Discover more at Chartwell
Find out when Chartwell is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Family-friendly things to do at Chartwell
Keep the whole family busy with a visit to Chartwell. There's so much to see with 80 acres of grounds to explore and plenty of fun and games to discover.
Marycot closed 16-20 June
From 16 to 20 June, the Marycot playhouse in the Walled Garden will be closed for maintenance.
Current and upcoming family events
Summer activities for families
Summer at Chartwell with Little People, BIG DREAMS®
Saturday 19 July–Saturday 7 September, 10am–4pm
The Little People, BIG DREAMS® trail at Chartwell encourages kids to be bold, be brave and dream big this summer. Join us in celebrating some of the world’s most outstanding people, using artworks from the bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS® picture-book series.
The fascinating trail invites you into the stories of little artists, activists, writers, and scientists from all over the world. Six of our 25 featured characters were chosen by the local school children from Crockham Hill.
The trail costs £3, including a lanyard with activity pack. The character spotting trail takes places across the site including the house, gardens, and woodland. There will be activities to enjoy inspired by the stories of our lead characters. Normal admission or National Trust Membership also applies, but under 5s get free entry.
Books from the series will be available to purchase from the shop beside the Landemare Café.
Find out more about Summer at Chartwell with Little People, BIG DREAMS®.
Outdoor Theatre: 'Upstream' by Smoking Apples
4 August and 28 August, two performances on each day at 11–11.30am and 2–2.30pm.
Created by the award-winning puppetry and theatre company, Smoking Apples, we invite you into the enchanting world of Lyra, a fearless young water explorer.
Performances are free with normal admission to Chartwell. Pre-booking is not required. Suitable for the entire family. Aimed at ages 4-11.
Find out more Outdoor Theatre: Upstream by Smoking Apples.
Planning your family visit
- Children under 5 go free
- Family-friendly audio guides available from the Visitor Centre
- Accessible buggy-friendly paths highlighted on the Chartwell map
- Some parts of the woodland may present a challenge to buggies
- Baby changing facilities by the Visitor Centre and in the garden
- High chairs and children’s lunch boxes available in the café
- Picnic area with tables near the car park or bring a blanket and picnic on the slopes by the lakes
- Spotter sheet to complete as you explore the house
- Scooters and trikes and ball games are not suitable at Chartwell
Family-friendly things to do in the grounds
There's plenty of places to play and run around outdoors at Chartwell.
Treehouse
Be captivated by history and adventure in the treehouse at Chartwell. The Churchill family enjoyed their own treehouse here over 90 years ago. Children will love to climb up the two-storey structure to take in the lofty views before sliding back down to earth.
Swings
Head up to the Old Quarry to discover our swings. Each swing is engraved with the names and nicknames of Winston Churchill's children.
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. Children will enjoy testing their skills on the balance beams and using the ropes to escape the crater.
Canadian Camp
Canadians camped out 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 wouldn't recognise Chartwell from the air. Hold your own camp here, relax in the hammocks, 'cook' up a storm and plot your adventure.
Chickenham Palace
In our Walled 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?
Marycot
In a corner of the Walled Garden at Chartwell, you’ll find the enchanting ‘Marycot’, a little brick house built by Winston Churchill for his daughter Mary. A great place to play and let your imagination run wild.
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Little People, BIG DREAMS trail at Chartwell
Little People, BIG DREAMS® at Chartwell encourages kids to be bold, be brave and dream big. Discover artists, activists and adventurers as well as scientists, musicians and writers on a trail that takes you through the gardens and house with activities inspired the bestselling picture-book biography series. Six of the 25 featured characters were selected by the children and teachers from nearby Crockham Hill Primary School. 19 July–7 September 2025, 10am–4pm. Normal admission applies. £3 for lanyard with activity pack.
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