Chesham

United_Kingdom

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

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.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

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.

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.

  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

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.

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
  • Auberge du Chocolat, Unit 28 Chess Business Park, Chesham HP5 1SD, +44 1494 774179. Chocolate products and chocolate making workshops

Supermarkets

  • Sainsbury, Elgiva Lane, Chesham HP5 2YA, +44 1494 793052. M-Sa 7AM-10PM; Su 10AM-4PM.
  • Waitrose, The Backs, Chesham, HP5 1DR, +44 1494 791711. M-F 7:30AM-9PM; Sa 7:30AM-8PM; Su 10AM-4PM.

Auberge du Chocolat, Unit 28 Chess Business Park, Chesham HP5 1SD, +44 1494 774179. Chocolate products and chocolate making workshops

Sainsbury, Elgiva Lane, Chesham HP5 2YA, +44 1494 793052. M-Sa 7AM-10PM; Su 10AM-4PM.

Waitrose, The Backs, Chesham, HP5 1DR, +44 1494 791711. M-F 7:30AM-9PM; Sa 7:30AM-8PM; Su 10AM-4PM.

  • Rajasthan Restaurant, 115 High St, Chesham, HP5 1DE, +44 1494 783111. Daily noon-2PM & 5:30-11:30PM. Indian restaurant & take-away.
  • Chesham Tandoori, 48 Broad St, Chesham HP5 3DX, +44 1494 782669. Daily noon-14:00 & 5:30-11:30PM. Indian restaurant & take-away.
  • The Queens Head Hotel, Church St, Old Chesham HP5 1JD, +44 1494 778690. M-W noon-11PM; Th F noon-midnight; Sa 11AM-00:00; Su 11AM-10:30PM.
  • 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.
  • 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 take-away.

Rajasthan Restaurant, 115 High St, Chesham, HP5 1DE, +44 1494 783111. Daily noon-2PM & 5:30-11:30PM. Indian restaurant & take-away.

Chesham Tandoori, 48 Broad St, Chesham HP5 3DX, +44 1494 782669. Daily noon-14:00 & 5:30-11:30PM. Indian restaurant & take-away.

The Queens Head Hotel, Church St, Old Chesham HP5 1JD, +44 1494 778690. M-W noon-11PM; Th F noon-midnight; Sa 11AM-00:00; Su 11AM-10:30PM.

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.

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 take-away.

  • The Drawing Room, Francis Yard, East St, Chesham HP5 1DG, +44 1494 791691. Tu 10AM-6PM; W-Sa 10AM-9PM; Su 10AM-5:30PM. "Art-food-music".
  • Brown Sugar, 74 The Broadway, High St, Chesham HP5 1EG, +44 1494 794722. M-Sa 7AM-4:30PM; Su 8AM-3:30PM.
  • 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.
  • Brazils, 17 Market Sq, Chesham HP5 1HG, +44 1494 793377. W-Sa 5:30-10PM.
  • 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.
  • Poppins Cafe, 3-3A High St, Chesham HP5 1BG, +44 1494 792292. M-Sa 7:30AM-6PM; Su 9AM-4PM.
  • Café Encore, St. Marys Way, Chesham HP5 1HR, +44 1494 582904. M-Sa 9AM-3PM.
  • Liri Cafe, 106 High St, Chesham HP5 1EB, +44 1494 772787. Italian restaurant.
  • Mad Squirrel, 8 Market Sq, Chesham HP5 1ES, +44 1494 395857. 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.

The Drawing Room, Francis Yard, East St, Chesham HP5 1DG, +44 1494 791691. Tu 10AM-6PM; W-Sa 10AM-9PM; Su 10AM-5:30PM. "Art-food-music".

Brown Sugar, 74 The Broadway, High St, Chesham HP5 1EG, +44 1494 794722. M-Sa 7AM-4:30PM; Su 8AM-3:30PM.

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.

Brazils, 17 Market Sq, Chesham HP5 1HG, +44 1494 793377. W-Sa 5:30-10PM.

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.

Poppins Cafe, 3-3A High St, Chesham HP5 1BG, +44 1494 792292. M-Sa 7:30AM-6PM; Su 9AM-4PM.

Café Encore, St. Marys Way, Chesham HP5 1HR, +44 1494 582904. M-Sa 9AM-3PM.

Liri Cafe, 106 High St, Chesham HP5 1EB, +44 1494 772787. Italian restaurant.

Mad Squirrel, 8 Market Sq, Chesham HP5 1ES, +44 1494 395857. 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.

  • Post Office, 93 High St, Chesham HP5 1DE. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM.

Post Office, 93 High St, Chesham HP5 1DE. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM.

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