Opening Days for 2025

We are open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays and daily in Bucks school holidays from Saturday 8 March to Thursday 30 October 2025. Our opening times are 10am until 5pm.

Tickets are available to book on the door (while avilable). Pre-book your tickets online in advance you can save up to £1 per ticket.

We will also be opening for our Halloween Spectacular on Friday 31 October and for a special Festive Weekend on 6 and 7 December. 

Ticket Types

If the ticket date isn't showing as available under standard admission and is an open day, it will be a Premium Day and you will need to select the event on the general admission page to book.

School Holiday Opening Dates
We are open daily throughout these dates.

Easter 29th March to 15th April
May half-term 25th May to 2nd June
Summer holidays 20th July to 8th September
October half-term 26th October to 31st October (From Sunday 27th October we will be closing at the earlier time of 4pm).

Promotional Offers

If you have a valid 2 for 1 promotional voucher/card, including Gardener's World, this can only be used against tickets purchased on the door and not online tickets. One promotional card/voucher can be used for two people only and cannot be used for group entry.

Catering

Hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, sausage rolls, ice creams, cakes, and snacks can be purchased from our Skippings Barn. We have lots of picnic tables and lots of space for picnic blankets around our site.

You may wish to bring some spare change with you to roll into our well where you can hear our well spirits talk!

Mobility Scooters

We have mobility scooters that can be borrowed. Please email us on enquiries@coam.org.uk to check availability and book.

Dogs

Dogs on short leads are very welcome on site. Dogs are not allowed to go inside any of our furnished exhibit buildings.

Gift Aid

The Museum is a charity and all admission prices include a voluntary donation of 10%. If you are a UK tax payer please tick the box and fill out your details so that we can claim Gift Aid on your admission. Gift Aid donations to the Museum allow us to claim an extra 25% from the government on the total amount that you pay to us, at no extra cost to you.

Tickets are non-refundable but if you contact us at least 24 hours prior to the start of your booked slot we can reschedule your booking for you.

See our buildings in a new light! Our historical buildings and scenic surroundings have graced numerous critically acclaimed projects and have even taken centre stage in Downton Abbey.

Join one of our knowledgeable volunteers for an engaging tour around the different filming locations at the Museum used in films and TV programmes including Call the Midwife, Midsomer Murders, Taskmaster, My Lady Jane, Mary Queen of Scots and Horrible Histories.

The tour needs to be pre-booked as places are limited. The tour is aimed at adults.

No need to worry about entertaining your children during the school holidays! The Museum’s Education team has got you covered with their special themed family activities on every Tuesday in Bucks school holidays. Our fun-filled activities, games, and crafts can be enjoyed without having to pay any extra, as they are included in our admission price.

• Enjoy themed family crafts and activities
• Hands-on-Clay with the Dacorum and Chiltern Potters Guild
• Activities run from 11am – 3.30pm
• Drinks, light lunches, cakes and ice creams available to purchase
• Plenty of space for picnics
• Baby changing facilities
• Adventure playground to explore
• Small working farm to explore
• Lots of free car parking

This is a Premium admission day. Free entry to COAM Annual Members.

This Easter we’ll be taking you back to the 14th Century when The Plantagenet Medieval Society return to the Museum for three days of action, excitement and pageantry.

Explore the fascinating living history displays throughout the day - meeting the knights, ladies and squires of the medieval court.

Watch the arming of the knight and take part in some squire training.

See how medieval archers would go hunting then have a go at archery yourself!

Meet the Medieval warhorse as the knights demonstrate how horses were used in combat.

Witness the fully armoured knights as they display chivalry and courage during full contact combat demonstrations.

Listen to medieval musicians playing traditional reed instruments as they stroll around the Museum site.

Take part in some 14th Century dancing and become part of the medieval court.

Approximate Timings

11:00-12:00 Archery Hunting Display
12:30 Have a Go Archery (spaces limited
12:00 - 13:00 Arming the Knight
13:00 - 13:35 Squire Training (spaces limited)
13:35 - 14:15 The Horse and Warfare Demonstration
14:15 - 15:00 Courtly Dancing
15:00 - 15:45 Medieval Combat Display
15:45 - 16:30 Show and Tell with the Knights, Ladies and Squires

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

This is Premium admission day. Free entry for COAM Annual Members.

