Discover more at Chartwell
Find out when Chartwell is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
The garden at Chartwell
Born from the keen amateur, creative gardening minds of Sir Winston and Lady Churchill, the garden at Chartwell is as varied as it is beautiful all year round. History and nature merge seamlessly across the estate, from Lady Churchill's Rose Garden to the walls of the Kitchen Garden that Sir Winston helped to build.
The garden at Chartwell is strikingly beautiful in springtime. Magnolias underplanted with Narcissus frame the path on the approach to the house and delicate pink and white cherry blossom sways gently in the spring breeze.
Colourful varieties of Camellia provide the garden with a profusion of extravagant blooms. Around the Golden Orfe pond, Azaleas and Rhododendrons are a feast for the eyes, as are the vibrant green shuttlecock ferns unfurling by the Gavin Jones cascade.
In May, the Orchard is a spring spectacle with apple blossom on the trees and the wildflower meadow bursting back to life with buttercups, Allium and Camassia.
The Iris walk looks at its best at this time of year. Here you can see some of our heritage varieties of Iris germanica which give us a short, but beautiful window of colour below the Terrace Lawn on the Parkland.
Water features
As you enter the garden at Chartwell, the view opens up across the landscape to reveal the expansive parkland and garden filled with interconnected lakes and ponds.
Swimming pool
The first feature you’ll see is the swimming pool, once a favourite of the Churchill family and now a favourite of the resident black swans and visiting geese. One of the most captivating features in this area is the Gavin Jones Cascade which trickles steadily down into the swimming pool. Please be aware that the swimming pool is not suitable for bathing as it is now managed for the benefit of nature.
The lakes
When Winston Churchill first saw Chartwell in July 1921, he was captivated by the views and the beautiful valley that rolls down to the lakes edge. Inspired, the Churchills purchased the estate the following year and immediately began enhancing its natural features.
Preserving the lakes
To preserve the historic 1930s headwall built by Sir Winston, we are undertaking essential conservation works. A temporary dam has been installed to allow us to inspect the area over several seasons whilst continuing to protect the lake’s importance as a wildlife habitat. We appreciate your patience and understanding whilst the path and area around the Nemon Statue remains closed.
The Gavin Jones Cascade
The Gavin Jones Cascade and surrounding garden is made up of several different areas, each with its own unique character and fascinating history. Originally displayed as a show garden at the 1948 Chelsea Flower Show, Clementine Churchill liked it so much that the designer Gavin Jones gave it to her as a gift.
Golden Orfe Pond
Just before you reach Lady Churchill’s Rose Garden, you’ll arrive at a series of ponds. There are three interlinked ponds here that form the upper part of the Gavin Jones Cascade. The lower of the three ponds is called the Golden Orfe Pond and is filled with descendants of the exotic fish that Churchill bought from Harrods after seeing them in the 1930s.
Lady Churchill's Rose Garden
Sitting behind the wall near the Golden Orfe Pond, you’ll find Lady Churchill’s Rose Garden, designed by Clementine herself. The Garden Team continue to honour the colour scheme favoured by Lady Churchill, selecting only white and pink roses throughout the formal beds.
The centrepiece of the garden is formed by four standard wisteria that are adorned by purple racemes in spring. Although these are the common Wisteria sinensis variety, what makes them special is they’ve been planted upright as a ‘standard’ rather than more recognisable and traditional wall-trained displays.
Enjoy this sun trap surrounded by intense colours and fragrances in what is perhaps the most quintessentially English feature of the garden at Chartwell.
Terrace lawn
With panoramic vistas over the Chartwell estate and Weald of Kent, the terrace lawn is the perfect place to enjoy the view, no matter the season.
At the north end of the terrace lawn, is the distinctive Marlborough Pavilion, named for the man who inspired its decoration and Churchill’s ancestor, John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough.
