Winter family exploration at Chartwell

Grab your wellies and get out this winter exploring the 80 acres of gardens and countryside at Chartwell. With wild play areas and family trails there's plenty to keep them busy, plus family-friendly eating places and facilities for when you need a quick pit stop.

Explore the woods at Chartwell, a National Trust property in Kent — Go wild in the woods at Chartwell

Chartwell Kent

50 Things activities to complete at Chartwell this winter

Winter is the perfect time for bird watching, tracking wild animals, running around in the rain and lots more. You’ll just need to wrap up warm and you can take them all on.

Find your activity

The Marycot

The Marycot in the kitchen garden is a little brick house built by Winston Churchill himself for his two daughters Mary and Sarah. Everything is scaled down with a nearby notice announcing 'Children only' (though we won't blame the adults for joining in the fun). A great place to play and let your imagination run wild. Please note that the Marycot is closed Mon-Fri whilst we redecorate.

Chickens in the garden at Chartwell, a National Trust property in Kent — Find Chickenham Palace in the kitchen garden at Chartwell

Chickenham Palace

Also in our kitchen garden is the famous(ish) Chickenham Palace. It's home to all kinds of bantam chickens, each with their unique colouring and feathering. Which one will be your favourite?

A child playing on a seesaw at a National Trust property — How high can you bounce?

Seesaws

Make sure you bring a friend along with you to Chartwell so you can have a go on our new seesaws - made by our countryside team from wood from the estate. How high can you get? You can find the see saws in the old quarry.

Dormouse dens

Head further in the woods and you'll come across our dormouse dens. Help us make these cosy homes by layering and weaving sticks and branches around the outside and don't forget to pad them out with leaves. Can you pretend to be a dormouse?

Balance beams

Follow the upper path through the woods and you'll come across our balance beams. Can you walk across them all the way without falling off?

A young girl plays in a hammock at Chartwell, a National Trust property in Kent — Relax in a hammock in our Canadian camp

Canadian camp

Canadians camped out here in the woods at Chartwell during the Second World War. When there was an air raid they would cover up the lakes, so the German pilots would not recognise Chartwell from the air. Hold your own camp here, relax in the hammocks, 'cook' up a storm and plot your adventure.

Bomb crater

During the second world war, bombs allegedly fell on the estate at Chartwell as the planes left London. The crater left behind by one of these bombs is just the place to have some family fun. Can you use the ropes to escape the crater? Only one way to find out.

Children playing on the tree house — Have you visited our tree house yet?

Chartwell Kent

Help us build a treehouse

We want to build a treehouse in the woods, just like Churchill once did for his children. This treehouse will be another way for us to share Chartwell’s stories with you, and to captivate the younger generations with the Churchill family story. Donate to the Chartwell appeal today and help us see this treehouse come to life.

Donate to the Chartwell appeal and help us build a treehouse

Family facilities at Chartwell

Baby changing facilities can be found by the visitor welcome centre, the toilets behind the shop and the toilets just beyond the croquet lawn in the garden. The café has a yummy children's menu, bottle warming and high chairs. Want to find a more secluded spot to breast feed? Just ask a member of staff. There's a picnic area with tables adjacent to the overflow car park and you're welcome to bring a blanket and picnic on the slopes by the lakes. Please note scooters and trikes are not suitable at Chartwell.