Living History Encounters: Meet the Past with Costumed Interpreters
Want to find out what life was like as an English Civil War soldier, how people lived in a post-war prefab, or how an 18th century cottage ? Meet the people who would have lived in and around our heritage buildings - from the Iron Age to the post-war era.
During your visit to the Museum, you may encounter re-enactment groups on training weekends, or meet some of our volunteers inhabiting our historical houses and workplaces. Many of them will be experts in a particular time period, or be fully immersed in how the people of that time lived and worked.
Re-enactors Training Weekends
You may have met some of our re-enactments groups during special events at the Museum. Many of these groups also visit on standard admission days, training their members to be ready for displays and demonstrations. They may be in costume, or in their civvies, relaxing in small living history encampments, taking part in orienteering missions in our woodlands or practicing firing vintage-style weapons within a roped off area.
See History Come to Life
Meet Winson Churchill, discover what life was like in our 18th century cottage, or be transported back in time to an Iron Age camp. See history come to life at the Museum on selected general admission days.
See our calendar for details of our pop-up living history encounters.
Discover Chilterns History in Our Heritage Homes
Costumed Volunteers
Our dedicated volunteers can often be found inhabiting the heritage buildings at the Museum. Spanning a wide range of time periods and backgrounds they help bring the past to life for visitors.
If you'd like to attend multiple Museum events and general admission days, you can save money by purchasing an Annual Membership
Explore over 2000 years of History
General Museum Information
With 45 acres at your disposal, there is plenty to explore, including woodlands and an exciting adventure playground
Dogs on short leads are welcome but must not go inside residential buildings
Light lunches, drinks, cakes and snacks are available to purchase from our Skippings Barn
Sensory backpacks are available to borrow (subject to availability)
Mobility scooters are available to borrow (subject to availability - pre-booking is advised)
Lots of free parking
Photography and filming may take place during this event for the Museum archives and publicity. These photographs and video footage may appear in promotional or educational materials including on our websites, social media pages, newsletters, or in newspapers and magazines. If you do not wish to be photographed, please speak to the photographer.