High Wycombe

High Wycombe is a hilly town in the county of Buckinghamshire in England. Crest of High Wycombe

Understand

Often just called Wycombe, the 'furniture capital of England' is a large and historic town between hills. Furniture making played an extensive role in the town's industrial heritage. The market in High Street dates back to the Middle Ages.

Each May the town has an unusual ceremony known as Mayor Making. A tradition dating back to 1678, the town holds a public weighing of the Mayor, the intention being to see if they have put on weight i.e. to see if they are getting fat at rate payers' expense. In the interests of confidentiality the actual weight is not revealed but the gain or loss of weight is and is announced by the town crier.

Get in

By road

The town lies on the main London-Oxford-Birmingham M40 motorway. 30 miles from London, 30 miles (48 km) to Oxford and 12 miles (19 km) from the M25 motorway.

The A404 main road connects the town to the M4 (London-Reading-Bristol-Swansea) motorway (to the S), close to Maidenhead.

By train

Railway station, Amersham Hill, High Wycombe, HP13 6NN , 51.629516°, -0.746279°. Chiltern Railways manage the station and run services. On the line from Birmingham to London Marylebone and served by both local and fast trains. There are usually 3 trains an hour between High Wycombe and London Marylebone and 1 train an hour between High Wycombe and Birmingham. Check timetables as trains do not run overnight. 2017-06-03

By bus

Wycombe is also served by buses to and from many of the nearby towns and villages, though due to the sheer number of traffic lights installed along London Road and around the entrance to the bus station it's generally quicker to walk.

There are also bus services to Oxford and Stansted Airport.

The town boasts a spacious park and ride facility, see National Park and Ride Directory which stops running at 7PM, rendering it useless to anyone wanting to have dinner, visit the cinema or go late-night shopping. At 6:30PM, however, the Eden Car Park changes its pricing plan to £1.50 for the rest of the evening. The Dovecot car park is even cheaper, but much less well-maintained.

By air

Whilst the town does have an airfield Booker Airfield, this is a private airfield for light aircraft.

The town is 20 miles (32 km) from Heathrow Airport and 40 miles (64 km) from Luton Airport

Get around

Buses: Buckinghamshire County Council have a guide to bus services in the High Wycombe area.

Walking and cycling: The town centre is largely pedestrianised.

Car: Good links with the M40 and M4.

See

Wycombe Museum, Priory Ave, High Wycombe HP13 6PX , 51.6313°, -0.7481°, +44 1494 957210, info@wycombemuseum.org. 2 Apr-30 Oct: M-Th 10AM-5PM, F 10AM-4:30PM, Sa 11AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM, last Th of month 10AM-9:30PM; 31 Oct – 1 Apr: M-Th 10AM-4:30PM, F 10AM-4PM, Sa 11AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM, last Th month 10AM-9:30PM. Free admission 2017-05-31
Hughenden Manor, Valley Rd, High Wycombe HP14 4LA (3 miles N of High Wycombe), 51.6502°, -0.75698°, +44 1494 755565, hughenden@nationaltrust.org.uk. 2017-05-31
The Rye, 51.6255°, -0.7431°. This extensive park is bordered by two rivers; the Wye and The Dyke; and features two attractive playgrounds and free-to-use tennis courts. 2017-05-31
Hellfire Caves, Church Ln, West Wycombe HP14 3AH, 51.646°, -0.8026°, +44 1494 533739. Adults £7.50; Children £6 2017-05-31
West Wycombe Park, Village and Hill, West Wycombe, HP14 3AJ (3 miles west of High Wycombe), 51.641701°, -0.80065°, +44 1494 755571 or +44 1494 513569, westwycombe@nationaltrust.org.uk.
Bekonscot Model Village & Railway, Warwick Rd, Beaconsfield HP9 2PL (5½ miles E of High Wycombe), 51.613794°, -0.644894°, +44 1494 672919, info@bekonscot.co.uk. Daily 10AM-5:30PM. Adults £10, Children £6 2017-06-26

Do

The Cressex area of High Wycombe (near the main M40 junction) offers a few options close to the Holiday Inn hotel, a badminton centre, and Handy Cross sports centre (http://www.wll.co.uk) which has many facilities including a Gym and Swimming pool.

