Your kids will love Chartwell’s 80-acre adventure playground featuring a magical two-storey treehouse, woodland trails, and den-building spots scattered across meadows and lakes. You’ll explore Churchill’s preserved 1930s home, discover his painting studio with 500+ artworks, and enjoy interactive WWII exhibits that make history come alive. The estate offers perfect picnic spots, seasonal family trails, nature detective activities, and year-round events that transform every visit into an unforgettable learning adventure that’ll keep your family coming back for more discoveries.
- Natural Play Area Offers 80 Acres of Adventure
- Historic House Tours Transport Families to the 1930s
- Gardens and Lakes Provide Perfect Picnic Spots
- Treehouse and Canadian Camp Create Magical Exploration
- Churchill’s Painting Studio Inspires Young Artists
- Family Trails Encourage Active Discovery
- Seasonal Events Keep Every Visit Fresh
- Educational Opportunities Bring History to Life
- Woodland Spotter Sheets Turn Kids Into Nature Detectives
- The Sum Up
Natural Play Area Offers 80 Acres of Adventure
When your family steps onto Chartwell’s sprawling 80-acre grounds, you’ll discover a natural playground that turns the entire estate into one massive adventure zone. Your kids won’t find typical swings or slides here – instead, they’ll explore authentic woodland trails, climb a two-storey treehouse, and investigate a real bomb crater from wartime history.
The estate encourages wild, unstructured play across woodlands, gardens, and rolling countryside. Your children can build dens using scattered sticks, follow woodland spotter sheets on family strolls, and create their own adventures around the Canadian camp. During special seasons, families can also enjoy outdoor theatre performances that bring stories to life in this natural setting.
With looped trails connecting different play zones, you’ll find magical opportunities for exploration and imaginative games throughout this expansive natural playground that feels more like a treasure hunt than traditional recreation.
Historic House Tours Transport Families to the 1930s
As you step through Chartwell’s front door, your family will travel back nearly 90 years to experience the Churchill home exactly as it appeared in the 1930s.
You’ll enter the bright Sitting Room first, where Lady Churchill later slept. Then explore the Family Bedroom showcasing all five Churchill children’s lives.
Kids love discovering the Drawing Room where Churchill played card games and collected 898 inscribed books from famous friends.
The Library served as his writing headquarters and secret meeting spot for wartime planning.
Don’t miss the Museum Room’s treasures, including Churchill’s Nobel Prize and a vintage “Wanted” poster. The rooms are displayed as if the family just left, creating an immersive experience that captivates visitors of all ages.
Self-guided tours run March through October, making history feel alive and accessible.
Gardens and Lakes Provide Perfect Picnic Spots
Eighty sprawling acres of beautiful grounds await your family at Chartwell, offering countless spots to spread out your picnic blanket and enjoy lunch surrounded by history. You’ll find designated picnic tables near the car park for convenience, or venture onto the grassy meadows for a more adventurous dining experience.
The scenic Kent Weald provides a stunning backdrop while Churchill’s personally created lakes add tranquil water views to your meal.
Lady Churchill’s famous rose garden and the traditional kitchen garden frame your dining areas beautifully. The hillside terrain means you can choose elevated spots with panoramic views or seek shaded woodland areas along the looped trails. Pack a variety of colourful, nutritious foods including proteins, healthy fats, and fresh fruits and vegetables to create a balanced meal for your family.
If packing lunch feels overwhelming, don’t worry—the Landemare Café offers delicious hot meals, snacks, and cakes to fuel your family’s exploration.
Treehouse and Canadian Camp Create Magical Exploration
Beyond the gardens and picnic areas, your children will discover adventure waiting in Chartwell’s enchanting treehouse and Canadian Camp. This two-storey structure, built over 90 years ago and enjoyed by the Churchill family, offers lofty woodland views and features an exciting slide for descent.
Your kids will test their climbing skills and balance while reaching the upper level, building confidence with each step.
The Canadian Camp area connects children to fascinating Second World War history, where Canadian soldiers once camped in these very woods. Here, your little ones can engage in makeshift camping, cook pretend meals, and create their own adventure stories.
The woodland setting encourages den-building and unstructured exploration, allowing children to develop collaborative scenarios while connecting to Churchill family history through interactive play. These activities provide a perfect mix of structured activities and free play that support well-rounded development.
