Chartwell, the adult home of  Sir Winston Churchill, is a lovely, warm family home in Kent, England. During the 1920s, while he held political office,  it served mostly as a weekend home for Churchill, his wife Clementine and their four children. In May 1930 the Conservative Government was defeated, following the stock market crash of 1929. The family fortunes were curtailed accordingly and they moved to the Well Street cottage at the southern end of the estate. The house was closed up until Churchill’s prolific writing career provided sufficient means for them to return along with the attendant staff required to maintain the house and grounds.

The front facade of the house is a little severe, unrelieved by much landscaping close to the house, but the brick is a warm, mellow tone.

No pictures were permitted inside the house, but some can be seen on the National Trust site. We found the interior to be utterly charming – very welcoming and unpretentious. Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace, and unpretentious is the last word one might use to describe it, so we were both surprised and pleased to note the down to earth scale and style of Chartwell.

The rear and side of the house are surrounded with lush lawns and lovely gardens. 

Churchill was a multi-faceted individual, immensely intelligent and highly creative. This small island on the estate was a favourite spot for him to paint.

A large collection of his works is displayed in the studio, now fully restored.

Gardening was another artistic outlet for Churchill, and the gardens reflect his keen interest and attention to detail. The walled gardens, in particular, are just gorgeous and spilling over with lush plantings.