Odds Farm Park, Wooburn Common, High Wycombe HP10 0LX (4 miles from J2 of the M40), 51.5797°, -0.6684°, +44 1628 520188, oddsfarm@oddsfarm.co.uk. Daily from 10AM. Meet new babies, enjoy Animal Activities/Demonstrations and discover the NEW Giant Indoor Playbarn! 2017-05-31
Hollywood Bowl (Ten-pin Bowling), 9 Denmark St, Eden Centre, High Wycombe HP11 2DB, 51.63037°, -0.75658°, +44 844 826 3042 (premium). Daily 9AM-late. Adults £5.99/game; Under 16's £4.99/game 2017-06-03
Swan Theatre, St Mary St, High Wycombe HP11 2XE, 51.62815°, -0.74981°, +44 1494 512000. 2017-06-03
Watch football at Wycombe Wanderers. They were relegated in 2021 and now play soccer in League One, the game's third tier. Their home ground Adams Park (capacity 9400) is two miles west of High Wycombe town centre.
Badminton Wycombe, Crest Rd, High Wycombe HP11 1UA, 51.6120°, -0.7748°, +44 1494 436200. M-F 9AM-11PM, Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 9AM-11PM. 2017-06-03
Wycombe Leisure Centre, Handy Cross, High Wycombe HP11 1UP, 51.6147°, -0.7603°, +44 1494 688100. M-F 6AM-11PM, Sa Su 7AM-8PM. Gym, pools, studios, group cycling studio, sports hall, squash courts, climbing wall, bowls hall, café 2017-06-03
Cineworld, Denmark St, Eden, High Wycombe HP11 2DB, 51.62895°, -0.75362°, +44 871 200 2000 (premium). 2017-06-03
Empire (Cinema), Crest Rd, High Wycombe HP11 1UA, 51.6131°, -0.7722°. 2017-06-03 One of the best things to do in High Wycombe is use its fantastic transport links and go somewhere else.

Buy

High Wycombe Market, High St, High Wycombe, HP11 2BN , 51.6293°, -0.7508°, +44 1483 277640, info@saundersmarkets.co.uk. Tu F 8AM-4PM, Sa 8AM-5PM. 2017-06-03
Eden Shopping Centre, 51.6275°, -0.753°. The town centre has undergone a major refurbishment project and now has one of the largest shopping centres in the country with over 100 shops, including a large House of Fraser and Marks and Spencer. It is probably also the coldest as it has no roof in some areas, so wrap up warm. The way the building was built it acts as a wind tunnel. 2017-06-03
Chiltern Shopping Centre, Frogmoor, High Wycombe HP13 5ES , 51.63088°, -0.75195°. 2017-06-03
Desborough Road (Shopping Area), Desborough Rd, High Wycombe, HP11 2QA , 51.6314°, -0.7607°. 2017-06-03
John Lewis (Department Store), Holmers Farm Way, Cressex Centre, High Wycombe HP12 4NW , 51.6111°, -0.7834°, +44 1494 462666. M-F 10AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-7PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Near the M40. The store does not stock clothing - only household goods and furnishings. 2017-06-03

Supermarkets

Waitrose (Supermarket), Marlow Hill, High Wycombe HP11 1TJ , 51.6146°, -0.7621°, +44 1494 441652. M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. 2017-06-03
Asda (Supermarket), Holmers Farm Way, High Wycombe HP12 4NU , 51.6115°, -0.7795°, +44 1494 441611. M 7:30AM-midnight, Tu-F 24 hr, Sa midnight-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Petrol station (different hours) 2017-06-03

Eat

There are many places to eat in the town centre, but it can be worth visiting some of the country pubs in the surrounding villages which often offer excellent food.

Eat Thai (Restauant), 14-15 Easton St, High Wycombe HP11 1NT , 51.62805°, -0.74633°, +44 1494 532888. Daily noon-3PM & 6PM-11PM. 2017-06-03
Bombay Palace (Indian Restaurant), 6 Crendon St, High Wycombe HP13 6LW , 51.62868°, -0.74777°, +44 1494 531595, info@bombaypalacehw.com. M-Th noon-2:30PM & 6PM-11:30PM, F Sa noon-2:30PM & 6PM-midnight, Su noon-2:30PM. 2017-06-03
The Works (Restaurant), 11 High St, High Wycombe HP11 2AZ , 51.62925°, -0.75034°, +44 1494 451952, highwycombe@eatattheworks.co.uk. M-Th 9AM-10PM, F Sa 9AM-11PM, Su 10AM-10PM. 2017-06-03
Noodle Nation, 5 Crown Lane, High Wycombe HP11 2HF , 51.62868°, -0.75129°, +44 1494 447555. M-W 11:30AM-9PM, Th 11:30AM-9:30PM, F Sa 11:30AM-10:30PM, Su 11:30AM-9:30PM. 2017-06-03
Bill's (Restaurant), 22 Newlands Meadow, Eden Centre, High Wycombe HP11 2BZ , 51.63042°, -0.75565°, +44 1494 526333, highwycombe@bills-email.co.uk. M-Sa 8AM-11PM, Su & Bank Holidays 9AM-10:30PM. 2017-06-03

