Chartwell: Received in Churchill’s Home

Chartwell House, English wartime prime minister and hero Winston Churchill’s family home in Kent is a perfect daytrip for adventurous folk wanting to get out of the bustle of London.  Has it got gardens of varying size and description? Check.  Churchill’s uniforms and other priceless artifacts from his life? Check.  A beautiful building steeped in historical wonder? Yup, the gang’s all here, and a day poking about the home is certainly worth your while.

History

Churchill purchased Chartwell (try saying THAT five times fast!) in 1922 as a modest Victorian house which he then altered to fit his family’s needs.  The former prime minister then completely overhauled the building and grounds, adding ponds, gardens, and various other nooks and crannies.  Churchill loved Chartwell such that he was later quoted saying, “A day away from Chartwell is a day wasted.”   Chartwell was also where he wrote speeches, entertained  well-to-do guests, and generally relaxed out of the public eye.

Visiting

Visitors to Chartwell can expect a self-guided tour through the home’s sitting rooms, conservatory, library, bedrooms, and kitchen.  There are helpful staff positioned in each room to answer your every question–even if it is something like, “Who is that man who looks like a bulldog, smoking a cigar, and wearing great coat?” Although the staff are helpful, I would suggest you acquaint yourself with at least what Churchill looks like in order to get the most out of the Chartwell experience.  The grounds are lovely; if you’re in to gardening, this place is an Edenic mecca. Bringing a picnic is a fabulous (and cheap!) idea, weather permitting.  There is, of course, also a restaurant and shop.

Events

Chartwell offers many extra events throughout the year from pudding clubs, to mystery dinners, to jazz dinners and Pimms receptions.  Check Chartwell’s site for further information when planning your visit.  Alternatively, you could give them a ring on 01732 866368 to speak with a real, live human being.

Getting there

By Public Transit (schlepping it like the rest of us):

From London Victoria Rail Station, take the Southeastern rail service toward Herne Bay, get off at Bromley South Rail station.

Walk to Bromley South Station bus stop on BROMLEY HIGH STREET (it’s a three minute walk)

From the high street bus stop, take Selkent/246 bus  towards Westerham, Chartwell Main Entrance.

Get off, and walk up to the Chartwell main entrance (eight minutes should do it)

Et voila!

Cycling (how very green of you):

Here’s a handy National Trust Map that will direct you to Chartwell’s front door.

By Car (you lucky–though environmentally less-friendly–dog!):

Here’s a route from London (it might vary depending on where you live)

For good measure, here’s Chartwell’s address:

Mapleton Rd
Westerham, TN16 1PS
01732 868 381

And finally! Admission Prices:

Adults: 10.60 GBP–I know, that’s a little steep BUT! If you apply for a Young Person’s membership (21.50 GBP) to The National Trust, your entrance fee is free and you can then gain free entrance to a whole host of other English treasures (such as Stonehenge, Bath Assembly Rooms, and Quebec House*).  So if you do the math, it works out to about a tenner for vast amounts of English history.  And really, can you put a price on history?

*for those of you up on your Canadian history, Quebec House was the family home of General James Wolfe, who defeated the French General Louis-Joseph, the Marquis of Montcalm at the battle of the Plains of Abraham, thus precipitating the fall of  Quebec–then New France–to the forces of les maudits anglais.