25th November 2025

We have been decidedly recalcitrant this year in regard to taking day trips, allowing the weeks to slip by without venturing far. Now that Christmas is just around the corner and National Trust houses are being dressed for the festive season, there was finally no excuse for not making a trip. Our usual local NT site, Waddesdon Manor, has unfortunately priced itself out of our range. It was charging an eye-watering £15.50 just for NT members to enter the grounds.

So, instead, we made the wise decision to take a trip down to Mottisfont. They are well-known for always delivering a truly imaginative and immersive themed dressing of their house, and this year’s theme was no exception, centring on the classic fairytale Cinderella.

The day itself was dry but carried a definite winter chill. Despite it being an early weekday, the car park was surprisingly full—a testament to the site’s popularity. We arrived in time for a quick, early lunch before heading into the main event: a tour around the house.

The dressing for the Cinderella theme was cleverly decorated in true fairytale style. The various rooms brought scenes from the fairytale to life, all tied together by the motif of countless little mice (rodents, as the one room steward put it). They were playfully hidden in the decorations for children (and sharp-eyed adults!) to find and count. We saw glittering glass slippers, ballgowns, and imaginative recreations of the scullery and the Fairy Godmother’s magic. R claimed one mouse looked a tad hamstery!

Mottisfont Garden

Following the house tour, we bundled up for a walk along the river, following the special ‘Cinders’ trail marked out in the grounds. This led us on a circuit that included a visit to the beautiful Winter Garden. The walk offered a tranquil counterpoint to the house’s drama. Our final stop before heading home was the second-hand bookshop. Here even Steve, notoriously selective, came away triumphant with four excellent sci-fi books. The lady was very happy to sell us our 9 books!

Finally, we enjoyed a much-needed tea in the café, which was thankfully where I was reunited with my left-behind hat. The perfect warming end to a successful day trip.