Visit to Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden

The children's author and short story writer Roald Dahl lived in Great Missenden in the Buckinghamshire Chilterns for more than thirty years. He was born 100 years ago this year, and the museum in his honour in the town is celebrating in style.

The landscape of Great Missenden inspired some of Roald Dahl's writing. This garage on the high street, near to the museum itself, inspired the one that features in Danny Champion of the World. The imaginative displays in the museum playfully recreate some of these features from the books.

Much in the museum dwells on Dahl's life, from school to the RAF to his career as a writer. The famous chair in which he composed his books is on display behind glass and then recreated for visitors to try out for themselves in the room next door. 

We enjoyed the story telling session with the hard working staff (who, I noticed, also doubled as front of house and cafe/toilet attendants). Our eldest came home keen to write a story for himself - quite an achievement. How interesting, though, that one of Dahl's reports accused him of having 'limited ideas' when it came to English composition.