Chartwell (Westerham, United Kingdom)
Chartwell was the family home of Winston Churchill from 1922, and he spent as much time as he could there. It provided peace and tranquillity but was also within easy reach of Westminster. The Churchills extended and reorganised the Victorian house, and in particular landscaped and planted the gardens to their liking. During Churchill’s “wilderness years” of the 1930s he did much of his writing here, and he refurbished outbuildings as an art studio where over 100 of his paintings are now on display. The house is furnished as it would have been in the 1920s and 1930s, with family furniture and photos. Upstairs guest rooms have been converted into a small museum where Churchill’s awards and uniforms are on display. Outside are the extensive gardens including the kitchen garden and the rose garden presented to the Churchills on their golden wedding anniversary by their children. The house is now owned by the National Trust. Given the restricted space in some of the rooms, timed tickets are issued. Visitors with limited mobility should be aware that there are some steep slopes in the grounds and stairs in the house. Car parking is available on a pay and display basis. Dogs on a lead are allowed in the gardens. Opening times through the year are detailed on the website.
Contact
Mapleton Road, TN16 1PS,
Telephone: +44 (1732) 866368 | Fax: +44 (1732) 868193