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One of the most celebrated and famous children’s books author. Known for his fiction and short stories Roald Dahl and his works are popular with all ages and millions of readers from around the world. His most popular works and one of my favourite being – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A short distance from London is the village of Great Missenden where the author was born, and now home to an award winning museum on his works and life. Let’s discover The Roald Dahl Museum – Day trip from London.
About The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.
The museum and story centre is primarily aimed at kids between the ages of 6 and 12 but it is a fun day out for the whole family. It is situated in a small village in Buckinghamshire just outside London where Roald Dahl lived and created some of his most famous works. He lived here for nearly 36 years and this museum was created to celebrate his life and works. His works are as popular with adults as with children.
How to get to The Roald Dahl Museum from London.
Great Missenden station is a train journey from London Marylebone. The fastest train takes 35 minutes and there are roughly 2 trains every hour. If you prefer to travel by road it is roughly an hour’s drive from London depending on traffic. ) Address: 81-83 High St, Great Missenden HP16 0AL
Visit the official website of the Museum for more details. The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.
When is The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre is open?
The Museum is open Tue – Fri 10:00 – 17:00 and Sat – Sun 11:00 – 17:00
Is there an entrance fee to The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre?
The price for an adult ticket is £7 and children between the ages 5-18 are £4.70. You could also purchase a family ticket for £22.60 which is valid for 2 adults and up to 3 children. Children under 5 years are free. Check website for the most up to date prices.
Things to Do and See in The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.
The Museum and Story Centre have a few different sections including the Writing Hut used by Roald Dhal. The interiors of his Writing Hut were carefully removed from the garden of his original house and moved to the Museum in 2012.
There were over 200 objects that were removed from the original house and have been displayed at the museum. These include puzzles, personal items such as handkerchiefs and even his original writing chair. The museum also houses some rather interesting items including relics of the man himself.You can see his RAF helmet and shavings from his hip-bone and his spine.
The Story Centre.
There is a Story Centre which conducts regular story telling event and a great place for children to visit and hear stories. There is an Art and Craft area where kids can enjoy painting and most of these activities are free. You can’t find a better place to sit back and enjoy storytelling. After all it is the home of the most famous storyteller.
The other interesting part of the Museum is the wide range of interactive displays which transform you right into the books of Roald Dahl.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The Museum also includes some of the articles used in the movie – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which is an absolute treat. Enter through the Wonka bar chocolate doors and marvel at the velvet coat, hat and sprinkle filled stick used by Johnny Depp who portrayed the character of Willy Wonka in the adaptation of the movie in 2005. It also houses the Animatronic puppets that represent the Oompa-Loompas.
You enter the Museum through the Wonka gates which were donated to the museum by Warner Brothers. As the original gates used in the film were too large they remade a smaller version for the museum.
Food and Drinks
There is a Cafe which serves hot and cold food and some snacks. Treat the kids to to scrumdiddlyumptious food and make it the perfect day out with the family.
There is a gift shop as well which has a large collection of Roald Dhal books. The perfect place to take a piece of the magic home.
There is a gift shop where you can buy books and souvenirs as well.
Overall Experience.
This is an absolute must for children and a great way to encourage their reading habits. It was equally a fun day for myself,marvelling at all Charlie and the Chocolate Factory relics and to top it all, it even has a little statue of Matilda to pose with.
Enjoy reading about some of the other great places – In and Around London.
I think I could spend weeks just taking day trips from London — there are so many nice places to visit in the countryside. Are there other attractions in the area in addition to the museum? It definitely looks fun to see all of the props from the films and such! You’re right it is a great place to encourage reading and imagination!
It’s a great place for kids and to encourage them to read.
Darn! I love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and did not know about this museum during my time in London. I would have loved to see that red velvet jacket in person, I’m so bummed! I did enjoy a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea at One Aldwych, this would have been the perfect compliment to that day
I guess it’s not as promoted as it should be. It’s a great place indeed
I loved reading Roald Dahl books as a child, but had no idea there was a museum dedicated to him and his works. That’s really cool that they managed to get so many of his personal items to the museum like the helmet. I also like the Wonka gates here; that’s a Dahl must!
It’s a great place to visit and yes not that well known to people.
I love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but didn’t know about this museum, so big thanks for the suggestion. It’s great that they manage to keep many of his interesting items. The entrance fee is reasonable price too.
It is a great place to visit and yes tickets are nominal
What a great place to take the kids. Must try and visit soon. Thanks for sharing.
It’s a must for all kids. How you enjoy it.