Drink

Some say: "There are no pubs in High Wycombe. There are some restaurants that have an alcohol licence, but none of any note." It's not (entirely) true! There are a few decent pubs in town; at the very least they have better drink than the restaurants.

There is a pub called The Antelope, which although rough in appearance serves only drink and is popular every night of the week. The prices are inexpensive but the place could be described as "the worst pub in the world".

{{drink | name=Mad Squirrel | alt=Bar & Restaurant | url=https://www.madsquirrel.uk/venues/high-wycombe/ (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address=4-5 Church St,High Wycombe HP11 2DE | lat=51.62980 | long=-0.75156 | directions= | phone=+44 1494 395980 | tollfree= | fax= | hours=Summer: M-Th 11AM-9:30PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-9PM; Winter: M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-9PM | price= | lastedit=2017-06-03 | content= }}
The Sausage Tree (Pub & Restaurant), Saffron Rd, High Wycombe HP13 6AB , 51.6281°, -0.7423°, +44 1494 452204, sausagetreepub@hotmail.co.uk. M-W noon-3PM & 5PM-11PM, Th noon-3PM & 5PM-midnight, F noon-midnight, Sa 3PM-midnight, Su noon-5PM. 2017-06-03
The Bootlegger (Pub & Restaurant), 3 Amersham Hill, High Wycombe HP13 6NQ , 51.6298°, -0.7472°, +44 1494 525457, thebootleggerpub@hotmail.co.uk. M-Th noon-midnight, F Sa noon-1AM, Su noon-11PM. 2017-06-03
The General Havelock (Pub & Food), 114 Kingsmead Rd, Wycombe Marsh HP11 1HZ (2 miles E of High Wycombe), 51.6145°, -0.7170°, +44 1494 520391, thehavelock@yahoo.co.uk. M-Th noon-3PM & 5PM-11PM, F Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. 2017-06-03
The Falcon, 9 Cornmarket, High Wycombe HP11 2AX , 51.62932°, -0.75130°, +44 1494 538610. M-Th 8AM-midnight, F Sa 8AM-1AM, Su 8AM-midnight. 2017-06-03

Sleep

Ambassador Court Hotel, 145-147 West Wycombe Rd, High Wycombe HP12 3AB , 51.63600°, -0.76811°, +44 1494 461818, reservations@ambassadorcourthotel.co.uk. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. 2017-05-31
Holiday Inn, M40, Jct. 4 Handy Cross, High Wycombe, HP11 1TL , 51.6134°, -0.7707°, +44 871 942 9094 (premium). Check-in: noon, check-out: 2PM. 2017-05-31
Squirrel House (B&B), 129 New Rd, Booker, High Wycombe HP12 4RH , 51.6196°, -0.7840°, +44 1494 520709. On-site parking Single occupancy £55/night; double occupancy £65 2017-06-03
{{sleep | name=Wendover Arms | alt=Hotel | url=http://www.wendoverarms.co.uk (dead link: December 2020) | email=info@wendoverarms.co.uk | address=Desborough Ave, High Wycombe HP11 2SU | lat=51.6267 | long=-0.7652 | directions= | phone=+44 1494 474747 | tollfree= | fax= | checkin= | checkout= | price=Single £37; double/twin £57 | lastedit=2017-06-03 | content= }}
Abbey Lodge Hotel, 17 Priory Rd, High Wycombe HP13 6SL , 51.6325°, -0.7496°, +44 1494 471013, reservations@abbeylodgehotel.co.uk. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Free car park. Free Wi-Fi from £50 2017-06-03
The Mash Inn, Horseshoe Rd, Bennett End, Radnage HP14 4EB, 51.669°, -0.869°, +44 1494 482440. Excellent restaurant with six rooms in Chilterns countryside. No children under 16. B&B double £120 2020-06-10

Connect

Post Office, 3 Castle St, High Wycombe HP13 6RZ , 51.63031°, -0.75073°. M-Sa 8:30AM-7PM. 2017-06-03

High Wycombe - town in Buckinghamshire, England