Churchill's Finest Hour

Overview

A great day to enjoy both the personal and the historical. Chartwell offers an imitate view of the Churchill's home life and it a wonderful place to simply spend time. Lunch at an English Country pub, beloved by those brave young men who saved the country from the Luftwaffe, and then a visit to either the Heritage Hanger, where we get up close to that wonderful aircraft the Spitfire .... Or; across the field at the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum, where we can discover the lives of those who kept this famous fighter station ticking over despite constant Nazi attacks through the summer of 1940. Opening times for the Heritage Hanger vary and numbers may be limited so we will have to liaze on dates.

What's included

• ✓Air-conditioned vehicle

• ✕Fly a Spitfire - Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

What you'll do

1. 1

   Visit the long time home of the Churchill family. Chartwell was Winston Churchill's refuge from the vagaries of public life yet it was pivotal in history, as this was where he gathered support behind the scenes for the rearmament of Britain between the wars. It was also where he and Clemmie, his lifetime companion, bought up their four children and he wrote the majority of his books, in the study upstairs. Set deep in the weald of Kent, the 'Garden of England, the grounds show the couple's abiding love of horticulture and Winston's tenacious nature in establishing lakes and a swimming pond against all the efforts of nature to prevent him. Visit Marycot, the tiny play house he built his youngest daughter, laying the bricks with his own hands. See his studio with all his paintings hung to enjoy and a talk on Churchill and his art. Not only a historical must-see but a beautiful place to spend some time.

   ⏱ 3 hours
2. 2

   (Please ignore the address in Whitechapel above, it is the only 'White Hart' available on Viator's menu) We stop for lunch at the Spitfire Boys very own White Hart, the famous pub where, once the sun had set, the young men defending Britain from the massed fleets of the Luftwaffe would come to let of steam and perhaps raise a glass to successes in battle or fallen comrades. There are a few memorials to them still and a pleasant garden where we pause for refreshments, and perhaps even raise a glass in their memory ourselves.

   ⏱ 1 hour
3. 3

   This is offered as an alternative to the Heritage Hanger. The Memorial Museum covers the history of the airfield and gives a wonderful overview of not only the pilots who flew from there but all the staff who supported them in defense of their country.

   ⏱ 2 hours
4. 4

   NB: Opening days for the Heritage Hanger vary a good deal and tickets must be purchased separately. Please choose the date you would like and we will contact you promptly with alternatives if that date is not available A rare chance to visit the Heritage Hanger, where an amazing team of aircraft restorers and pilots put Britain's most iconic aircraft back in the sky. Guiding is by both the Hanger's experts who will tell you about the aircraft being currently restored and run there, and your guide, talking about the wider history of the Battle of Britain itself. Listen to the roar of the classic 27 litre Merlin engines as the aircraft taxi out for take off. You can even book a flight through us in one of the three twin seater Spitfires they fly from here. This is an extremely rare chance to get up close and personal with one of the few remaining, most beautiful and pivotal aircraft in history. It is a unique and unforgettable experience.

Availability & pricing

Pick your exact date & check live availability on the booking page.

Good to know

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Booking Dates: If you want to visit the Heritage Hanger (listed here as Fly A Spitfire) we may have to arrange dates as they are only open at specific and variable times. By arrangement essentially. If the preferred date is not available I will contact you within 24 hours of booking.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.