Chesham is an affluent, beautiful area nestled in the heart of the Chiltern countryside. So, it’s no surprise to see so many people flocking to Chesham to live, particularly those who’ve spent lots of time in London and want a change of scenery without being too far from the city.
This article will explore what you need to know about living in Chesham, covering education, employment, quality of life, and more. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get a feel of what life is like in this town, which will help you decide to move there or even sell your home there.
Is Chesham a nice place to live?
Chesham is a great place to live for many reasons. It has direct access to London and some of the most beautiful scenery Britain has to offer, and thanks to a wide range of amenities, independent businesses, and a strong community spirit, it’s one of the most attractive areas in the country to live.
Let’s take a look at what life is like in the town.
What life is like in Chesham
Life in Chesham is the perfect combination of green scenery and town life. With exquisite architecture and excellent transport links, people who live in Chesham love it for its unique appeal as well as its geographical location. It’s rare to find a town that boasts direct access to London whilst being so close to the countryside with a charm of its own, so life in Chesham fantastic for those who reside there.
5 reasons to live in Chesham
There are many reasons to live in Chesham, which include:
A vibrant town
Chesham has all kinds of amenities, from leisure facilities to independent and international brands, and more. There’s lots to do in the area, and even though it’s in a countryside location, the town is vibrant, exciting, and full of life.
Community spirit
The community of Chesham is close-knit and has been for generations. With a “one-for-all” spirit that epitomises rural life in England, its inhabitants are as welcoming and warm as its uniquely beautiful architecture and cobbled streets.
Brilliant shops
As well as a weekly general market held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Chesham is home to various independent businesses and global shopping brands. This combination means you can get anything you need from the town, and you’ll never be stuck for gift ideas.
Beautiful aesthetics
A much-loved river town, Chesham is home to fantastic buildings and quintessentially British architecture. With historic properties on every corner and a story behind every street, you can spend hours walking around the town and admiring its beauty. It’s also full of fantastic properties to buy, with lots of flint and half-timbered buildings available.
Highly sought-after location
Location is everything to homeowners and they don’t come much better than Chesham. Located in the Chiltern countryside amongst abundant scenery, the town is just a stone’s throw from the city of London. This gives residents the best of both worlds thrown together in a bustling area.
Transport links in Chesham
Chesham is on the Metropolitan London Underground station and runs from Chalfont and Latimer. The train station sits above ground, is a Grade II listed building, and resides in London Zone 9, which consists of Amersham, Brentwood, and Chesham.
Multiple buses also run to and from Chesham, making access to the town relatively easy. Driving to Chesham is also effortless and it sits just off the A413 past Amersham.
Employment in Chesham
Given its proximity to London, Chesham has many residents in higher earning brackets. Examples of popular jobs in the area include managers, directors, and other senior officials, as well as those in associate professional occupations.
Most of these roles are located in the City of London, which as we’ve discussed, is accessible via train and bus. It’s also accessible via the A41 if you’re entering the town from the North by car.
Education in Chesham
Chesham is home to many primary schools and Chesham Grammar School is particularly popular. As well as private primary education, Waterside Primary Academy, Elmtree Infant School, and Brushwood Junior School, are all in or near the town centre, as is Heritage House Special School for children with additional needs.
Thomas Harding Junior School and Chiltern Hills Academy make up the secondary schools in the area, as well as Ivingswood Academy which is on the outskirts of the New Town.
The closest university to Chesham is Buckinghamshire New University which is a thirty-minute drive or just over an hour via the bus. The University of Buckingham is a two-hour drive northwest of Chesham and can be accessed by the X6 bus followed by two trains.
Property prices in Chesham
Buying a property in Chesham
According to Zoopla, the average house price in Chesham is £475,958. Of course, the price you’ll pay for a home differs depending on what you need, and you can expect to pay the following on average:
- £718,565 for a detached home.
- £506,031 for a semi-detached home.
- £407,310 for a terraced home
- £243,500 for a flat.
