Hughenden 1940s weekend

Join us for Hughenden’s annual wartime weekend on the 16 and 17 September 2017 from 10am until 5pm each day.  Step back into the 1940s when the manor was a secret Air Ministry mapping base.

Keep calm and have a splendid day! 

Pick up a programme to discover a variety of exhibits, demonstrations and performances taking place each day. Live music from the period will be provided by The Polka Dots, Marina Mae, Fiona Harrison and Ross Hardman.

Watch a mortar firing demonstration and a skirmish between British and German infantry, or have a go at our Home Guard drill and enjoy a close up view of period vehicles on display.

Younger visitors will enjoy the pedal planes, activity dugout, flight simulator and  the regular  Punch and Judy shows throughout the weekend.

A Spitfire and Hurricane flypast by the Royal Airforce Memorial Flight is planned for both days. (Please note this may be subject to short notice change due to adverse weather conditions and other factors.)

Eat for victory!

Our stableyard café will be serving a selection of hot and cold meals as well as sandwiches, cakes and scones. Dizzy’s tearoom will be open for cakes and drinks, or treat yourself to tea and cake from our vintage tea tent on the South Lawn. They'll also be a vintage ice cream van and hog roast stall, providing plenty of choice for all the family.

Bringing a picnic? Hughenden's picnic orchard has plenty of space to relax and play. 

Find a selection of heritage and nostalgic items for sale in the shop including books and music. In special celebration of the 1940s weekend Chiltern Brewery have created limited edition Battle of Britain ale, which will be available to buy and take home.

Please note there will be no house tour, Disraeli talks or garden talk running on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September. There will be two Operation Hillside talks running at 11am and 2:30pm, both meeting at the front of the Manor. 

Our car park gets very busy so you may be asked to use one of our overflow areas. Please let a member of staff know if you need assistance.

Facilities for families

Baby-changing facilities can be found in the disabled toilet in the stableyard. 

Buggies are welcome around site, but not inside the manor (hip carriers can be borrowed free of charge from the front desk). Hughenden is on the top of a hill so some paths are steep and paths through the woodland are rough and uneven in places. 

Looking for more things to do? You'll find a woodland play trail adjacent to the pedestrian path from the car park, activities in the walled garden and dressing up inside the manor.