The Roald Dahl museum and story centre though aimed for kids between the ages of 6 and 12 but it looks interesting for adults too. Good to know that it is situated in a small village in Buckinghamshire which can be done as a day trip from London. I never knew that Roald Dahl lived and created some of his most famous works here. Good to know that he lived here for about 36 years and now this museum celebrates his life and works. Thanks for sharing interesting place near London.
It’s a great place for both adults and kids and yes can be done on a days trip from London.
Had no idea about this museum. Looks interesting and am sure kids are going to have lots of fun. Have read few of his books but never thought beyond that. It’s nice to have such museums that celebrates life and work of such individuals.
It’s indeed a great place to celebrate the works and life of a a author of his stature.
Looks like a great place for both adults and kids. I’m a big fan of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and would love to visit it. Great that you can do it on a day’s trip from London.
I can relate to your live for Charlie and the Chocolate factory. You must visit.
Unfortunately, I neither have kids nor I am much into museums but the Roald Dahl museum looks like a must-visit place for parents who want to inculcate reading habits in their kids. Seems like you had a great family day out. I would love to visit the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory relics.
It’s a good place to visit for every age.
Wow! This is amazing. I am a fan of Roald Dahl and it would be a wonderful experience to visit his museum. I believe the the prices are reasonable and happy to know that kids below 5 are free. 🙂
The entrance is indeed reasonable when you compare to other attractions in London.
I would love to take my nephew here, he’s currently in his phase where he’s reading a lot of Roald Dahl. I like the idea of the story centre, I am sure it’s something he would enjoy. What a lovely little day trip from London, thanks for highlighting it because I did not even know that a Roald Dahl museum existed so close to London.
A lesser known gem and one which need to be more promoted for sure. It’s a great day out from London.
I work on the railway line which serves the museum for the last 15 years and I have to admit, I haven’t visited this museum once. Was a huge fan of his books when I was a child and will hopefully get my two daughters reading his novels like the BFG and James and the Giant Peach when they are older. I probably leave off visiting the museum for a while and then take the children with me as it is geared up for the whole family and not just adults.
It’s great that you getting your kids into reading. Good idea to visit with your kids. Hope you can make it there and enjoy it.
Wow. This is definitely going on my list. I loved reading Roald Dahl as a child. Now I am reliving it through my daughter who has developed an interest in reading due to Charlie and the chocolate factory. Would love to see the nick knacks especially the Oompa Loompas. It was interesting to read about the gates donated to the museum by Warner Bros.
Pooja it’s true how we live it first ourselves then through our children. The Oompa Loompas were a treat.
I’m a big fan of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and would love to visit it. It’s a pity that I didn’t know about this museum when I visited London last December. Also, the entrance is reasonable too, especially if you compare to the entrance fees of museums in London. Thank you for sharing
I do get a feeling that not many people know about this hidden gem and needs to be promoted a bit more. The entrance is no doubt reasonable
Great post!! I am not a big fan of museum and I have never been to Roald Dahl museum but I do have my niece which is an absolute fan of museum and she would be thrilled to go. As I could see she is fond of many characters which are displayed in the museum too. Great list.
Well hope you could take your niece someday then and she can experience the magic
I love visiting museums whenever I travel. I didn’t even know there was a Roald Dahl museum. I’m an avid reader and former elementary school teacher so this museum is right up my alley. It seems very quick and easy to visit on the train from London too. It’s cool that some of the articles from the Charlie & the Chocolate Factory movie are included in the museum.
This would be a real treat for you I guess. I do get a feeling that this place needs to be more promoted as a lot of people don’t know such a place exists.
Wow, it was good to know about Roald Dahl Museum! As a kid, I loved his books and it still inspires me. Like most of us, I am a fan of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I had always wondered as a kid whether I can ever visit a place like that. It seems now that it is possible. The next time I am in London, I will make a point to visit there.
It is like reliving your childhood. Make sure to visit when u next in London.
wow what a place . never thought something like this existed. I have been to London few times but never knew of this place. Thanks for sharing and will add to my list next time I visit London.
It’s a less know place that’s what I’m getting to know from various people reading my post. Try and visit it on your next visit now you know.
While i don’t fancy London much. But i love the fact, that one has a variety of experiences to choose from, all in a day trips time from London. Have read a couple of Roald Dahl books while growing up, but visiting this place would be so much fun. Too bad, I wasn’t aware about this place, when i was back in the UK, else i would have definitely visited.
I think there is a great variety of day trips on offer from London. This should certainly be more promoted as not many people who visit seem to know about it
I was not aware of something like this existed. I travel to London often and would love to take my kids here. Thanks for sharing it.
A lot of people have not heard about it. Great I could help.