Chartwell Christmas Groups & Travel Trade Guide 2020 Chartwell, Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent TN16 1PS 01732 861142 [email protected] https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell-christmas-groups Contents Welcome 4 House 5 Studio 7 Gardens 9 Eating 12 Shopping 13 Plan your visit 14 Prices and booking 15 How to get here 16 Extend your visit 17 Accessibility 19 2 3 Welcome Chartwell was the much-loved Churchill family home from 1924, and the place from which Sir Winston Churchill drew inspiration. More than just a house, from the landscape to Churchill’s paintings, the collection to the views of the Weald of Kent that so captivated Churchill - each element weaves together a story that tells the lives of the Churchill family. This Christmas enjoy a guided tour of selected rooms of the house dressed for a Christmas across the decades. Explore the 1920s and the first Christmases of the Churchill family, the tougher times of the 30s and 40s when the family would have spent Christmases apart, and finally, to the 1950s and 60s when the house would have been filled once more with laughter and parties, now joined by grandchildren. Group benefits Discounted admission rate for groups of 15 or more Exclusive access to the house via guided tour Free visit for tour leader Meet and greet service on arrival Designated free coach parking Free refreshment voucher for coach driver Dedicated group organiser to plan the visit Special group menus in the Landemare Cafe 4 5 House & Exhibition For the very first-time selected rooms of the house decorated for Christmas are open for groups to visit on a guided tour. Beginning in Lady Churchill’s Sitting Room, hear more about some of the very first Christmases the Churchill children would have celebrated at Chartwell. Journey through the Hall and step in to the Library, where the family would have traditionally had their tree covered in green foliage decorations sourced from the grounds. Downstairs see the Dining Room where the family would have gathered for food and fun. See Churchill’s ‘Bottlescape’, painted one Boxing Day after Winston asked the children to scour the house for whatever bottles they could find. In the Kitchen find out more about the preparations that were undertaken by staff such as the Churchill Cook Mrs Georgina Landemare. Finally, finish your visit in the A History of Winston Churchill in 50Objects Exhibition and explore at your leisure different facets of the war-time prime minister, painter, writer and father through a fascinating collection of items. We also move Christmas to the present day where you can write and hang a wish for your own festivities from a tree. On your visit also peek inside the Drawing Room where you’ll see collection covered by dust sheets as the House Team carefully check, clean and store the items of Chartwell, ready to display once again next year. New for 2020 Visit the Secretaries’ Office, opened on permanent display for the first time this year and see how the secretaries of the family would have enjoyed the festive period. 6 7 Studio Visit Churchill’s painting studio, based in the grounds of Chartwell, and discover a new side to Churchill. Churchill didn’t pick up a paintbrush until 1915 when he was in his 40s, but over the next 50 years of his life Churchill painted over 500 canvases. Today the studio contains one the single largest collection of Churchill paintings. Following a major refurbishment in spring 2020 the studio is now arranged in a way in keeping with the display of the 1960s, towards the end of Churchill’s journey as a painter. While visiting, step inside the annexe and discover more about Churchill’s passion for painting with the large touch-wall, introduced in winter 2019. 8 9 Garden Continue your exploration of Churchill the painter in the garden. Included in your admission, pick up a garden audio guide from the Visitor Centre and visit some of the sights that Churchill painted at Chartwell. Other audio tours include stories and anecdotes about how the Churchill family made their mark on the grounds of Chartwell, as well as seasonal highlights and gardening tips from the Outdoors Team at Chartwell. Hear the crunch of frost underfoot, enjoy some ethereal scenes of Chartwell reflected in the lakes and ponds, and see the landscape laid bare for some expansive views of the countryside. Visit the Nemon Statue beside the lakes for an inspirational depiction of Winston and Clementine that looks even more stalwart in the crisp cold air of winter. 