# Chesham

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

* 51.7052-0.61131 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 (updated Nov 2017)

### By bus

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

### By plane

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

### By bicycle

* 51.7345-0.9181 National Cycle Route 57. (Farmington, Gloucestershire near Northleach to Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire) runs through the town. (updated Nov 2017)

## Get around
### By local bus

Arriva, Carousel Buses, Woottens and Redline provide local and connecting bus services. Timetables available via Carlberry.co.uk$^{[deadlink]}$

### By taxis

* Gilberts Taxis: +44 1494 771000
* Crown Taxis: +44 1494 580580
* CabCo: +44 1494 791122

## See

* 51.70428-0.616991 St Mary's Church, Church St, Chesham HP5 1HY, ☏ +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. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.70803-0.612382 The Elgiva, St Mary's Way, Chesham HP5 1HR, ☏ +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. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.7067-0.61573 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.

## Do

* 51.6969-0.60691 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)
* 51.70668-0.613542 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)

## 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:
* General Market - every Wednesday & Saturday
* Local Produce Market - 4th Saturday of the month
* Street Market - 2nd Saturday of the month
* 51.699474-0.6097211 Auberge du Chocolat (Chocolate Shop), Unit 28 Chess Business Park, Chesham HP5 1SD, ☏ +44 1494 774179, anne@aubergechocolat.co.uk. Chocolate products and chocolate making workshops (updated Nov 2017)
Supermarkets
* 51.70753-0.611922 $^{[formerlydeadlink]}$ Sainsbury, Elgiva Lane, Chesham HP5 2YA, ☏ +44 1494 793052. M-Sa 7AM-10PM; Su 10AM-4PM. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.707-0.6113 Waitrose, The Backs, Chesham, HP5 1DR, ☏ +44 1494 791711. M-F 7:30AM-9PM; Sa 7:30AM-8PM; Su 10AM-4PM. (updated Nov 2017)

## Eat

* 51.7077-0.61111 Rajasthan Restaurant, 115 High St, Chesham, HP5 1DE, ☏ +44 1494 783111. Daily noon-2PM & 5:30-11:30PM. Indian restaurant & takeaway. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.7089-0.61052 Chesham Tandoori, 48 Broad St, Chesham HP5 3DX, ☏ +44 1494 782669, info@cheshamtandoori.co. Daily noon-14:00 & 5:30-11:30PM. Indian restaurant & takeaway. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.7026-0.61743 The Queens Head Hotel, Church St, Old Chesham HP5 1JD, ☏ +44 1494 778690, queenshead.chesham@fullers.co.uk. M-W noon-11PM; Th F noon-midnight; Sa 11AM-00:00; Su 11AM-10:30PM. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.70409-0.614524 Chesham Cottage, 20 Church St, Chesham HP5 1HU, ☏ +44 1494 771810. M 7:15-10PM; Tu-Su noon-2PM & 5:15-10PM. Chinese restaurant & takeaway. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.7038-0.61345 Peri Peri, 20 Market Sq, Chesham HP5 1ES (3 miles N of Amersham), ☏ +44 1494 786784. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight, Su 11AM-11PM. Pizza takeaway. (updated May 2017)

## Drink

* 51.70424-0.612921 The Drawing Room, Francis Yard, East St, Chesham HP5 1DG, ☏ +44 1494 791691, richard@the-drawingroom.co.uk. Tu 10AM-6PM; W-Sa 10AM-9PM; Su 10AM-5:30PM. "Art-food-music". (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.70631-0.612842 Brown Sugar, 74 The Broadway, High St, Chesham HP5 1EG, ☏ +44 1494 794722. M-Sa 7AM-4:30PM; Su 8AM-3:30PM.
* 51.70405-0.614193 Rumbles Pantry, 6-8 Church St, Chesham HP5 1HT, ☏ +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. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.70349-0.612934 Brazils, 17 Market Sq, Chesham HP5 1HG, ☏ +44 1494 793377. W-Sa 5:30-10PM. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.70608-0.612515 $^{[deadlink]}$ Caffe Nero, 66 The Broadway, High St, Chesham HP5 1BX, ☏ +44 1494 775388. M-F 6:45AM-6PM; Sa 7:30AM-5:30PM; Su 8AM-5:30PM. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.7045-0.613086 Poppins Cafe, 3-3A High St, Chesham HP5 1BG, ☏ +44 1494 792292, chesham@poppinsrestaurants.co.uk. M-Sa 7:30AM-6PM; Su 9AM-4PM. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.70803-0.612387 Café Encore (@ The Elgiva), St. Marys Way, Chesham HP5 1HR, ☏ +44 1494 582904. M-Sa 9AM-3PM. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.70667-0.611928 Liri Cafe, 106 High St, Chesham HP5 1EB, ☏ +44 1494 772787, liricafe@mail.com. Italian restaurant. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.703636-0.6135279 Mad Squirrel, 8 Market Sq, Chesham HP5 1ES, ☏ +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. (updated Nov 2017)

## Sleep

* 51.679608-0.5556311 $^{[deadlink]}$ Latimer Place, Latimer Place, Latimer, HP5 1UG, ☏ +44 1494 545500. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.729998-0.6620952 Chartridge Lodge, Chartridge Lane, Chesham HP5 2TU (3 miles NW of Chesham), ☏ +44 1494 837484, chartridgelodge@chartridge.co.uk. (updated Nov 2017)
* 51.70816-0.615823 Chesham Bed & Breakfast, Park View, 1A Stanley Ave, Chesham HP5 2JF, ☏ +44 1494 771029. Single occupancy £90; Double occupancy £125. (updated Nov 2017)

## Connect

* 51.70639-0.612082 Post Office, 93 High St, Chesham HP5 1DE. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM. (updated Nov 2017)

## 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