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town and civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Europe > Britain and Ireland > United Kingdom > England > South East England > Buckinghamshire > Chesham

Chesham is a town in Buckinghamshire, England, 25 miles north-west of London.

Understand

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St Mary's Church

Chesham is a market town set at the convergence of several valleys in the Chiltern Hills. The nearest towns are Amersham and Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire. The River Chess rises just to the north of the town. Its history can be summed up by the phrase "the four Bs of Chesham: boots, beer, brushes and Baptists" which relates to the growing prosperity of the town in the 18th century and being a focus for religious dissent and nonconformity. The population has doubled to around 20,000 since the Second World War. Politically, control of the town has swung between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats.

Get in

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By car

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The A416 runs through the town connecting Amersham and Berkhamsted.

The A41 can be reached at Berkhamsted, which can be used to used to access London and Aylesbury. The M1 and M40 motorways are also within easy reach of Chesham.

By train

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Chesham is not served directly by the National Rail network, the nearest connections being Amersham (for services to Aylesbury), and Berkhamsted (for Birmingham). Passengers on the Chiltern Line (London Marylebone to Aylesbury) can change at Chalfont & Latimer for the Metropolitan line service to Chesham (see below).

By tube

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  • 1 Chesham Underground Station, Station Approach, HP5 1DH. Chesham is a terminus for the Metropolitan line, indeed it is the furthest extent of the Underground from central London, being 25 mi (40 km) from Charing Cross. Trains arrive from Baker Street every 15 minutes during peak periods and 30 minutes off-peak. Train times for stations to London are available from Transport for London Chesham tube station (Q138914) on Wikidata Chesham tube station on Wikipedia (updated Nov 2017)

By bus

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Bus services connect the town with Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Hemel Hempstead, Heathrow Airport and Watford.

By plane

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Heathrow (LHR IATA) and Luton (LTN IATA) are the nearest airports.

By bicycle

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Get around

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Map
Map of Chesham
Chesham, Clock Tower

By local bus

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Arriva, Carousel Buses, Woottens and Redline provide local and connecting bus services. Timetables available via Carlberry.co.uk[dead link]

By taxis

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  • 1 St Mary's Church, Church St, Chesham HP5 1HY, ☏ +44 1494 783629, . The parish church for the town of Chesham, it has been on this site since at least 1153. St. Mary's Church, Chesham (Q7590162) on Wikidata St Mary's Church, Chesham on Wikipedia (updated Nov 2017)
  • 2 The Elgiva, St Mary's Way, Chesham HP5 1HR, ☏ +44 1494 582900, . Open daily subject to current programme of events. The Elgiva is a 300-seat theatre, with digital cinema facilities. It is owned and managed by Chesham Town Council. The Elgiva put on professional and amateur productions, comedy acts, musicals, ballet, dance, one-night shows, a pantomime, exhibitions, weddings and other public and private events. The Elgiva (Q41770629) on Wikidata (updated Nov 2017)
  • 3 Lowndes Park. A major historic feature of Chesham donated to the town in 1953 by the Lowndes family. It has 36 acres comprising parkland and recreational facilities including children's play areas, a multi-sports court, a skateboard park, the historic avenue (also a cycle route), public toilets and Skottowes pond. A series of free, open air concerts is staged in the bandstand area during July and August each year. The upper park provides views across the town, places to walk and habitats for local wildlife and a barrow an Ancient Scheduled Monument. Managed by Chiltern Town Council, it is looked after by the Friends of Loundes Park. 
  • 1 Chesham Moor Swim and Gym, Moor Rd, Chesham HP5 1SE, ☏ +44 1494 776975. M-Th 6AM-9PM; F 6AM-8PM; Sa Su 8AM-6PM. There is an open air swimming pool. A multi court marked out for tennis, netball, 5-a-side football and basketball. A gym for exercise and fitness classes. (updated Nov 2017)
  • 2 Chesham Library, Elgiva Lane, Chesham HP5 2JD, ☏ +44 1494 776975. M 9:30AM-7PM; Tu 9:30AM-5PM; W 9:30AM-1PM; Th 9:30AM-5PM; Sa 10AM-4PM. (updated Nov 2017)

The main retail areas is the pedestrianised High Street, The Broadway and Market Square, all close to the Underground Station. Other shops can be found along the Berkhamsted Road.

Chesham is a traditional Chilterns Market Town, with a market charter granted in 1257 by Henry III. There are three regular markets, and occasional continental markets during the year:

  • General Market - every Wednesday & Saturday
  • Local Produce Market - 4th Saturday of the month
  • Street Market - 2nd Saturday of the month
  • 1 Auberge du Chocolat (Chocolate Shop), Unit 28 Chess Business Park, Chesham HP5 1SD, ☏ +44 1494 774179, . Chocolate products and chocolate making workshops (updated Nov 2017)

Supermarkets

Drink

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Sleep

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Connect

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  • 2 Post Office, 93 High St, Chesham HP5 1DE. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM. (updated Nov 2017)

Go next

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Nearby villages
Cholesbury
Hawridge
Chartridge
Bellingdon
Ashley Green
  • Chenies Manor
Go next
Routes through Chesham
END ←  W  E  → Rickmansworth → Bloomsbury-Camden


This city travel guide to Chesham is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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