What to Expect
Welcome to Waterperry Opera Festival
Each summer, Waterperry Opera Festival transforms the historic house and gardens into a world of music, creativity, and community.
Here, you can experience world-class performances surrounded by nature, explore beautiful gardens, and make a day of it with friends and family.
As Daily Info once wrote:
“Waterperry Opera Festival uses the gardens to full artistic effect, making them integral to the performances rather than simply a beautiful addition.”
Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, here’s everything you need to know to plan your day.
Arrival & Wristbands
When you arrive at Waterperry, please head to our Festival Box Office Tent, located beside the Picnic Lawn (you’ll find it clearly signposted from the car park — and marked on our Festival Map (link to Festival Map)).
Here, our friendly stewarding team will:
Check your booking
Issue your festival wristband — your pass for access to both the performances and the beautiful Waterperry Gardens
Provide directions to your performance venue
Once you’ve collected your wristband, you can enjoy free access to the gardens throughout the day.
If you’d like to explore the gardens before the Box Office opens (link to Box Office Opening Times), you’ll need to purchase a garden entry ticket directly from Waterperry Gardens at standard public prices.
Free events are excluded from complimentary garden access.
Garden Access
Your festival ticket includes garden entry during Box Office opening hours (link to hours), allowing you to explore the estate’s herbaceous borders, Mary Rose Garden, Waterlily Canal, and other treasures between performances.
Please ensure all belongings are cleared from the formal gardens by the end of the evening interval.
To find out more about the gardens themselves, visit the Waterperry Gardens website.
Performances & Venues
Waterperry Opera Festival’s performances take place across several beautiful and unique spaces around the estate:
Mainstage – our grand open-air stage on the front lawn of Waterperry House
Amphitheatre – an intimate, stone-seated outdoor space set amongst the trees
Ballroom – a stunning Georgian room within Waterperry House
Garden Glade – a serene natural setting for chamber music and smaller-scale performances
The Orangery – a creative home for our family craft workshops
You’ll find full venue information, including accessibility and directions, on our Accessibility and Festival Map pages.
Our stewards will guide you to your venue — please arrive at the Box Office at least 30 minutes before your performance.
Latecomers will be admitted only at suitable points in the performance.
Dress Code
Our festival atmosphere is relaxed and informal — we want you to feel completely comfortable.
There’s no dress code, but we encourage you to dress for the weather and to bring layers for cooler evenings.
Many of our guests enjoy dressing up a little for evening performances or special occasions, but it’s entirely up to you. Smart-casual or “country chic” works beautifully among the gardens!
Dining, Picnicking & Intervals
Food and drink are a cherished part of the Waterperry experience.
You are very welcome to bring your own picnic or to book one of our delicious pre-ordered Waterperry Hampers, reserve a Dining Pavilion tables or book for our Lawn Restaurant.
For evening performances, the gardens open for dining and picnicking from 5.30pm.
Settle in among the flowers and enjoy your meal before or during the interval — it’s one of the most magical parts of a Waterperry evening.
For full details, visit our Food & Drink page (link to Food and Drink Page)
Weather & What to Bring
Performances at Waterperry Opera Festival are held in the open air — it’s part of what makes the experience so special.
Our shows go ahead in most weather conditions, so please dress appropriately and bring waterproofs or layers as needed.
Umbrellas are not permitted in performance areas, as they obstruct the view of other audience members.
We recommend bringing:
A picnic blanket or cushion for comfort
Water and a reusable bottle (refills available on-site)
Sun protection for daytime shows
A torch or phone light for safely navigating paths at night
If the weather is severe enough to endanger performers or audience safety, the performance may be paused or rescheduled — please see our Ticket Policy (link to refunds/ exchanges policy) for details.
Before You Go
Check our production pages for performance time, venue, and running length.
Plan your route and parking in advance via Getting to Waterperry.
Allow extra time for traffic and wristband collection.
Have your e-tickets ready (printed or on your phone) for smooth check-in.
Festival Atmosphere
The Waterperry experience is more than a performance — it’s a celebration.
Between acts, you might hear musicians rehearsing through the trees, see families picnicking on the lawns, or meet our artists and volunteers around the estate.
It’s a festival built on creativity, inclusivity, and community — a place where music and nature meet.
“It’s more like Glastonbury than Glyndebourne — the festival bringing opera to a new generation.”
— The Telegraph