Written by Carly Freestone | 2nd July 2018
If you’ve ever watched Inspector Morse or Midsomer Murders and wondered where such idyllic scenes were filmed, the answer may well have been Princes Risborough. Known as one of the M40 wealth corridor commuter towns, Princes Risborough is popular with families who want country life within easy reach of the capital.
So what sets Princes Risborough apart from other commuter towns?
Well, it’s quintessential Englishness and timelessness for a start. There’s cricket on the green, beautiful thatched properties and the fabulous Chiltern Hills which surround the town offering endless choices for great walks. Described as an uncrowded alternative to the Cotswolds, around 320 square miles of the Chilterns have been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and 2000 miles of footpaths mean exploring them is easy.
Where there are great walks, you also need good old-fashioned pubs and Princes Risborough has more than its fair share. The 16th-century Plough at Cadsden is a stone’s throw from Chequers, the country house of the Prime Minister, and no stranger to the odd celebrity or dignitary. Former PM David Cameron once took Chinese president Xi Jinping there for a pint and on another occasion famously left his daughter Nancy behind after a relaxed Sunday lunch. “Muddy dogs, muddy boots and muddy families” are all welcome at 18th century gastropub The Pink and Lily, and The Mash Inn (formerly The Three Horseshoes) at nearby Radnage dates back to 1745 and is a cosy and characterful pub with food and rooms to write home about.
Princes Risborough may be a market town, but it’s not sleepy and there are plenty of dates to put in your diary. Michael Graham have an office in the centre of town and sponsor the annual Town Festival, this year on 7th July, followed by The Kop Hill Climb Festival on September 15th and 16th, popular in the past with Chris Evans and Rod Stewart. Princes Risborough feels a million miles from London, but Chiltern Railways run a twice hourly service which can whisk you into Marylebone in around 48 minutes. Good for when you need a break from all those celebrities.
Do you have a favourite haunt in Princes Risborough? We’d love to hear from you and for properties for sale or rent in and around Princes Risborough, see below