Chesham is a town in Buckinghamshire, England, 25 miles north-west of London.
Understand
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
By car
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
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
- Chesham Underground Station, Station Approach, HP5 1DH, 51.7052°, -0.6113°. Chesham is a terminus for the Metropolitan line, indeed it is the furthest extent of the Underground from central London, being 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 2017-11-09
By bus
Bus services connect the town with Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Hemel Hempstead, Heathrow Airport and Watford.
By plane
Heathrow (IATA: LHR) and Luton (IATA: LTN) are the nearest airports.
By bicycle
Get around
By local bus
Arriva, Carousel Buses, Woottens and Redline provide local and connecting bus services. Timetables available via Carlberry.co.uk (dead link: January 2023)
By taxis
See
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St Mary's Church, Church St, Chesham HP5 1HY , 51.70428°, -0.61699°, +44 1494 783629, rector@cheshamchurch.co.uk. The parish church for the town of Chesham, it has been on this site since at least 1153. 2017-11-08
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The Elgiva, St Mary's Way, Chesham HP5 1HR , 51.70803°, -0.61238°, +44 1494 582900, boxoffice@elgiva.com. 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. 2017-11-08
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Lowndes Park, 51.7067°, -0.6157°. 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.
Do
- Chesham Moor Swim and Gym, Moor Rd, Chesham HP5 1SE , 51.6969°, -0.6069°, +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. 2017-11-08
- Chesham Library, Elgiva Lane, Chesham HP5 2JD , 51.70668°, -0.61354°, +44 1494 776975. M 9:30AM-7PM; Tu 9:30AM-5PM; W 9:30AM-1PM; Th 9:30AM-5PM; Sa 10AM-4PM. 2017-11-08
Buy
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:
Supermarkets
- Sainsbury, Elgiva Lane, Chesham HP5 2YA , 51.70753°, -0.61192°, +44 1494 793052. M-Sa 7AM-10PM; Su 10AM-4PM. 2017-11-08
- Waitrose, The Backs, Chesham, HP5 1DR, 51.7070°, -0.6110°, +44 1494 791711. M-F 7:30AM-9PM; Sa 7:30AM-8PM; Su 10AM-4PM. 2017-11-08
Eat
- Rajasthan Restaurant, 115 High St, Chesham, HP5 1DE, 51.7077°, -0.6111°, +44 1494 783111. Daily noon-2PM & 5:30-11:30PM. Indian restaurant & takeaway. 2017-11-08
- Chesham Tandoori, 48 Broad St, Chesham HP5 3DX, 51.7089°, -0.6105°, +44 1494 782669, info@cheshamtandoori.co. Daily noon-14:00 & 5:30-11:30PM. Indian restaurant & takeaway. 2017-11-08
- The Queens Head Hotel, Church St, Old Chesham HP5 1JD, 51.7026°, -0.6174°, +44 1494 778690, queenshead.chesham@fullers.co.uk. M-W noon-11PM; Th F noon-midnight; Sa 11AM-00:00; Su 11AM-10:30PM. 2017-11-08
- Chesham Cottage, 20 Church St, Chesham HP5 1HU, 51.70409°, -0.61452°, +44 1494 771810. M 7:15-10PM; Tu-Su noon-2PM & 5:15-10PM. Chinese restaurant & takeaway. 2017-11-08
- Peri Peri, 20 Market Sq, Chesham HP5 1ES (3 miles N of Amersham), 51.7038°, -0.6134°, +44 1494 786784. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight, Su 11AM-11PM. Pizza takeaway. 2017-05-30
Drink
- The Drawing Room, Francis Yard, East St, Chesham HP5 1DG, 51.70424°, -0.61292°, +44 1494 791691, richard@the-drawingroom.co.uk. Tu 10AM-6PM; W-Sa 10AM-9PM; Su 10AM-5:30PM. "Art-food-music". 2017-11-08
- Brown Sugar, 74 The Broadway, High St, Chesham HP5 1EG, 51.70631°, -0.61284°, +44 1494 794722. M-Sa 7AM-4:30PM; Su 8AM-3:30PM.
- Rumbles Pantry, 6-8 Church St, Chesham HP5 1HT, 51.70405°, -0.61419°, +44 1494 793380. M 8:30AM-3:30PM; Tu 8:30AM-2:30PM; W-F 8:30AM-3:30PM; Sa 8:30AM-3PM. Sandwich & tea rooms. 2017-11-08
- Brazils, 17 Market Sq, Chesham HP5 1HG, 51.70349°, -0.61293°, +44 1494 793377. W-Sa 5:30-10PM. 2017-11-08
- Caffe Nero, 66 The Broadway, High St, Chesham HP5 1BX, 51.70608°, -0.61251°, +44 1494 775388. M-F 6:45AM-6PM; Sa 7:30AM-5:30PM; Su 8AM-5:30PM. 2017-11-08
- Poppins Cafe, 3-3A High St, Chesham HP5 1BG , 51.70450°, -0.61308°, +44 1494 792292, chesham@poppinsrestaurants.co.uk. M-Sa 7:30AM-6PM; Su 9AM-4PM. 2017-11-08
- Café Encore (@ The Elgiva), St. Marys Way, Chesham HP5 1HR , 51.70803°, -0.61238°, +44 1494 582904. M-Sa 9AM-3PM. 2017-11-08
- Liri Cafe, 106 High St, Chesham HP5 1EB , 51.70667°, -0.61192°, +44 1494 772787, liricafe@mail.com. Italian restaurant. 2017-11-08
- Mad Squirrel, 8 Market Sq, Chesham HP5 1ES , 51.703636°, -0.613527°, +44 1494 395857, chesham@rsgl.co.uk. May-Sept: M-Th noon-9PM, F noon-9:30PM, Sa 10AM-9:30PM, Su noon-8PM; Oct-Apr: M-W noon-8PM, Th F noon-9PM, Sa 10AM-9PM, Su noon-8PM. Tap & bottle shop. 2017-11-08
Sleep
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- Chartridge Lodge, Chartridge Lane, Chesham HP5 2TU (3 miles NW of Chesham), 51.729998°, -0.662095°, +44 1494 837484, chartridgelodge@chartridge.co.uk. 2017-11-08
- Chesham Bed & Breakfast, Park View, 1A Stanley Ave, Chesham HP5 2JF , 51.70816°, -0.61582°, +44 1494 771029. Single occupancy £90; Double occupancy £125 2017-11-08
Connect
Go next
Nearby villages
: Cholesbury
: Hawridge
: Chartridge
: Bellingdon
: Ashley Green
:* Chenies Manor
;;* Chiltern Hills
:* Natural History Museum Tring
:* Waddesden Manor
:* Whipsnade Zoo
Go next
:* Amersham
:* Aylesbury
:* Berkhamsted
:* Tring
:* Watford