
Escape into the open air this summer with IK Productions summer show, The Little Mermaid, taking place in the wonderful setting of the Amphitheatre. IKP’s unmistakable brand of “delightfully daft” family theatre is back in Summer 2024 for another adventure for all ages.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information and booking details.
Apple Weekend: Saturday, October 12 - Sunday 13, 10am-5pm
A great family day out where you will be able to sample and buy many of our different types of juices. Advice and information on growing, planting, apple identification and selecting trees and rootstock will be freely available on the day. Buy goodies at the craft and food fair, take a tour of the orchards & fruit sheds including a behind-the-scenes visit to see our apple press in action (tours are £4 per adult or free with garden entrance and for season ticket holders). No need to pre-book.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information.
Halloween Hunt in the Gardens: Saturday, October 26 - Sunday, November 3, 10am-5pm
Take part in the Waterperry Halloween Hunt throughout the October half term. £3.95 per child with a prize (children must be accompanied by an adult for whom the garden entrance fee applies). No need to pre-book.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information.
Grounddog Day: Sunday, November 10, 10am-5pm
Because of the high standards of horticulture Waterperry aspires to, dogs are not normally allowed in the ornamental gardens, however, they know that dogs are a part of your family so for just one day this year they’re allowing dogs into the formal gardens to see what they are missing! (normal garden entrance fee applies). 10 per cent of garden entries for the day will go to the Oxford Animal Sanctuary. No need to pre-book.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information.
November & December Christmas Markets: November 23 & 24 and December 7 & 8, 10am until 5pm
Get into the Christmas spirit at Waterperry Gardens by visiting one of the Christmas Markets. There will be a number of Arts and Craft Stalls with gorgeous handmade gift ideas and festive food and drink all nestled under cover in the plant area, with Christmas shopping from the Gallery, Gift Barn and Christmas Shop and festive events for the children. So wrap up warm and have a browse at what’s on offer!
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information.
Find Santa’s Reindeer: Saturday, November 23 - Tuesday, December 24, 10am-5pm
Help Rudolph find his friends who are lost all around the gardens! £3.95 per child with a prize. Children must be accompanied by an adult for whom the normal garden entrance fee applies. No pre-booking required.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information.
Real Reindeer. Come and meet these beautiful creatures: Saturday, November 23 & Sunday 24, 11.30am until 2.30pm
Real live reindeer. for this one weekend you and your family will have the opportunity to meet real reindeer. You will be able to get very close, have photos taken and even feed them. Knowledgeable handlers will be able to tell you all about them. Reindeer2Hire is a family run business based in ‘Oxfordshire’ and born out of a passion for sharing these beautiful animals with the public to enthral and to educate. Every one of the reindeer is truly loved and cared for to the highest standard. The reindeer live with them their entire lives on their countryside farm near Oxford. Waterperry Gardens has the highest regard for all creatures and would not be hosting this event if they had any doubts about the way these reindeer are treated and the quality of their lives. Adults will have to pay low-season garden entry to see the reindeer and children do have to be accompanied by an adult. No pre-booking is required.
Visit the What’s On page on www.waterperrygardens.co.uk for more information.
VOLUNTEERING
It is possible to volunteer for all the bigger events, including opera, arts and crafts and story telling, an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Check out the Waterperry website for more information.
