Chiltern Open Air Museum

Buckinghamshire

Type:Museum

Newlands Park, Gorelands Lane, CHALFONT ST. GILES, Buckinghamshire, HP8 4AB

Tel: 01494 871 117

Chiltern Open Air Museum

About

Chiltern Open Air Museum has an eclectic collection of over 30 rescued and reconstructed historic buildings that were the workplaces or homes of ordinary people. Within the Museum’s collection are WW1 and WW2 Nissen huts, 1940s post war prefab with a Dig for Victory allotment, Victorian toll house, replica Iron Age roundhouse, tin chapel, blacksmith’s forge, vicarage, earth cottage, medieval barn and lots more.

The Museum is a 45 acre site within the beautiful Chilterns countryside. There is a working historic farm with Old English goats, chickens, cows and Oxford Down sheep.

As well as a collection of historical buildings the Museum boasts a number of small traditional gardens that complement the buildings and suit their time periods. These include a formal Arts and Crafts garden, a pretty cottage garden, and a ‘dig for victory’ allotment next to the 1940s prefab. The cherry and apple orchards are full of heritage varieties, and the woods are carpeted with bluebells in spring.

The variety of historic buildings and close proximity of the museum to Pinewood Studios and London makes the Museum a popular filming venue. The site has been used for filming Downton Abbey, Horrible Histories, Grantchester, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, Midsomer Murders, Call the Midwife and many more.

The Museum has an award winning education program and holds popular educational, themed craft and activity days for families every Tuesday within Bucks school holidays. There is an extensive events program including historical re-enactments, living history and traditional heritage and skills.

There is a tea room that serves hot drinks, snacks and light lunches.

For children there is an adventure playground, sensory trail, opportunities to dress up and a woodland walk. There is also an orienteering course onsite, maps can be downloaded from the museum website or purchased at the ticket office.

The Museum has accessible toilets, baby change and mobility scooters that can be borrowed for free (advanced booking recommended).

Dogs on short leads are welcome on site.

Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Additional child ticket with family ticket£6.00 per ticket
Adult£10.50 per ticket
Annual Pass Holders FREEFree
Children (4-16 years old)£6.50 per ticket
Concession£9.50 per ticket
Family Ticket (2 Adults & 1 Child)£26.00 per ticket
Family Ticket (2 Adults & 2 Children)£32.00 per ticket
Family Ticket (2 Adults & 3 Children)£38.00 per ticket
Family Ticket 1 Adult & 2 Children£22.00 per ticket
Under 4 years freeFree

• Young Archaeologists Club Members 2 for 1 entry (cheapest goes free)
• Armed forces discount 2 for 1 entry on production of a valid ID (On full price adult and child tickets only. Cheapest goes free. Excludes Halloween Spectacular and Enchanted Museum event)

Group rates for pre-booked and pre-paid groups of 10 or more are £6 per person.

*The Museum is a charity and all admission prices include a voluntary donation of 10%. If you are a UK tax payer please tell our ticket officer that you are happy for the Museum to claim Gift Aid on your admission. Gift Aid donations to the Museum allow us to claim an extra 25% from the government on the total amount that you pay to us, at no extra cost to you.
Special Event prices may vary from the standard Museum entry charge.

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Facilities for Hearing Impaired Visitors
  • Facilities for Visually Impaired Visitors
  • Guide Dogs Permitted
  • Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
  • Ramp/Level Access
  • Wheelchair user accessible

Catering

  • On-Site cafe/restaurant
  • Picnic Site

Establishment Features

  • Dogs Accepted
  • Event Venue
  • Licensed for weddings & ceremonies
  • Staff fluent in foreign languages ** (List of languages are separately given) - We have a member of staff who is fluent in German. Please contact us in advance to ensure that she is available for your visit.
  • Toilets

Languages spoken

  • German spoken - We have a member of staff who is fluent in German. Please contact us in advance to ensure that she is available for your visit.

Parking & Transport

  • On site parking - There is also parking for coaches.
  • Parking (free)

Payment Methods

  • Approx length of visit - Anything from 2.5 hours to all day.
  • Blue Badge Guides admitted free
  • Delta accepted
  • Groups Accepted
  • Maestro Accepted
  • MasterCard accepted
  • Min group size - 10
  • Solo accepted
  • TIC Staff Admitted Free
  • Visa accepted

Provider Preferences

  • Forest Location - The Museum has a woodland.
  • In countryside
  • Outdoor Attraction - The Museum is outdoor but there are many buildings to shelter from the elements.
  • Smoking Some Areas
  • Village Location

Specialist Features

  • Family Fun
  • Marketed Towards Children
  • Marketed Towards Families
  • Marketed Towards Senior Citizens
  • Marketed towards student/youth

TripAdvisor

Map & Directions

Road Directions

The Museum is close to junction 17 of the M25 where you can then follow the brown tourist signs to the Museum.

The Museum is also signposted from the A413 at Chalfont St Peter and Chalfont St Giles.

Public Transport Directions

Nearest tube is Chalfont and Latimer which is on the Metropolitan Line and Chiltern Railways. The museum is a short taxi ride from the station.

Awards

  • Regional and Miscellaneous -Beautiful South Awards Winners 2019/20- Commended Beautiful South Awards Winners 2019/20- Commended 2019
  • Tourism South East Award -The Beautiful South - Awards for Excellence 2020 - 2021 Gold The Beautiful South - Awards for Excellence 2020 - 2021 Gold 2021
  • Tourism South East Award -Tourism South East Member 24/25 - Bronze Tourism South East Member 24/25 - Bronze 2024

Opening Times

2024 (1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024)

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