Chislehurst, BR7 5QD, Kent, United Kingdom
William Willett Memorial and Sundial
Strange monument
Place photograph
3.8
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
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Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
3.8A sundial that keeps British Summer Time year-round commemorates William Willett, the Chislehurst resident whose campaign helped bring about the seasonal clock change. Its dial marks the hours from 7am to 7pm in half-hour intervals.
This is a small, specific piece of local history rather than a destination with a deep programme of activities: a permanent-summer-time sundial set in the wider Petts Wood landscape, with a story that began on nearby woodland rides.
Atmospheric
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Open mapChislehurst, BR7 5QD, Kent, United Kingdom
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The experience
A brief heritage stop for the sundial and its story. It can be paired with a walk in Petts Wood and Hawkwood, but the memorial alone is not a full-day destination.
Things to do
Read the sundial as a memorial
Look for the half-hour divisions between 7am and 7pm and note that the dial is set permanently to British Summer Time, rather than functioning as a current-time display.
10–20 minutes
Add a woodland walk
Explore the wider Petts Wood and Hawkwood estate on permitted paths. Use the National Trust map and check the route before visiting; the memorial pin is not an entrance or parking location.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Under 1 hour
A quick look at the sundial
- 01
Check the current National Trust access information and identify a suitable approach before setting out.
- 02
Visit the memorial and inspect the dial’s half-hour markings and its permanent British Summer Time setting.
- 03
Return by the same permitted path.
Half day · Half day
Memorial and woodland walk
- 01
Plan a walk in Petts Wood and Hawkwood using the National Trust estate map and current access information.
- 02
Include the William Willett Memorial and Sundial as a brief heritage stop if the chosen route reaches it.
- 03
Stay on permitted paths; the National Trust says there is no right of access across pasture or arable fields.
Verified history
William Willett (1856–1915) campaigned for daylight saving and lived in Chislehurst. The memorial sundial commemorates him; Art UK describes its markings as running from 7am to 7pm in half-hour intervals and says it is permanently set to British Summer Time. The Churchill Project account says Willett’s idea came during early morning rides on St Paul’s Cray Common and in nearby Petts Wood. Willett died before the change became law; the memorial’s sundial offers a physical reminder of his campaign.
Hidden details
The dial does not show the current time — Its face is permanently set to British Summer Time, with markings from 7am to 7pm at half-hour intervals.
When to go
· Daylight; the National Trust lists the wider countryside as open from dawn to dusk.
The supplied sources give no season-specific reason to visit the memorial. Daylight is practical for viewing the sundial and navigating the estate’s paths.
Check the forecast and current estate conditions. The National Trust notes steps and uneven terrain on the wider estate.
Worth pairing with
Petts Wood and Hawkwood
Pair the memorial with a walk on permitted estate paths. Consult the National Trust map and access information; the estate includes pasture and arable fields without a right of access.
What to look for
- 01
The sundial’s half-hour markings from 7am to 7pm and its permanent British Summer Time setting. Look closely at the memorial itself
- 02
do not assume the sundial displays the actual time.
The story
Science
Best time to go
Year-round; check estate access and daylight before visiting.
Visit in daylight. The National Trust lists the wider countryside as open from dawn to dusk; check current estate information before travelling.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
Solo · Couples · History lovers · Walkers
Before you go
Address
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
The memorial is associated with Petts Wood and Hawkwood. The National Trust describes access to the wider estate by foot and lists paths with uneven terrain; its named entrances and directions may not lead directly to the memorial. Confirm the exact approach before setting out. The estate is open dawn to dusk, and there is no on-site parking. Access arrangements are unconfirmed. Check before visiting; do not enter private land or restricted structures.
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Parking
No on-site parking at Petts Wood and Hawkwood. Check local parking options before visiting; do not assume the Google Maps pin is an entrance or parking point.
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
Dogs are allowed on the wider National Trust estate; follow local guidance and keep to permitted paths.
Accessibility
The National Trust reports steps and uneven terrain on the wider estate and does not confirm wheelchair access to the memorial. Check the access guide and route before visiting.
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Cost
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Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around William Willett Memorial and Sundial
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