During Tudor times, May Day continued to be celebrated as an important festival, rooted in ancient beliefs and traditions. The arrival of May marked the end of winter and the beginning of spring, symbolizing the renewal of life and the return of warmth and sunlight. This transition from the harsh, cold months to a season of growth and fertility was eagerly anticipated and celebrated.

May Day was a time to rejoice and make merry, as people welcomed the arrival of spring and the promise of a bountiful year ahead. It was a time to gather and feast, with communities coming together for large meals and communal celebrations. Food and drink were abundant, and people indulged in merrymaking and revelry.

At this special event, the Suffolk Free Company and Myal Pyper will transport us back in time to the Elizabethan era, giving us a unique insight into the lives and festivities of that period.

Upon the Village Green the May Tree needs preparing, round which, for your enjoyment and to join in with, there will be music and dancing to the finest tunes and the most popular dances of the time. Noise is a big part of the May Day celebration, to awaken Spring, and, further to that end, there will be a display of firepower, featuring the black powder weapons of the day showing just how effective they can be at defeating that old adversary, the cabbage!

The soldiers will lead recruits (the audience!) of all ages in a military drill, and there will be a display of fine swordsmanship.

In between, you can wander amongst the encampment and see what is being eaten, drunk, made, and mended. There will be sumptuous food being prepared and a variety of craftspeople about their business, all for you to engage with or just listen, as you wish, though there will be no broom makers, this is considered extremely bad luck at May Day, as is going fishing!

This May Day event at Chiltern Open Air Museum promises to be an immersive and engaging experience for all ages. Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply looking for a fun and educational day out, this celebration of Elizabethan life is not to be missed. Join us as we step back in time and celebrate May Day in true Elizabethan style!

Please note that all activities are subject to change and weather. There will be gun fire and canon bangs during displays.

This is a Premium admission day. Free entry for COAM Annual Members.

Join us this May half-term for an unforgettable educational and thrilling experience as you witness the battles of our Roman Gladiators. Prepare to be amazed as provincial gladiators take the stage and engage in fierce combat.

Our gladiators come from a variety of backgrounds, including criminals, barbarians, prisoners of war, disgraced soldiers, and thrill seekers. Each fighter will put their lives on the line, fighting not only for their own survival but also for the entertainment of the crowds and the Emperor.

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ancient Rome as you cheer for your favourite gladiator and witness their incredible skills and bravery. Marvel at the strategies, strength, and agility displayed by these skilled warriors.

But remember, the fate of our gladiators lies in your hands. Will you choose to spare a life or seal their fate? With each cheer or jeer, you have the power to decide who will live and who will die.

The gladiators will be brought to life by Britannia, one of the largest (and oldest) re-enactment groups in the U.K., they will be demonstrating the excitement and brutality of life in the late Roman period. Britannia has worked on over 150 TV and film projects, including Ridley Scott’s Gladiator and CBBC’s Horrible Histories.

This event promises to be both educational and entertaining, providing a unique opportunity for families to learn about the fascinating world of Roman gladiators while also enjoying an action-packed day out. Don't miss out on this incredible experience - book your tickets now and witness the epic battles of our Roman Gladiators!

Please be aware that all activities are subject to change and weather.

This is a Premium Admission Event. Free entry for COAM Annual Members.

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the grandeur of the Napoleonic era at this special Napoleonic Living History Weekend this June.

Witness the military encampments of Wellington, Blucher, and Napoleon's armies, each meticulously recreated to offer a glimpse into the past. Engage with passionate reenactors who will share the untold stories of the men and women behind the armies – the unsung heroes who kept them fed, clothed, marching, and loved.

Watch spectacular displays and thrill at the musket, cavalry, and artillery displays that will transport you to the heart of Napoleonic warfare. Feel the ground shake as cannons roar, horses charge, and muskets fire – an experience that brings history alive before your very eyes.

This event will be brought to you by around 100 reenactors from the Napoleonic Association. Indulge your curiosity and interact with individual units, giving you a unique opportunity to explore the background and daily lives of those who shaped history. Discover the passion and dedication that drives each unit to recreate the past with authenticity and precision.

Don't miss out on this extraordinary weekend of living history, military prowess, and cultural immersion. Secure your tickets today and witness the Napoleonic era in all its glory!

