1 / 3Chiltern Open Air Museum
📍 Chalfont Saint Giles, Greater London
Walk through 38 rescued historic buildings on 45 acres, from Iron Age roundhouses to postwar prefabs. Working farm animals, adventure playground, and costumed themed weekends make this exceptional for curious school-age children.
We spent 5 hours here and could have spent more. Fascinating view of the history of Bucks brought to a single location. Ideally suited to a drier day, you walk between the houses. Inside you see (and smell) a snapshot of history.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for school-age children who engage with hands-on history. Themed weekend visits with costumed staff deliver a genuinely immersive experience that outperforms any textbook. Families with toddlers will enjoy the farm animals and playground, and those with older teens will appreciate the breadth of eras covered across the site.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →1,037 Google reviews
Ian Roberts
5 months ago
“We spent 5 hours here and could have spent more. Fascinating view of the history of Bucks brought to a single location. Ideally suited to a drier day, you walk between the houses. Inside you see (and smell) a snapshot of history.”
Steve Gilden
9 months ago
“This is a fascinating place to visit with old buildings from the local area rescued and rebuilt here. The round house is a reconstruction rather than a rebuild! Most houses are set in the era it came from. Really shows how material we are today with most of us having far too many things. Well worth going on a themed weekend - we went on a Middle Ages themed weekend. Great fun with music, dancing and jousting. We took a wheelchair with us but borrowed one of theirs. The paths can be challenging even with their wheelchair and some places are really inaccessible. Great children’s play area and toilets are dotted around the site. Do not think you are lost when driving to the museum. Access is on a very small, winding, country road which is at times single track. Well worth the effort though.”
Mike Sweeting
7 months ago
“Each individual part of this property is not earth soaking, but as a whole it is a great day out, and not just for families - although a reasonable wooden playground, goats and plenty of room to run around does help that! The vibe is just after WW2. There is a cafe and a food trucks, several good toilet areas. A small pavilion opens as a plant and crafts shop when staff are available. When we were there the candle maker was present at the far end of the sure near the woodworking building. Most summer weekends host a historical event - Vikings, Napoleon's, world war cosplayers etc”
jo Bowden
7 months ago
“What a wonderful experience !! We had a family day out here with a Victorian event weekend . Was so worth a visit and very educational. Lots to see and great to be able to really immerse ourselves into the old days as staff were all dressed in costume and buildings exactly in the era . Everyone we spoke to wwere very knowledgeable and only too happy to tell us of the years gone by . There is a small cafe here for refreshments as well which is an added bonus . Thank you so much Chiltern open air museum 😊”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Forty-five acres of rescued buildings tell the story of Chiltern life across 2,000 years — tin chapels, prefab houses, a replica roundhouse, and a working farm with animals. Costumed themed weekends bring each era to life with staff in period dress. The adventure playground and traditional gardens give younger children somewhere to roam between buildings. Allow four to five hours; wear sturdy footwear for gravel paths.
