The Chilterns are jam-packed with brilliant days out and experiences, and one of the best for families in the summer holidays has to be Chiltern Open Air Museum (COAM) in Chalfont St. Giles, spread over 45 acres in leafy Buckinghamshire. Not familiar? Here’s the lowdown.

1. Historical homes

Who lives in a house like this, you’ll wonder as you peek into the home of a Chilterns family in days gone by. Chiltern Open Air Museum has re-built 37 buildings dating throughout 2,000 years of Chiltern architecture, so you’ll get a glimpse of family life in everything from an Iron Age roundhouse to a C17th farm labourer’s cottage. Helpful volunteers (dressed in period costume) are on hand to answer all your nosy questions – like how did a family of 10 living in two rooms manage to have baths? (Answer: they often didn’t – or they just had a strip wash). Brrr.

2. Classic cars

The Classic Vehicle Show is zooming back to COAM this summer – so if you appreciate a vintage motor, hotfoot it here on 20-21 July to park up with a fleet of classic cars and their owners, who will be happy to geek out – sorry, share their fascinating anecdotes – about all things car-related. Not into the motors? There’s added entertainment/light relief on both weekend days thanks to live music from JJ’s Escondidos (rhythm and blues) and acoustic guitarist Georgia Michel, who’ll be channeling Dolly Parton and Amy Winehouse. Rock and roll.

3. Terrific Tuesdays

This is a school holiday saviour. Running from 30 July to 27 August, COAM is running its Terrific Tuesdays sessions, which are weekly craft and activity days for younger members of the family. Each week has a different theme, and this year’s line-up includes a crafts and activities with a Victorian (13 Aug), Viking (20 August) and local history (27 August) theme – plus a lot of clay modelling to keep the kids occupied over the long summer hols.

4. Battle re-enactments

Chiltern Open Air Museum comes into its own with its punchy battle re-enactments. We sadly missed the Napoloeonic weekend (above), so now we’re gunning for front row seats at the Viking Raid on the August Bank Holiday (25-26 August). There’ll be a clash between the Vicious Vikings and the Christian forces of Wessex, plus storytelling and Viking-themed activities.

Or there’s the Britain at War themed weekend on 10-11 August, which is worth a visit for enactments designed to teach the kids more about Britain’s wartime periods and the role of women on the home front. Soprano Fiona Harrison (above) rallied the troops with her Bound for Normandy show at COAM’s event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

5. History lessons

For more historical fun (it’s a bit of a USP here), COAM brings the past to life in an entertaining Horrible Histories way with its themed events (see their recent bloody gladiatorial set-piece above). Clash of the Queens, from 3-4 August, is all about Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Expect sparks to fly in two performances each day imagining an encounter between the cousins and rivals who – astonishingly – never actually met during their lifetimes. Or learn more about the murky side of the Victorians on 17-18 August, when there’ll be some rather shady characters prowling the grounds. Look out for the rat-catcher and his rats, street urchins, rogues, vagabonds and perhaps the odd pick-pocket. Keep an eye on your handbag!

6. Talks and workshops

If this jam-packed schedule of events wasn’t enough, COAM also runs fantastic workshops throughout the summer too. Choose from weaving willow into cool sculptures, braiding straw into your own hat, making a beeswax candle, or watching a blacksmith at work in the Victorian forge (above). The weekend of 27-28 July is a special crafts showcase, but there’s a traditional craft demo every standard admission weekend day too – from lace-makers to chair-makers. When Muddy visited, there was a spoon-carving demo – and we were given two beautiful wooden spoons as a memento. Not the booby prize.

7. Just relax

If all this sounds rather energetic – or you’ve had your fill of the site (it takes about 90 mins to explore), head to the Village Green for a well-earned sit-down at the picnic tables. May we suggest treating yourself to coffee and cake in the Skippings Barn café, while the kids burn off any residual energy in the adventure playground next-door? If you still have some spare energy, then go on, fill your boots. You can meet the farm animals, visit the traditional working farm, and play dress-up in historical garb. Now that’s a summer day out sorted.

Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire HP8 4AB. Tel: 01494 871117.