10 11 Eating Shopping To really complete that festive trip why not book a Christmas lunch Find unique presents at Chartwell this Christmas, from delicious in our dedicated function space, the Mulberry Room. Relax and food hampers to glassware made by local craftsmen. There’s unwind with something delicious to suit all taste buds. something for everyone in the Chartwell shop. Group menus Pick up any mementoes or Christmas gifts and don’t forget to ask the team about our gift-wrapping service. Morning refreshments Pastries with tea and coffee Christmas set lunch Choose from a festive two or three course set menu, served with filter coffee or tea and Christmas crackers. Set group lunch A menu to accommodate any budget. Seated in the Lady Soames room of the Cafe, enjoy a (hot or cold) set meal without the festive frills. Christmas market Thurs 19 - Sun 22 November Visit Chartwell for our four-day Christmas market. Hosting a variety of products of 25 undercover stalls, there’s plenty to get you in the mood on the countdown to Christmas. Please be aware the house is closed on these dates but access to the gardens and studio is available. 12 13 Plan your visit and itinerary Prices Book your visit for a weekday between Monday 7 to Friday 18 Adult Child (5-15) December. Churchill enthusiast package £15.00 £9.50 Groups can range from a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 60. House, Studio and Garden +souvenir guide book The Chartwell team can accommodate a maximum of two groups per day. Standard package £11.00 £5.50 House, Studio and Garden The below itineraries are examples of running procedure for your day but we are always happy to accommodate your schedule Studio and Garden £9.10 £4.55 where possible. Morning refreshments £5.50 Please note for groups of more than 15, the party will be split in to smaller groups to visit the house and studio simultaneously. Christmas set group lunch £23.95 - £28.95 Morning visit Set group lunch £9.95 9.30am Arrival 9.45am Morning refreshments How to book 10.30am Guided tour of house 11.15am Visit to Churchill’s painting studio 12noon Lunch 01732 861142 1pm Departure [email protected] Afternoon visit Payment for admission can be made on arrival by cash, cheque, 12.30/12.45pm Arrival card or invoice (for credit account customers only). 1pm Lunch 2pm Guided tour of house Payment for food and beverages will be required 7 days prior to 2.45pm Visit to Churchill’s painting studio your visit on 01732 861161. We reserve the right to take full 3pm Departure payment for the capacity quoted at the time of booking unless Chartwell is updated with your visitor numbers 30 days The Chartwell grounds opens at 9am and closes at 4pm. prior to your visit. 14 15 How to get to Chartwell Extend your visit M25 M26 Emmetts Garden Open daily, excluding 24 and 25 December A224 Clarks Ln A25 A hillside garden with expansive views on M25 Church Rd Sevenoaks one of the highest points of Kent, that A225 Westerham comes to life with festive baubles over the holiday season. Oxted A21 Book now an enjoy a guided tour of this Toys Hill Red Lane Edwardian garden. Ide Hill Rd By road From the M25 clockwise exit at junction 5, or anti-clockwise exit at junction 6, join the A25 and follow the brown signs with the National Trust oak leaf. Sea and Eurotunnel Chartwell is 64 miles from the Folkestone Eurotunnel and 72 miles from the port of Dover. Air Biggin Hill Memorial Gatwick - 20 miles Heathrow - 42 miles Museum Stanstead - 55 miles Luton - 76 miles Just 7 miles away, continue your discovery of wartime Kent at Parking Britain’s most famous fighter station A free hardstanding coach car park is located beside the Visitor and explore the personal stories of Reception those who served there. 16 17 Quebec House Accessibility Sat 28 Nov - Sun 20 Dec Due to the hillside and historic nature of the site there is limited wheelchair access to the house and some parts of the garden. Lit fires, ivy and garlands, and a food fit for a The car park is 250 metres from the house with access via a sloping royalty - enjoy a visit to Quebec House and path and 24 shallow steps. Those visitors unable to negotiate steps experience a Christmas inspired by the can use the mobility bus, which has a tailgate lift suitable for manual Georgian era. There’s festive treats to taste wheelchairs, to visit the house. based on recipes from the 1800s, Georgian games and pastimes to play, and an opulent Please note the mobility bus is run by volunteers and although we feast to see in the Bicentenary Room. try to provide this service everyday there may be days when it is not running. Coaches are unable to drive to the front of the house, but Book now and enjoy a guided tour before groups arriving by minibus can organise to drop off groups at the Quebec House opens to the public.