Churchill’s Painting Studio Inspires Young Artists
After exploring the woodland adventures, your young artists will find inspiration in Churchill’s personal painting studio, where the great statesman created over 500 works of art. You’ll discover hundreds of paintings covering subjects from Chartwell’s goldfish pond to exotic Marrakesh landscapes. The studio walls display canvases floor-to-ceiling, just as Churchill arranged them during his lifetime.
Your kids can see his actual easel and armchair alongside unfinished works, showing the creative process in action. Churchill built this space himself in the 1930s, laying each brick to create his dedicated painting sanctuary. He found painting served as an antidote to depression and a powerful way to revive his spirits during challenging times.
The interactive displays help children understand how Churchill transformed from a beginner in 1915 to a skilled landscape artist, proving anyone can develop artistic talents through practice and passion.
Family Trails Encourage Active Discovery
While Churchill’s artistic legacy captivates young minds, Chartwell’s 80 acres of grounds transform into an adventure playground where families can explore through specially designed trails and natural play areas.
You’ll discover the Little People BIG DREAMS Trail running from 19 July to 7 September, featuring activities about 25 extraordinary people for just £3.
During winter, the Jock Saves Christmas Trail offers festive fun from 20 November to 4 January with tree decorating and animal-spotting adventures.
Your kids can climb the two-storey treehouse, test their skills on balance beams in the WWII bomb crater, and build dens at the Canadian camp.
The looped trails encourage free active play while you explore everything from quarry swings engraved with Churchill’s children’s names to the charming Marycot Playhouse he built for daughter Mary. These paths connect to a circular walk that extends beyond Chartwell to include nearby Emmetts Garden, passing through the scenic Toys Hill and Hosey Common woodland areas.
Seasonal Events Keep Every Visit Fresh
Throughout the year, Chartwell transforms with special events and seasonal programming that make each visit feel like discovering something completely new. Christmas brings magical animal-themed decorations inspired by Churchill’s beloved pets, including butterflies he raised and Jock the marmalade cat.
You’ll explore lavishly decorated trees, shiny baubles, and enchanting displays throughout the house and gardens from late November through early January.
The Chartwell Christmas Family Trail lets kids follow Jock’s quest to save Christmas across the grounds for just £3.50 per participant. Live carol performances create a festive atmosphere, while guided tours share historic Churchill family holiday traditions.
Winter adventure trails encourage seasonal exploration with frost-covered garden walks and conservation-focused ranger-led circuits around the estate. Summer brings the exciting Summer of Play event from July through August, celebrating outdoor family activities across the property’s expansive grounds.
Educational Opportunities Bring History to Life
Beyond the magical seasonal events, Chartwell offers incredible educational opportunities that transform history lessons into exciting adventures your kids will actually remember. Your children can explore Churchill’s actual studio where he painted to relieve wartime stress, complete with his easel and unfinished canvases. They’ll discover original manuscripts at his writing desk, where he authored over 50 books and won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
The interactive exhibits make World War II come alive through aviation displays featuring model airplanes from the Battle of Britain. Kids can experience Churchill’s famous BBC broadcasts in the V for Victory studio and examine real wartime strategy maps he used for military planning. These experiences mirror the interdisciplinary courses that combine multiple subjects to help students understand connections between art, history, and communication.
The Map Room teaches Allied coordination tactics, while touchscreen simulations let them try code-breaking activities connected to intelligence efforts.
Woodland Spotter Sheets Turn Kids Into Nature Detectives
After soaking up all that fascinating history, your little explorers can channel their newfound detective skills into the great outdoors with Chartwell’s exciting woodland spotter sheets. These printable guides transform nature walks into thrilling treasure hunts where kids search for birds, squirrels, creepy crawlies, and seasonal plants throughout the estate’s 80 acres.
The family activity trail runs from 20 November through 4 January, costing just £3.50 and including a prize for completion. Armed with their spotter sheets, children collect stamps while identifying trees, fruits, seeds, and wildlife along the trail path. Kids can even share their exciting discoveries by posting images on social media platforms to connect with other young nature enthusiasts.
This hands-on approach builds observation skills and encourages engagement with nature across different seasons, making every woodland adventure feel like a genuine detective mission.
The Sum Up
You’ll discover that Chartwell isn’t just another historic house – it’s an adventure playground where history comes alive! Your kids will love exploring the treehouse, spotting wildlife, and trying their hand at painting like Churchill. With 80 acres to roam, picnic spots galore, and activities that change with the seasons, you’re guaranteed a day packed with fun, learning, and memories that’ll last forever. Pack your sense of adventure!
