Something that has become a regular part of my trips to Staines has been an educational day out to a National Trust establishment, custodians of many historic UK properties. This year the King of Staines suggested a trip to a place by the name of ‘Chartwell’, home for over 40 years to Winston Churchill and his family. It seemed like a very good idea to me.

Consisting of an impressive family home dating back several hundred years, a studio to accommodate Churchills passion for painting, several cottages to house staff and a very large estate / walled garden / swimming pool, Chartwell is a thing of beauty that is cared for by the great institution that is the National Trust. The main house is filled with many tributes to Churchills turbulent career but comes across strongly as a place that was a family home more than anything else.

It’s well worth a visit.