Discover more at Chartwell
Find out when Chartwell is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Chartwell 60: Marking the 60th anniversary of Chartwell’s opening to the public
In 2026, the National Trust is marking 60 years since Chartwell opened to the public on 22 June 1966. With opportunities to discover our past, celebrate the present and contribute your own memories, find out more about how you can take part.
The ‘Chartwell 60’ story begins with the transformation of the Churchills’ much-loved family home into a treasured place for members of the public to visit. Temporary displays inside the house and outdoors share how the Churchill family worked with the National Trust to help shape those early years. Visit Chartwell from 23 May to 19 July to learn about how much has changed through time, and how little.
Inside the House
Self-led visits
23 May to 19 July 2026, daily from 11, last entry 3.40pm
Look out for the new, temporary display in the Sitting Room Annexe which helps to tell the Chartwell 60 story. Volunteer room stewards are on hand to share information about the objects on display from the collection at Chartwell.
Entry into the house is by timed ticket, available on the day from the Visitor Centre on a first come first served basis. Normal admission applies.
Chartwell 60: Guided Highlights Tour
25 May–17 July 2026, 4pm Monday-Friday, excluding Bank Holidays
For a more personal experience of the House, join one of our expert volunteer guides on a tour of selected rooms as we celebrate the National Trust’s 60th anniversary of welcoming everyone to the Churchills’ family home. Selected rooms on this tour include Sir Winston Churchill's bedroom. Normal admission or National Trust membership applies as well as an additional fee for the guided tour. Spaces are limited; online pre-booking is advised.
Book the Chartwell 60 highlights tour.
In the garden
Displays in the grounds and outside the house share elements of the Chartwell 60 story. Find out more as you explore.
Chartwell 60: Garden tour
Monday, Thursday, Friday, 25 May–17 July 2026, 2–3pm
Join a free, volunteer-led guided tour exploring the ever‑changing landscape of Chartwell. From the Churchills’ own gardening passions to decades of National Trust care, this tour covers how the garden has grown, adapted and been preserved over time.
Learn about the plants and features introduced during the Churchill family’s tenure, the structural and botanical interventions made under the National Trust's ownership and the ongoing work that keeps the garden thriving today.
Whether you’re a keen gardener, a Churchill enthusiast, or simply curious about how historic landscapes are cared for, this tour offers a fascinating look at how the garden you see today came to be.
Please note, this tour is subject to volunteer availability, please ask at the Visitor Centre.
Find out more about the Chartwell 60: Garden tour.
Memory Lane
Discover iconic photo opportunities at key locations around Chartwell. Pause to admire the view, snap your own image, share them with your friends and ChartwellNT’s followers on Instagram and Facebook.
Chartwell 60 celebration weekend
Saturday 20–Sunday 21 June 2026
Join us on the lawn for a celebratory anniversary weekend with live music from local groups and dancing from Surrey Jive. Join in with the dancers or relax and soak up the joyful atmosphere this summer.
Bring along picnic or pick up something from our café. (Picnic blankets welcome, no gazebos or tables please.)
Come as you are or dressed in 1960s style. It’s the perfect event for family, friends and anyone who loves a good celebration.
Find out more about the Chartwell 60 celebration weekend.
Your Chartwell memories
Share your favourite Chartwell memories this summer. From April to July, we’re gathering a record of the moments that makes this place special, and in September, we’ll bring them together in a special outdoor display for everyone to enjoy.
We’re inviting you, our visitors, to share the moments, big or small, that have made Chartwell meaningful to you. We’ll be gathering your memories to form a special outdoor display of words and pictures for everyone to enjoy at the end of the summer.
There are several ways to share your favourite Chartwell memory, and you can take part in as many as you would like:
- Write a postcard and post it into one of our memory post boxes.
- Share a photo on social media and tag our official accounts on Instagram and Facebook.
- Submit your memory online via our dedicated online survey.
Whether it’s a first visit, a favourite view, a family moment, or a quiet place that means something to you, we’d love to hear it. Your memories will help create a heartfelt tribute to Chartwell’s past and the people who keep its story alive.
Return to Chartwell in September to discover the visitors’ stories woven into our shared history. Will one of your favourite memories be chosen?
Other ways to celebrate and support Chartwell
If you’ve been inspired by Chartwell 60, there are many other ways to help us continue the story for the next milestone year and beyond.
From adding gift aid contributions to your entry ticket to buying Chartwell souvenirs and enjoying your favourite National Trust treats in the café, every purchase you make during your visit helps us raise funds for the ongoing care of this special place.
Ask at the Visitor Centre about National Trust membership or to buy fundraising pin badges for a suggested donation of at least £3.
For more about donating to the National Trust: Make a charitable donation to the National Trust
Making the most of your day
If you’re coming to Chartwell Wednesday to Sunday or on a Bank Holiday Weekend, why not make the most of your day by combining your trip to Chartwell with a visit to nearby Quebec House? Step back in time to the Georgian era to discover ‘The Story of the Westerham Foundlings’ in a special new exhibition that links to Chartwell’s own history.
In the 1700s, Chartwell was a house and farmland known as Wellstreet. It was owned by Thomas Ellison of Westerham who was one of the governors of the London Foundling Hospital. Ellison also owned Quebec House, known then as Spiers. When the London Foundling Hospital (established by Thomas Coram in 1739) needed to open branch hospitals to meet the ever-increasing demands on its services, Ellison offered a lease on Wellstreet and in July 1760, the branch opened.
Over the course of nine years, 469 children passed through the doors of the Westerham branch. Today, a new exhibition created in collaboration with Coram, the UK’s first and longest serving Children’s Charity, sheds light on their story including the role of maternal love tokens and those created by local school children to honour the Westerham foundlings.
You may also be interested in
Chartwell: The National Trust story
The Trust’s story at Chartwell began whilst Winston Churchill and his family were still in residence. Discover how we helped to preserve a significant piece of British history.
Planning your visit to Chartwell
To help us protect the precious collection at Chartwell, you'll need a timed ticket to enter the house. Discover how to get yours and find out more about planning your visit.
Explore the house at Chartwell
Discover the beloved home of one of Britain's greatest politicians, Sir Winston Churchill. The house has many treasures and provides an intimate portrait of the Churchill family.
The garden at Chartwell
Enjoy the views that the Churchills chose Chartwell for, and explore the garden they created and loved, from Lady Churchill’s Rose Garden, to the Walled Garden Sir Winston helped build.
Quebec House
Childhood home of General James Wolfe, victor of the Battle of Quebec (1759)
