Events at this location

Visit the Museum Gardens and chat to the Garden Team

In addition to our historical buildings, the Museum boasts a number of small traditional gardens. These gardens have been designed and planted to be as authentic as possible in regard to the buildings they surround.  They are managed organically and are mostly looked after by museum volunteers.

Our gardens include a formal Arts and Crafts garden, a pretty cottage garden, and a ‘dig for victory’ allotment (next to the 1940s prefab), cherry, and apple orchards. The orchards have a collection of heritage varieties, some local to the Chilterns.

• There will be a Garden Walk and Plant Guide at 11.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 2.30pm
• Watch drawing and water colour painting in action
• Trails and activities for children
• Chat to the Garden Team and stewards about the gardens and work that the team are doing
• Chat to the team from Bucks Adult Learning about what you can get involved in

Activities may change

The Vikings have arrived and taken over a Saxon settlement at the museum!

At the small village of Ceadeles Funtan (The modern day Chalfonts – meaning the chalk springs) a warband of Vikings have arrived and taken over the village as a base of operations to raid further into Saxon territory. They have ransacked the village, taken prisoners as Thralls (Slaves) and are busy plotting their next move whilst making loose with the food and drink they have pillaged from the Saxon villagers.

However unbeknownst to the Vikings, a Fyrd (or local militia ) of Saxons has been dispatched from Aegel’s burgh (The Saxon fortified settlement of Aylesbury) to deal with the situation. The Saxons arrive and demand the Vikings return to the Danelaw but emboldened by their success so far and their warlike bravado they refuse and fighting breaks out. As the two sides form shield walls the fate of the village hangs in the balance…Will the vicious Vikings succeed and continue to raid and pillage the area or will the Christian forces of Wessex overcome their heathen enemy and restore order to the land?

Get involved in games, music, storytelling and fun activities from the Viking age. Then join us to watch as the raid unfolds and see who wins in the battle between the Vicious Vikings and the Christian forces of Wessex.

This is a Premium Admission Event. Free entry for Annual Pass holders.

A celebration of classic cars, motorbikes, boneshakers and tractors

Chiltern Open Air Museum are pleased to see the return of our annual Classic Vehicle Show. Join us for a weekend celebration of classic vehicles. Come and admire an amazing collection of classic cars, motorcycles and historic bicycles. You will also be able to come and see a collection of historic tractors and wagons on our farm, which was once used for filming TV drama Downton Abbey.

Tickets

Standard admission prices apply for visitors. Discounted entry when you pre-book your tickets. Free entry for Annual Pass holders.

Want to exhibit?

If you own a classic vehicle and would like to bring it along to exhibit, please visit the museum website and complete the form on the event page.

Set up for exhibitors will be between 8:30am and 10:00 am and the Classic Vehicle Show itself runs from 10am until 5pm. If you need any further information, please send an email to events@coam.org.uk

A note on the weather

The Museum is a charity and this fundraising event relies on lots of wonderful classic car owners exhibiting their cars on a voluntary basis. If the English weather is wet the event will still go ahead, however, these cars are our exhibitors pride and joy and some exhibitors may decide not to exhibit in these conditions.

Summer holiday activities for the family

Terrific Tuesdays are themed family craft and activity days organised by the Museum’s Learning Team. All crafts and activities are included in the standard admission price! These will take place on the 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th August.

If you’d like to attend multiple Terrific Tuesdays and Museum events then you can purchase an Annual Pass which costs £30 per adult, £18 per child and family pass prices start from £50.

Terrific Tuesdays general info

• Activities run from 11am – 3.30pm
• Sandwiches, paninis, hot sausage rolls, drinks, cakes and ice creams available to purchase
• Plenty of space for picnics
• Baby changing facilities
• Adventure playground
• Visit our small farm
• Ample free car parking

Additional information

Have a go at orienteering on site download a free map here or buy an orienteering pack in our ticket office for just £2.

Activities for each date are subject to change. Standard admission prices apply. Free entry for Annual Pass holders.

Dogs on short leads are welcome.

The Great War

Learn about World War One in a special weekend with costumed re-enactors where you can find out about the home front and the role of women.

Railways were also an important part of Britain’s war effort, so come and learn about the extent of how this influenced the outcome of the war. There will also be a RFC mobile work shop, demonstrations of the Leach Trench Catapult, and more.

There will also be the opportunity to see our WW1 and WW2 Nissen hut, 1940s post-war prefab, ‘Dig for Victory’ allotment as well as the other buildings at the museum.

Standard admission prices apply. Free entry for Annual Pass Holders. Please pre-book your tickets.

Medieval Jousting returns

Valiant medieval knights joust for the adoration of the crowds!

Hear the clash of steel and the thunder of hooves as by popular demand medieval jousting returns to Chiltern Open Air Museum. Come and marvel at displays of skill and horsemanship and cheer as armoured knights enact spectacular medieval jousting displays for your entertainment in this brightly coloured and exhilarating event.

During this special August weekend valiant knights will battle in a jousting tournament to win the favour of the crowds – come along and cheer for your favourite!

In-between jousts come and meet the knights along with Henry VIII and his six wives and find out more what life would have been like.

This is a fantastic event with a fun atmosphere for the whole family so join the knights at Chiltern Open Air Museum and throw down your gauntlet for this action-packed event.

Please note that all activities are subject to change and weather.

Premium admission prices apply. Free entry for Annual Pass holders. We expect this event to be popular so we recommend that you pre-book your tickets.

Summer holiday activities for the family

Terrific Tuesdays are themed family craft and activity days organised by the Museum’s Learning Team. All crafts and activities are included in the standard admission price! These will take place on the 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th August.

If you’d like to attend multiple Terrific Tuesdays and Museum events then you can purchase an Annual Pass which costs £30 per adult, £18 per child and family pass prices start from £50.

Terrific Tuesdays general info

• Activities run from 11am – 3.30pm
• Sandwiches, paninis, hot sausage rolls, drinks, cakes and ice creams available to purchase
• Plenty of space for picnics
• Baby changing facilities
• Adventure playground
• Visit our small farm
• Ample free car parking

Additional information

Have a go at orienteering on site download a free map here or buy an orienteering pack in our ticket office for just £2.

Activities for each date are subject to change. Standard admission prices apply. Free entry for Annual Pass holders.

Dogs on short leads are welcome.

Discover the fascinating traditions of our farming history.

• Find out more about a traditional Harvest and rural skills.
• Visit our Bodger’s Area and learn about what bodgers made.
• Learn about our fire kiln and saw pit.
• See our Harvest display in Henton chapel made from our allotment and garden produce.
• Learn about straw plaiting
• See what our blacksmith is making making in the forge.

A knitting and wool craft event

Join us for our special Wild About Wool knitting event and discover different types of textile crafts. Chat to our experts about your knitting conundrums, learn about peg looms, see a sock knitting machine in action and learn about the importance of knitting for the troops on the home front during WWI.

Visit our Home Front reenactors and out about the role of knitting in the Great War, the manufacture of Soldier’s woollen comforts and their distribution to the men, and women, at the front by the British Red Cross and First Aid Nursing Yeomanry

All activities are weather dependent and subject to change.