Chiltern Open Air Museum

KidRated’s Chiltern Open Air Museum

• Look out for themed days and other exciting events
• Check the weather before you visit – this is best saved for a sunny day
• Kids will love getting stuck into the activities available

The Chilterns, home to the Chiltern Open Air Museum and also the location for many popular TV series such as Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife, have been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Thanks to the volunteers who founded the museum in 1970, you can explore quaint local buildings such as the Iron Age House, Garston Forge, or historic working farm.

There are a range of buildings from many different periods of history, and always plenty of things to learn and activities to get involved in for all ages. You can plan to go to tie in with a special event, or take part in extra family-themed activities on Terrific Tuesdays throughout August. However, every day is terrific, with the chance to visit all the sites, try on historical clothing, enjoy a picnic, try historical children’s games, or even explore with a free themed backpack. Kids can also make and take home their own candle, or crafty over 12s can book onto a ‘working with straw’ workshop.

The historic Chiltern Farm is a firm favourite for kids who love animals. The farm preserves and demonstrates traditional farming techniques and machinery. On special days, children can practise traditional techniques, with the help of specially-trained volunteers. And after a hard day’s work at the farm, enjoy a cream tea or a hot meal at the museum’s Furniture Factory Tea Rooms, then burn off all that energy at the brand new adventure playground, where you can play in miniature replicas of some of the museum’s buildings!

If you live nearby, why not consider joining the Young Volunteers Club? Kids aged 10 to 16 have the opportunity to get involved in a range of activities every Saturday, as well as dressing up for events.

Booking Advice:

• If you plan to visit again an annual pass is great value
• Spend the whole day there to get the most out of the entrance price
• Special events like visiting Santa’s grotto are an additional cost
• Different family tickets are available, and under 4s go free