Discover more at Chartwell
Find out when Chartwell is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Group visits to Chartwell
Bring your group to Chartwell for a memorable day out and see how Sir Winston Churchill and his family lived in this beautiful part of Kent. Here you’ll find all the information you need to help you plan your group visit.
What’s available for your group?
- A dedicated group organiser to help plan your visit
- Discounted rates for groups of 15+
- Welcome and familiarisation talk on arrival (Mon-Fri excluding school holidays)
- Timed entry tickets to the house
- Special interest tours of the house (additional charge)
- Translated copies of house guides available in Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japan, Mandarin, Spanish and large print
- Shop with gifts and souvenirs inspired by Sir Winston Churchill
- Licensed café serving tasty treats
Booking your group visit
If you are planning a trip to Chartwell with a party of 15 or more, you will need to arrange your visit in advance with our group booking team. This is also the case if arriving by coach or in a minibus. Please get in touch with us by emailing chartwell.groupbooking@nationaltrust.org.uk or calling us on 01732 861142. We recommend booking at least 3 months in advance as slots fill up quickly. Discounted group rates are available to parties of 15 or more when you pre-book.
Bank holiday weekends
We regret that we are unable to welcome groups over bank holiday or school holiday weekends when the site is at its busiest. Please check with us for availability.
What we need to know
When making a booking we will ask you for:
- The name of your group
- The group leader’s name
- How many people will be in the group
- The date you wish to visit
- Your arrival time
Confirming your booking
Once we have provisionally booked your visit, including an arrival time and house entry time, we will send an acknowledgement with a booking form attached. To confirm your booking please complete and return this form to us as soon as possible.
Payment
We ask that payment is made on arrival on the day of your planned visit in one transaction. Payment can be made in cash, by credit card or cheque. Alternatively, if you have a National Trust account, we will invoice you after your visit.
Who is eligible for free entry?
Registered tourist board guides (on production of a valid badge), coach drivers and tour leaders escorting groups of 15 or more. National Trust members also receive free entry, so it is at your discretion whether to refund the entrance fee to members if you have included it in your package – this is not refunded by the National Trust.
Members must bring their current membership cards with them to avoid paying the full group rate. If any of your group would like to join the National Trust please direct them to our Membership page or call 0344 800 1895.
Free familiarisation visits for group leaders
If you're planning a group visit you can request our free Travel Trade Pass and you and a friend or colleague will gain free entry to over 300 of our places throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland for 12 months. There’s nothing quite like seeing or experiencing somewhere for yourself to help you plan a successful visit. To receive your pass, call 0344 249 1895 or email us at traveltrade@nationaltrust.org.uk
Additional information for groups
The site
The house is located on a hillside and the garden is only partly accessible with steep slopes and steps in places. Please refer to our Access Statement on the homepage for further details.
The house
Visitors need a timed entry ticket for the house. Once inside, there is a self-guided system in place to allow you to explore the house at your own pace. There are printed information sheets in each room explaining items of significance as well as stewards who will answer any questions.
Enhance your visit with a guided tour of the house led by one of our knowledgeable volunteers. Tours are available for groups of 15 or more at an additional cost and need to be booked in advance. Please get in touch to book.
Tours and talks
Please note, group leaders visiting Chartwell are not permitted to give tours or talks to their group in all areas of our site.
Talks available for groups
If you are interested in learning more about Winston Churchill and Chartwell, we can offer talks in the Mulberry Room above our café. These are available as an ‘add-on’ to groups already spending the day on site who would like to discover more before visiting the house and gardens, or as single lectures for community groups and educational groups. Catering packages are also available on enquiry.
The topics available to choose from are:
- The Churchill Family at Chartwell
Learn about Chartwell from Sir Winston’s purchase of the house in 1922 to the present day.
- Churchill the Artist
An exploration of Sir Winston’s passion for painting and an introduction to some of his works.
Additional information:
- Charges are:
- £175 for a group of between 15 - 30 visitors.
- £225 for a group of between 30 - 50 visitors.
- Talks will be undertaken by one of our experienced volunteers and last for one hour, including time for questions.
- We require a minimum of one month’s notice prior to the date of the talk.
Garden tours
If you are interested in a personal tour of the gardens at either Chartwell or Emmetts Gardens by one of our volunteers, this can be arranged at a cost of £8.50 per person for a one hour walk. They are available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Chartwell and on Mondays only at Emmetts.
VIP tours
If you would like to have a really special experience, why not book a private tour of our house one morning before it opens to the public. We offer a choice of prices:
- £300 for up to 7 people to share an exclusive look around Chartwell with one of our experienced volunteer guides. We can accomodate up to 10 people at a cost of £50 per each additional person.
- £1,500 in the company of our Property Curator who will share her in-depth knowledge of Winston, the man and politician, for up to 10 people.
Each of these tours will last for approximately one hour, starting at 09:45.
Please contact us if you have either a larger group or would like to organise a bespoke tour as we may be able to accommodate this.
You might also be interested in
Article
Explore the house at Chartwell
Selected rooms in the family home of Sir Winston Churchill will be decorated for Christmas and re-opened to visitors from 23 November to 23 December. Explore the beloved home of one of Britain's greatest politicians, Sir Winston Churchill. The house has many treasures and provides an intimate portrait of the Churchill family.
Article
The garden at Chartwell
Enjoy the views that the Churchills chose Chartwell for, and explore the garden they created and loved, from Lady Churchill’s Rose Garden, to the Walled Garden Sir Winston helped build.
Article
A history of Winston Churchill in 50 objects
Discover more about the extraordinary life of Sir Winston Churchill in this permanent exhibition at Chartwell, including five must-see items from the curator.
Article
Eating and shopping at Chartwell
From tasty treats and hot and cold dishes, to souvenirs, gifts and Churchill memorabilia, you'll be spoiled for choice in the Chartwell café and shop. Why not treat yourself?
Article
Education Group Access Pass
If you’re planning educational group visits to National Trust places, then you could benefit from an Education Group Access Pass, which gives you free admission for a year.
Article
Explorer Pass
If you're planning a trip in England, Wales and Northern Ireland this year, buy a National Trust Explorer Pass for entry to most of the places in our care. With 4-, 8- and 14-day options available, the pass can be tailored to fit your trip. Discover where you can visit with the Explorer Pass and how to buy yours.
Article
Group visits frequently asked questions
Visiting us with a group? Then our answers to your frequently asked questions might help with any question you may have.