Chiltern Open Air Museum - Chalfont Saint Giles

Rosi P.

I recently visited the Chiltern Open Air Museum and it was a nice experience overall. The museum is an expansive open space filled with historic buildings from different time periods, offering a unique glimpse into the past.

There's plenty of free parking available, which is a big plus. The tickets were reasonably priced, although we did encounter a bit of a queue when purchasing them.

There are plenty of activities to engage with, and we particularly enjoyed watching the wool dyeing process—it was fascinating to see how wool is naturally colored.

The museum staff were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, always ready to share insights about the various activities. It's definitely a place where you can easily spend a few hours exploring, so comfortable shoes are a must due to all the walking involved.

On the downside, the toilets could use some refurbishment and more frequent cleaning. We also visited the café, and while the food was not that bad, the variety was a bit limited, and the wait time was longer than expected. The queue to place an order was also a bit of a hassle.

Despite the minor issues, the museum is a beautiful place and a great destination for those interested in crafts and history. I would definitely recommend it for a leisurely day out.

Nathan G.

Such a great surprise to be able to visit this open air museum. Chiltern has a fantastic collection of buildings spanning several time periods. As a carpenter and builder of residential homes I really appreciate seeing the different types of vernacular homes, out buildings and community buildings of the places I visit.

Places like Chiltern are a vital part of our communities and sir I live on volunteer help. So if you live in the Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire area and are skilled in a traditional building craft, please reach out to them.

Sam N.

Really enjoyed my time there, worth the money and would go again. I went during the napoleonic display event and especially enjoyed the cannons. Very loud though maybe best to leave small children out of ear shot (supervised of course), staff were also lovely- not afraid to dispense their knowledge. And to top it all of they had the actor who played "Harris" from sharpe!

Katie

Great place to spend time with kids and family. There's lots to see, including buildings, gardens, animals, huge playing area for kids. Second hand shop is cute. Cafe ok. Everything well preserved. Staff very nice, however as I was last to leave I was asked to leave by 4:40pm (even though opening hours is till 5pm, as the front house gentleman had a lot to do - I found this a bit odd, but ok. Good facilities and toilets. Dogs allowed which is great! There's also a tap with drinking water.

Lacey M.

Really lovely place to have a wander but is very much weather dependent. We went on a day where they had an old classic car show on which added to the experience nicely. You could maybe stay a full day with little ones but not as much for older ones once you’ve looked around. Beautiful gardens and very dog friendly. There is a wonderful play area all made out of tree trunks. There is a a small cafe which was very busy so we had lunch from the food trucks which were there for the car show. Small gift shop at the entrance with some cute products - can highly recommend the vanilla and cherry shortbread!

Kristian J.

We have a profound admiration for the Chiltern Open Air Museum and make a concerted effort to visit whenever possible. The museum boasts an exceptional collection of rescued historic buildings, complemented by engaging events tailored to each structure, which consistently captivate our interest.

Due to the unique and well-preserved nature of its buildings, the museum frequently attracts filming opportunities.

My collection of photos captures the enchanting Halloween event held in 2022, an experience characterised by outstanding professionalism among the staff and actors, who excel in storytelling.

With its delightful tea room offering hot meals, the museum provides an enjoyable day out for the entire family. However, we particularly relish the opportunity to enjoy a picnic amidst the museum's picturesque surroundings during fine weather.

Antoine G.

We came to the Viking open day on the bank Holiday. We were very lucky with the weather and had a wonderful day. Interesting chat with the Saxon and Viking reenactors, and the battle was entertaining yet 'brutal' - my 8 year old son loved it.

Chris C.

A lovely setting with interesting exhibits, but a bit sparse. More exhibits would have been nicer, but it was still a beautiful place to wander round. The prefab and Nissen huts were highlights.