This is a Premium admission day. Free entry for COAM Annual Members.

Experience the excitement of medieval jousting as it makes a triumphant return to Chiltern Open Air Museum. This highly anticipated event promises to be a feast for the senses, as the clash of steel and the thundering of hooves fill the air.

Step into a world of knights in shining armour and see displays of incredible skill and horsemanship. Be captivated by the bravery and agility of these armoured knights as they engage in thrilling jousting battles.

Jousting displays by the Knights of Royal England will transport you back in time to the medieval era, where chivalry and noble competition reigned supreme.

This event is not to be missed. Whether you are a medieval enthusiast, a family looking for a day of excitement, or simply someone in search of a unique and thrilling experience.

So mark your calendars and prepare to be amazed as Chiltern Open Air Museum hosts this unforgettable event. Don't miss your chance to witness the spectacular sight of medieval jousting, where history comes alive before your eyes.

This is a Premium admission day. Free entry for COAM Annual Members.

We expect this event to be popular so we recommend that you pre-book your tickets.

We’re very pleased to be hosting Bucks Music Trust’s Summer Festival at the Museum again. Around 600 amateur musicians, ranging from beginners to advanced, will be performing on two stages in the open air, with groups, ensembles and choirs of all different types.

Bucks Music Trust has Music Centres in Amersham, Aylesbury and High Wycombe, all running a wide range of activities including orchestras, choirs, big bands, string ensembles, concert bands, pop bands, wind ensembles, guitar groups, percussion groups and more.

All the groups will perform, in a mix of individual and combined groups with great choices of repertoire for you to enjoy from many different genres, with music playing from 12.30-6.30pm.

There will be a range of food and craft stalls and you can take a break to go and see all the exhibits of the Museum too.

So bring your family and friends, a picnic blanket and anything else you need and have a great day out.

This is a premium admission day. Free entry for COAM Annual Members.

The Classic Vehicle Show is back and it promises to be a weekend filled with nostalgia. Whether you're a car enthusiast, a motorcycle lover, or simply appreciate the beauty of classic vehicles, this event is not to be missed.

The main attraction at the Classic Vehicle Show will be the stunning collection of classic cars and motorcycles. You'll have the opportunity to get up close and personal with these beauties, with owners on hand to share their stories and knowledge. It will be the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow vehicle enthusiasts and share your passion for all things classic.

So mark your calendars and join us for a weekend celebration of classic vehicles. It's an event that will not only transport you back in time but also create lasting memories. We look forward to seeing you there!

This is a Premium admission day. Free entry for COAM Annual Members.

Come and see heritage crafts in action at Chiltern Open Air Museum. Visitors will have the opportunity to step back in time and witness traditional crafts in action, including blacksmithing, straw plaiting, bucket making, lace making, bodging, spinning, natural dyeing and more.

Blacksmithing, one of the oldest professions in human history, will be on full display. A skilled crafts person will display their expertise in shaping and forging iron, using traditional techniques to create practical and decorative items. Visitors can witness the rhythmic sounds of hammers hitting anvils, as sparks fly in the air!

Straw plaiting, another traditional craft that was once a significant cottage industry in rural areas will be demonstrated at the event. A skilled practitioner will demonstrate the delicate process of transforming straw into intricate patterns and braids. Visitors can see first-hand the meticulous skill and precision required to create these beautiful straw plaits. You can also see bobbin lace making in action and discover the techniques used to create different styles of lace.

The last traditional bucket maker in the UK will be showing how traditional buckets were made. The Museum’s team will also be busy working in the woodland bodging area showing the skills and items that historic bodgers would have made. You can learn about how our ancestors dyed their clothes, the processes involved and the plants that they used to create different pigments.

This is a Premium admission day. Free entry for COAM Annual Members.

At this special weekend event, we will be joined by living history re-enactment groups who will be around our 45-acre site among our historic buildings, depicting different wartime periods throughout Britain's history, covering Medieval, English Civil War, Napoleonic War, WW1 and WW2.

There will be a number of civilian and military living history camps, an apothecary, and wartime military headquarters where you can discover what life was like on the home front, how the soldiers lived and what medicines were available.

This is a Premium admission day. Free entry for COAM Annual Members.

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. There will also be some have-a-go archery.

This is a Premium admission day. Free entry for COAM Annual Members.