Happy TravellerNestled within the beautiful Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the market town and civil parish of Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, England is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Just a short distance from London and other nearby towns such as Gerrards Cross, Amersham, and High Wycombe, this charming town is known for its stunning Georgian, neo-Georgian, and Tudor revival architecture in the Old Town and its rich history. In fact, Beaconsfield is home to the first model village in the world and the National Film and Television School.
One of the most striking features of the town is the wide area of Georgian, neo-Georgian, and Tudor revival high street architecture known as the Old Town. This area is a pleasure to explore, with its charming red brick houses, small shops, and old coaching inns. In fact, it was the first stopping point on the road between London and Oxford due to its central location between the two places. Every year, the town hosts an annual charter fair on May 10th, a tradition that has been celebrated for over 750 years since 1269.
The parish church of St Mary, located at the crossroads of Old Beaconsfield, is a must-visit for anyone interested in the town’s history. The church was rebuilt of flint and bath stone by the Victorians in 1869 and is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture. Beaconsfield is also home to the United Reformed Church, which traces its roots of non-conformist worship in the town back to 1704.
Beaconsfield is also a town steeped in literary history. Edmund Waller, the poet, is buried in the town, and his family acquired Wilton Manor and Hall Barn in 1624. The town is also the birthplace of Terry Pratchett, author of the Discworld series of fantasy novels. In addition, Brief Encounter, a classic film about a woman in a dull middle class marriage who almost undertakes an affair, filmed several scenes in the town, with Station Parade serving as Milford High Street and Boots on Burke’s Parade being where Alec runs into Laura. The exterior of the Royal Saracens Head Inn can be seen in the James Bond film Thunderball, and the interior shots for the pub in Hot Fuzz were filmed in the Royal Standard of England pub.
Beaconsfield is also home to a thriving arts and culture scene. The Chiltern Shakespeare Company puts on amateur performances of Shakespeare plays, while the Beaconsfield Theatre Group and the Beaconsfield Musical & Operatic Society have been entertaining audiences for over 60 and 100 years respectively. The Young Theatre, a theatre company run by young people for young people and winners of the All British Festival of One Act Plays in 2004, also calls Beaconsfield home.
Sports enthusiasts will find plenty to do in Beaconsfield as well. The town is home to Beaconsfield Cricket Club, Beaconsfield Rugby Club, and Beaconsfield Town Football Club, a non-league football club. There are also numerous parks and green spaces in and around the town, making it easy to stay active and enjoy the great outdoors.
Getting to Beaconsfield is easy, with the M40 running close to the town and Beaconsfield railway station providing services to Birmingham Snow Hill and Moor Street, Aylesbury, Oxford, and London Marylebone. The town is also home to a number of excellent schools, including Beaconsfield High School, a high-performing grammar school for girls, and Davenies School, a private preparatory day school for boys.
In conclusion, Beaconsfield is a charming and picturesque town with something to offer everyone. From its rich history and stunning architecture to its thriving arts and culture scene and abundance of green spaces and sports clubs, this town has it all. So why not plan a visit and discover all that Beaconsfield has to offer for yourself?