Rental prices in Chesham
Rental properties are difficult to come by in Chesham and according to home.co.uk, there are only 35 available to rent in 2024. Practically all of these are between £1,000 and £2,000 per month to rent, with five costing between £2,000 and £5,000.
This is how monthly rental prices are broken down depending on the size of the rental property.
- One bedroom apartment = £1,167
- Two bedrooms = £1,459
- Three bedrooms = £1,880
- Four bedrooms = £3,250
- Five bedrooms £3,350
These are average figures and may vary depending on the property.*
Chesham attractions
Chesham is full of brilliant attractions and a cultural hub of the UK. The Elgiva Theatre and Cinema, for example, is the place to go for live comedy, film, dance, live music, and poetry, and is much-loved in the area.
There’re also the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre which features lots of exhibitions and arts and crafts activities for people of all ages. For those seeking something different, Chesham Moor Gym & Swim has an open-air swimming pool which offers a unique way to swim at night without worrying about the cold.
Amersham is just a ten-minute drive from Chesham and has a range of activities, including:
Eating and drinking in Chesham
Where to eat in Chesham
There are no shortages of places to enjoy great food in Chesham and Brazils Kitchen is a staple of the town and serves up unbeatable English breakfasts, fantastic pastas, and to-die-for sandwiches.
The Tavern offers a similar style of dining with all-day breakfasts, salads, burgers, and sandwiches, and for something a little different, Lebanese Village has magnificent mezza plates and mixed grills to name a few. There’s also Chesham Tandoori Restaurant, Jasmine Thai Kitchen, The Junction, and more, with something for every flavour profile.
Where to drink in Chesham
When it comes to drinking in Chesham, there are beautiful, British pubs such as The Queen’s Head, The George and Dragon, and The Generals Arms, all of which can be found on or near The High Street.
There’s also The Pheasant on the waterside and the Jolly Sportsman, both offering that classically British feel with timber beans, fires, and fantastic beers.
Sport and leisure in Chesham
Chesham is known locally for its leisure facilities such as Chesham Leisure Centre which includes two indoor pools, a modern gym, a sports hall, and a creche.
As well as the public leisure centre, there are lots of sports clubs to get involved with at Chesham, these include:
- Chesham Athletic Football Club
- Chesham 1879 Lawn Tennis & Squash
- Chesham Cricket Club
- Chesham Rugby Club
- Chesham Bois Tennis & Squash Club
And more.
Chesham costs of living
Chesham is one of the most affluent areas in the country, which means there are relatively high living costs.
For example, a cheap restaurant will set you back between £20 and £30 a meal, whereas a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant would likely be between £60 and £80. You’ll be able to buy a beer for around £5 a pint and the average cappuccino is just below £4.
Transport costs vary but a taxi will be around £1.24 per km and unleaded petrol is £1.45 per litre. Living costs are around £330 per month for electric, heating, and water for an average-sized apartment and the average internet deal is £35 per month.
For activities in the area, a cinema ticket is around £13.50and a fitness club will be around £35 per month.
Pros and cons of living in Chesham
Here are some pros and cons of living in Chesham.
Pros
- Quality of life: excellent amenities, education, and job opportunities.
- Community: a friendly town full of kind people.
- Transport: very close to London without being in a busy city.
- Low crime rate: minor crime due to the size of the town.
- Location: beautiful British scenery engulfs the town whilst being close to the capital.
Cons
- Cost of living: high property prices and competitive, high rental prices.
- Lack of nightlife: there are lots of pubs, but nightclubs are difficult to come by.
- Small buildings: some of the houses were built hundreds of years ago so can be low-ceilinged, but this doesn’t apply to all of them.
Final thoughts of life in Chesham
With such proximity to London, beautiful scenery, and a fantastic community atmosphere, Chesham is a great place to live, and more and more people are seeking a move to this brilliant town.
If you’re looking to move to Chesham, we have resources for property buyers https://www.chancellors.co.uk/landlordsand tenants alike and can help you find your dream property. On top of this, you can visit our Chancellors estate agency office for more information on properties in the area.
Selling a property in Chesham is also easy when you choose Chancellors, and we offer a free home valuation for houses in the town.
