Chiltern Open Air Museum

Well, lawks. We visited the Chiltern Open Air Museum last April and, as I assume it’s still there, it’s about time this review got finished. So here goes.
Bottom line: This is a great place for kids and families, or simply for a stroll around the many buildings very interesting buildings that are reconstructed here.
The museum takes old buildings of all sorts — agricultural, industrial, pre-​war, post-​war, etc. — and rebuilds them on this one site. Walking through the streets is like stepping back in time, as you pass a toll house to find a dairy farm and then, around the corner, a prefabricated war-​era bungalow with an air force hut (replete with gas mask and war-​time air navigation maps!). There are activities for kids of all ages, various little stalls selling home-​made this-​and-​that, and a (slightly pricey) little café for tea, cakes, and sandwiches.
Highlights for us included the prefab house (with outdoor bomb shelter), toll house (where the kids learned how to knit), and the lambs and shire horse ponies.
This is a gem of a museum where families can wile away a few hours in the sunshine. Certainly worth visiting if you’re in the area.

I think my view of The Chiltern Open air museum is perhaps coloured by the fact that unfortunately it is ‘open air’ and on the day we chose to visit it was pouring with rain. I can see that it would have been much better in the sunshine. We visited on one of their ‘special’ days in order to experience costumed enthusiasts living their hobby. They are very impressive, staying in character for the day, whatever they are doing. I find them very knowledgeable. The horse display was very good but a bit short on horses (only 4). The authentically dressed peasants showed us the preparation of food and soldiers showed off their arms and uniforms.
I would definitely go again but intend to choose a lovely sunny day and swap the umbrella for a picnic.

A great way to spend a few hours!
The museum has got a strange collection of buildings that have been ‘collected’ from the Chiltern area. There isn’t really any theme to the museum other than that — the buildings date from all kind of eras. I’m not sure of the exact amount, but I’d guess there where about 20 buildings, including farm buildings, a school house, a toilet block and a church.
The museum has got a small café if you need to get some warming soup or a cup of tea, and gift shop selling the usual souvineers (and, rather bizarrely, a Robocop postcard)
One warning — as it says on the tin — the museum is ‘open air’ so if you go on a cold or windy day make sure you are well wrapped up!