RGHT Charlton House & Gardens

Celebrating Volunteers’ Week 💛

This week (1 June-7 June 2026), we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible people who help bring Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust to life - our volunteers!

We are proud to have a team of nearly 100 dedicated individuals working across the Trust, bringing their passion, time, and expertise to every aspect of our work. Our volunteers generously give their time to the Archive and Collection, support education programmes at Charlton House, run the Charlton House Concert Society, and care for the Charlton House Gardens.

They help make a difference every single day. From welcoming visitors and sharing stories to supporting events and preserving our historic spaces inside and outside, their contribution is invaluable. The images show how Charlton House – part of the Trust – has been preserved for generations.

To all our volunteers, whether you have been with us for a short or long time, thank you for your energy, your enthusiasm, and your commitment to keeping the Trust’s heritage alive for everyone to enjoy.

There is lots to do at Charlton House & Gardens in June.

1. Shakespeare in the Squares returns to the Gardens on Friday 26th June. Bring a picnic and a rug and prepare for the romantic comedy, Love’s Labour’s Lost. The doors open from 5.30pm and the curtain goes up at 7pm. The play finishes at 9pm and there will be a small break. Frilly’s is open before the performance starts. For tickets, please visit shakespeareinthesquares.co.uk

2. The weekly guided House tours take place every Friday until November.
Booking is through Eventbrite – head to our website for more details.

3. We’ve updated our Charlton House 100 Exhibition to celebrate Maryon-Wilson Park centenary. The story of Maryon-Wilson Park, just a short distance from Charlton House, shows how people, animals, and nature have shaped this landscape over time.
The exhibition will be on the ground floor of Charlton House from June 8th 2026.

4. Tuesday concerts are always a highlight of the week. Join us between 1pm-2pm every week. Entry is free, with a collection in aid of the Charlton House Concert Society and Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust. For more details on the programme please visit our website.

5. Make more of your time with us with a coffee, tea and cakes or lunch. Frilly’s is open Monday-Friday from 9.30am-3.30pm, and Saturday 9.30am-3.00pm.

6. Enjoy the gardens as we move into summer. They are open Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm.

The Charlton House Garden Volunteers are a very special group of people. They have brought the gardens back to life in a spectacular way and they keep them looking fabulous all year round. In a week of hot weather, the plants need more care and attention to help keep the spaces green for as long as possibles.

We hope you can take some time this weekend to enjoy the warm weather and discover what’s blooming outside 🌿.

See Charlton House from a new angle... Our gardens are looking lovely, and so is the house. We’re biased, but Charlton House & Gardens is a lovely place to slow down and take in a bit of history.

🌿How about a wander through the gardens and a Friday house tour too…?

Head to our website or Eventbrite to book a tour, or simply turn up for the guided tours at midday every Friday. We have self-guided tours too – they are available every day we are open (though sometimes rooms may be closed for events). The gardens are open whenever the house is open.

Half term isn’t just for children! Join us on Thursday 28th May for our Children’s Craft Day where the theme is ‘Tremendous Trees’.

Enjoy two hours of hands-on activities inspired by the flora, fauna, and wildlife connected to our historic House and Gardens.

Learn how to make…
🐛🐞A caterpillar or ladybird crawling up a leaf – they move too!
🌳An acorn mask
🍃A clay oak leaf coaster or hanging decoration
🎋A paper roll tree creation

Need a quieter moment? A dedicated sensory space will be available throughout the session.

After crafting, step outside and explore the gardens while everything is in full bloom.

- Suitable for ages: 5-12 (and adults too!)
- £6 per child (plus Eventbrite booking fee).
- Two sessions to choose from.
- Spaces are limited to book now! Head to the What’s On page of our website OR book direct on the Eventbrite website, just search for Charlton House.

☘️🌻🧁We’ve got your family Sunday sorted! There is so much on offer at The Charlton House and Gardens Plant Sale on Sunday May 17th.

🌱🪴Plants - carefully cultivated by the Charlton House garden volunteers from surplus stock.

🧁Cakes – head to Frilly’s for cakes with a floral twist!

🧶🕯️🌭🌮Craft and food stalls.

🌳And finally – the garden volunteers are testing out a new tree trail. They would love your feedback before it becomes a permanent fixture. See if you can follow the trail to find and identify some of the trees – from Pomegranate to the wonderfully named Tree of Heaven, and the famous Mulberry Tree.

Doors are open on Sunday 17th May from 11am-3pm.
Entry is free.
We can’t wait to see you!

🐞🐛PS when the Plant Sale is over, there is still lots to look forward to at Charlton House. Join us for our half-term crafting on Thursday 28th May, which is all about trees. Learn how to make an acorn mask or a ladybird or caterpillar the moves on a leaf (and more!). Suitable for children aged 5-12. Head to our website for more details!

🌿✨ Just days to go until the Charlton House Plant Sale… and it’s not just about the plants!
Alongside our beautiful, garden-grown plants from the Walled Gardens, we’ll have a handpicked selection of craft and food stalls to explore. Think locally made treats, unique handmade pieces, and plenty of delicious things to eat and drink while you wander 🌸🍰

Our garden volunteers will be there on the day, joined by fantastic stallholders. Whether you’re stocking up your garden or just coming for a relaxed Sunday browse, there’s something for everyone.

📅 Sunday 17th May
⏰ From 11am
📍 Charlton House & Gardens, London SE7

We can’t wait to see you there💐🌼

Surprising things come down chimneys – even in the Spring.

Look what we found in the fireplace of the Jenkins Room (on the ground floor). This tankard fell down the chimney overnight. It’s not as old as Charlton House - it has a much more recent (but no less intruguing) history.

The text on it says: ‘Charlton 1994 Town Crier’. But we just don’t know whose it was or how it ended up in the chimney.

If anyone has any ideas, let us know!

#1994

☘️🌻We can’t wait for the Charlton House Plant Sale. It’s a chance to stock up on plants for your garden – all sourced from the surplus from our Walled Gardens. The sale is hosted by our brilliant Charlton House garden volunteers who will be joined by other stallholders. Enjoy crafts, locally sourced produced and lots of lovely things to eat and drink.

The Plant Sale will be running from 11am on Sunday 17th May.