When he was nine years old, the family moved to the nearby town of Royal Leamington Spa where his father, a highly inventive practical engineer and mechanic, purchased the Leamington Valve and Piston Ring Company, which comprised a few lathes and other tools and a single-cylinder gas engine, on which Whittle became an expert.
Ketika berusia sembilan tahun, ia dan keluarganya pindah ke kota terdekat Royal Leamington Spa di mana ayahnya seorang insinyur praktis yang sangat inventif dan mekanik membeli Leamington Valve dan Ring Piston Company, yang terdiri dari beberapa mesin bubut dan alat-alat lain dan satu-silinder mesin gas dan menjadikan Whittle menjadi ahli.