My daughter and I are planning a trip to London in June 2015. We want to travel to Chartwell, the home of Winston Churchill. There is train service from Victoria Station to Oxted and Edenbridge. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has made this trip and can tell about transportation and their thoughts on visiting this attraction.
Posted by
America's Vancouver and the First
94 posts
I can't comment on your transportation as we had a car with which to drive here a year ago from our location in Kent. Initially, we weren't going to go. But he is beloved to the English folks, and many of those we chatted with asked if we were going to visit Chartwell. After a few of those urgings, we felt compelled to go visit this important stateman's favorite home. It is a tall red brick home in a lovely setting. The home isn't overly old or large but it was interesting to walk through and nicely furnished. We also wandered down into the veggie and flower garden. We saw the children's playhouse and Winston's studio. He was a prolific and decent painter. We're very glad we went to see Chartwell. On this, our first trip to England, we saw a lot of historic homes that were of equal importance that were a bit grander and I wouldn't put Chartwell up there with those. However, if you have specific compelling reasons for a pilgrimage to Chartwell, I don't think you will regret it.
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga, USA
2023 posts
We also had a car and Chartwell was a must see for us. All the furnishings including pots and pans are original. The table and chairs on the terrace were designed by Mrs. Churchill. I especially loved the library with floor to ceiling book shelves.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
There is only public transport to Chartwell on Sundays in summer (which probably includes June), when you can get bus route 246 from Bromley North, Bromley South, or Hayes railway stations in southeast London.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15589 posts
According to their official website http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell/how-to-get-here/?findPlace=Chartwell&type=&view=map You either go on Sunday by bus or take a train to a nearby station and then taxi to Chartwell.
It's a 12-minute, 5-mile drive from there to Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, so you could combine it with a visit to Chartwell. It's been renovated to much like it was when she was growing up there.
Posted by
Lake Oswego, Oregon
1315 posts
I haven't been to Chartwell yet but love visiting less grand but significant homes like Malmaison near Paris and Campobello in New Brunswick. These smaller homes are on a more realistic scale and one can more easily imagine really people living there, unlike some of the opulent palaces, and some have the actually furnishings that the family used. Hope you enjoy Chartwell.