An outdoor museum of over 30 reconstructed and interpreted historic buildings that were the workplace or homes of ordinary people from the Chilterns. The buildings and landscape build a timeline that tells the story of the Chilterns - a special landscape of rolling chalk hills, traditional crafts and time-honoured ways of life that continue to inspire today.
Where is Chiltern Open Air Museum located?
Chiltern Open Air Museum is located in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire just off junction 17 of the M25. Follow the brown tourist signs to the museum.
What is the history of Chiltern Open Air Museum to the present day?
Chiltern Open Air Museum was founded in 1976, to rescue and reconstruct threatened historic buildings from the Chilterns. It's aim is to create a living landscape that connects the past to the present - people and place; preserving and interpreting the cultural heritage of the Chilterns. The Museum now has 37 reconstructed historic buildings on site and a further 14 buildings in store waiting to be reconstructed. The latest addition to the Museum, thanks to a National Lottery grant, is a reconstructed WW1 Nissen hut, that tells the story of local war heroes.
What is there to see and do at Chiltern Open Air Museum?
There are over 30 historic buildings to see and explore including a Victorian toll house, 1940s prefab, Medieval barns, working blacksmith's forge and more. The site is 45 acres and there are a number of cottage gardens, a 'Dig for Victory' allotment, woodland, orienteering courses and sensory trail to explore. There is a working historic farm with livestock including sheep, goats, cows and chickens.
There are lots of hands-on activities for children and adults and the museum has an extensive special events program of re-enactments and living history.
Other Information
The museum has lots of free parking. Dogs are welcomed on site on short leads. Onsite there are accessible toilets and baby changing facilities. The Elliott and Sons cafe serves light lunches, hot drinks, cream teas, snacks and ice cream. In school holidays and busy event weekends there is an additional catering outlet on the Village Green. There are wheel chair ramps into buildings and there are a number of mobility scooters that can be borrowed for less mobile visitors. The museum also operates a electric buggy shuttle service on request.