The orchards
A wide variety of apple trees grow in the orchard, many of which are the same varieties that the Churchills would have also grown whilst living here at Chartwell. There's a selection of culinary, dessert, and crab apples including 'Bramley's Seedling', 'Kerry Pippin', 'John Downie', 'Newton Wonder', 'Lord Derby', and of course, ‘Winston’.
The garden team manage the grassland throughout the orchard as a traditional meadow, just as the Churchill’s did. This sensitive and careful management allows a variety of wildflower species to flourish which ensures we offer a consistently rich habitat for local wildlife.
The Walled Garden
The present Walled Garden dates from the mid-1920s when the surrounding brick wall was built under the direction and by the hand of Sir Winston himself. A plaque located on the eastern wall states, 'The greater part of this wall was built between the years 1925 & 1932 by Sir Winston Churchill with his own hands.'
Whilst you're exploring the Walled Garden, pop into the Marycot, a little brick cottage that Sir Winston Churchill built for his youngest daughter, Mary.
The Golden Rose Avenue
A walk to the farthest reaches of the garden is well worth it for the Golden Rose Avenue that awaits you. The avenue bisects the walled garden and was a gift to Winston and Clementine from their children and grandchildren on the occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1958. This area was recently restored with more than 200 golden roses, all underplanted with catmint (Nepeta × faassenii) and lambs-ears (Stachys byzantina). At the centre of the Golden Rose Avenue you will see a sundial around which the inscription reads 'Here lies the Bali Dove'; Clementine’s beloved pet dove that she brought back to Chartwell from Bali in 1936.
Wildlife to spot in the garden at Chartwell
Black swans
Black swans, originally native to Australia, were first kept at Chartwell in the 1920s after they were gifted to Sir Winston. Please help us take care of the swans by giving them some distance and not feeding them. Wildfowl are sensitive and may peck if they feel uncomfortable.
Butterflies
Sir Winston had a true passion for nature and spent time attempting to reintroduce lost butterflies. The Garden Team share this passion for butterflies and have an entire border dedicated to plants that are perfect for these winged insects. This border, the Butterfly Walk, can be found sandwiched between the croquet lawn, the orchard, and the Butterfly House.
Bees
Keeping Churchill’s beekeeping tradition alive, there are six beehives in the private orchard tended to by trained volunteers. There are also some feral bee colonies living out in the woodland. Surplus honey is harvested from our hives by volunteers at the end of August and has won several awards from the British Beekeepers Association.
You might also be interested in
Explore the house at Chartwell
Discover 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.
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?
The estate at Chartwell
Chartwell’s estate and surrounding countryside offers far-reaching views across the Weald. Walk in the footsteps of one of our founders Octavia Hill when you explore Mariners Hill.
Visiting Chartwell with your dog
Chartwell is a three pawprint rated place. Bring your four-legged friend along on a short lead for a stroll around the garden or go for a roam in the woods. Find out more about where you can and can't take your dog.
The history of roses at Chartwell
Roses have long been associated with the Churchills and their family home, Chartwell in Kent. The flower was a part of Winston and Clementine's love story from the very beginning.
Chartwell: The National Trust story
The Trust’s story at Chartwell began whilst Winston Churchill and his family were still in residence. Discover how we helped to preserve a significant piece of British history.
Garden conservation work at Chartwell
Find out about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into conserving parts of the garden at Chartwell, including a wildflower meadow, opening up views and flower border replanting
Gardens in Kent
Wander through the National Trust’s autumn gardens in Kent, where golden foliage and late-season blooms create a tapestry of rich colour and texture. Admire the russet tones and crisp air at Sissinghurst Castle, stroll through the mellow hues of Chartwell’s borders, and enjoy the romantic reflections of autumn leaves in the moat at Scotney Castle. From fiery rudbeckia and amber lilies to Japanese anemones and ornamental grasses swaying in the breeze, Kent’s historic gardens offer a serene and striking celebration of the season.
