Amersham
With its half-timbered houses and handsome Market Hall, Amersham is one of the most photogenic market towns in the Chilterns.
What to see
Shopping is a relaxing pastime both in Old Amersham and its more modern counterpart on the hill, which grew up on the arrival of the Metropolitan Railway.
In the Old Town, enjoy browsing for ladieswear in Ambers, an independent boutique located in the former Old Mill. Pause for inviting refreshments at one of the many fine restaurants or at Seasons Café Deli, one of the best coffee shops to be found anywhere!
Discover the timeless charm of Amersham – plan your visit today and explore all the hidden gems this picturesque town has to offer on Visit Amersham’s website!
In the newer end of town, chain stores and supermarkets sit alongside restaurants and takeaways, all easily accessible from the train station.
If history and culture are on your agenda, take a trip to the Amersham Museum, located in the Tudor hall house on the High Street. This recently renovated museum tells the story of local events, places and people, with exhibits and information covering an intriguing range of topics from Amersham’s religious martyrs to Dinky Toys. It also offers excellent guided walks of the Old Town and its surroundings.
Amersham Museum
Discover your perfect 48 hours in Amersham!
Into the countryside
The River Misbourne rises above Great Missenden and flows for 17 miles (27 km) through Little Missenden, Amersham and the Chalfonts to Denham, where it meets the River Colne. There are three lovely walks you can enjoy along the river, depending how much time you have. Walk 1 is a 3-mile circular route around Great Missenden; walk 2 is a nearly 5-mile circular route through Little Missenden; and walk 3 is a 10-mile circular route visiting Milton’s Cottage, with an option to cut it short to 6 miles.
If you’re looking for a place for quiet contemplation, Chesham Bois Wood nature reserve is just 1.5 miles from Amersham. This broadleaved woodland is made up of four historic woods, one of which is home to a very tall whitebeam tree: standing at 23 m, it’s the tallest in the country! Other trees to look out for include beech, cheery and oak, and flowers include yellow archangel, woodruff and the scarce yellow bird’s-nest.
The River Misbourne upstream of Shardeloes
Film and TV locations
Amersham’s major claim to film fame is its role in the hit comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral, which came out in 1994. But there’s actually a little trickery involved… The main characters, Carrie (played by Andie MacDowell) and Charles (Hugh Grant), first get together at an inn called ‘The Lucky Boatman’. The exterior used is The Kings Arms in Old Amersham, yet the interior is from The Crown Inn just along the High Street. Here, you can still stay in the room used in the film.
(c) The Crown Hotel, Old Amersham
Where to stay
Choices in and around Amersham include:
To find more places to stay, see Visit Buckinghamshire.
Heading further afield
Milton's Cottage, Chalfont St Giles – 4 miles away
Milton’s Cottage, Chalfont St Giles, was the home of poet and parliamentarian, John Milton, who took refuge in the Chiltern Hills to escape the London plague. It was here that he finished Paradise Lost. Still atmospheric, the cottage provides a fascinating insight into the life and work of this influential man.
Chenies Manor – 4 miles away
Chenies Manor is a charming Tudor manor house, tucked away down a winding country road, which was visited by both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Once part of the Duke of Bedford’s estate, it was restored in the 1950s by the MacLeod Matthews family. Features include award-winning gardens, a tea room, a medieval wall and even a dungeon!
Chiltern Open Air Museum – 5 miles away
Chiltern Open Air Museum rescues threatened historic buildings and rebuilds them in a traditional Chilterns landscape. Explore a 19th-century farm complete with animals and working machinery, and a village with its green, cottages, forge and chapel. The museum stages a wide variety of events, bringing the history of the area to life.
Bekonscot Model Village and Railway
Bekonscot Model Village and Railway opened in 1929, and is the oldest surviving model village in the world. Step back in time to the 1930s and marvel at the thousands of buildings, plants and people created here in minute and meticulous detail, all linked by a model railway.
Jordans village – 6 miles away
Jordans village is a quaint village with cottages, a hall, a shop and a green, Jordans takes its name from Old Jordans, the original farmstead that was home to Quakers in the 17th century. William Penn, founder of the Province of Pennsylvania in America, is buried in the grounds of the Friends Meeting House. Building of the wider village began in 1919 to preserve the meeting house and promote village industries and crafts.
Getting here by train
The London Underground Metropolitan Line runs direct from Aldgate to Amersham, via Baker Street. The journey from Baker Street takes about 50 minutes.
Amersham is on the Chiltern Railways main line, on the route that runs from London Marylebone to Aylesbury, via Great Missenden and Wendover.
Getting here by road
Amersham is 28 miles from London on the A413, which runs from Aylesbury down to the M40/A40 interchange at Denham, north-west London.
Keep in touch!
Featured walks
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