Chesham/Amersham

[Mover2024]

Posting here for traffic.

DH and I are looking to move this year to this area or surrounding. We are looking for good primary schools, good commutability to London (Met line) and good community to make friends, so mother and baby classes etc.

We are black so would also like some diversity and to not feel out of place/be treated as such.

Would love any tips or recommendations people have as we aren't from the area! Thanks ☺️

Amersham is much nicer than Chesham - but more expensive too.

Thanks for replying. Yes, we've noticed. We think we'd get more for our budget in Chesham but not much more. Are there areas to avoid in either?

As said, Amersham is a nicer place than Chesham, and the commute is better as Amersham Station also has Chiltern Railway services into Marylebone as well as the Met into Baker Street. I can't comment on Schools as it's a fair while since I had to do a comparison!
AFAIK, there is no overt racist behavior, but the area is predominantly white, so not much diversity.

Almost no diversity! Very white, middle England type ‘naice’. Which schools have you considered? Some grammar schools, you might need to consider the 11+. Is Rickmansworth worth considering? Some very decent schools round there.

Agree very little diversity. There is also a long Amersham thread running at the moment,

Amersham Bucks www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/4971774-amersham-bucks

Amersham and Chesham are quite different, but I wouldn't say Amersham is better. Having moved to the area from a multicultural borough in north London, I prefer Chesham. It is more diverse (our Mayor is black) and property is much better value than in Amersham. There is a lot of green space and a strong sense of community. Transport into London from Amersham is better (Met line trains from Chesham are only every half hour) but I've not found it an issue.

Interesting answers! There’s an 20-30% ethic minority population at my child’s school (village school on Chesham outskirts…). Although most are mixed race (which I have counted) and more likely Asian (20%) than black (10%) - maths done pretty much on the back of an envelope there!
I prefer Chesham to Amersham which is heavily divided into old (beautiful but v. Expensive and monied) and new (no architectural merit, mix of housing types but a lot of more modern and expensive houses. I think chesham sits more in the middle - both in architectural style, more Victorian terraces and older but not medieval buildings in town and older properties being replaced or extended on the outskirts. And in population - I think it is evident that people appreciate you can get more for your money in Chesham, whereas you need to have deeper pockets or be willing to sacrifice to pay Amersham premium. Both places have a decent amount of social housing. Amersham is bigger with more houses in contact/easy access with the town centre, whereas Chesham is spread out more linearly into other hamlets and villages.
You’d definitely need to get out to see both and see which suits you and your demographic better.

I’m also an ethnic minority and the only time I have been racially abused in public (or even just overtly obviously abused) in 40+ years of life was in Amersham and we’ve lived in very white centric places.

Thanks all, noted re diversity but love that Chesham has a black Mayor!

@Shouldbehoovering thanks for this, this is so helpful and a lot of food for thought! Generally, what are the sought after schools Chesham?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138548906

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/143742059

Thoughts on these houses?

Hi there
I have lived in both and I can highly recommend Chesham.
I agree with notquiteruralbliss points. Chesham is nestled inside some absolutely stunning countryside, there is a real sense of community and your money goes a bit further here. In addition I would say it is potentially a good area to buy from an investment perspective given that there is a fair bit of renovation and development going on (down one of the two roads you mention in particular). I would highly recommend coming out to get a flavour of these towns. The thing I enjoy about living in Chesham is the community - when I go out and about I bump into people I know. There are also lots of young professional families moving into Chesham. There is a large Waitrose and Sainsbury in Chesham, some nice independent cafes, a fantastic butchers on the high street. The drawback to Chesham vs amersham is the high street, which is (like many high streets) struggling unfortunately.
generally I would disagree that there is a lack of diversity, albeit clearly not as much as in London. (We are a mixed race family and have always felt comfortable).
Schools are great in the area too.
Best of luck!

Schools - I’m not an expert but Dr Challoners and Chesham Prep

First house is on lowndes - fabulous location in terms of being able to walk into town and to the park (which has direct access to open countryside out the back) and is about to undergo a major renovation with new playgrounds, coffee shop and ‘entertainment areas’ - we have a chesham fringe this year and there is a big emphasis on promoting the arts locally. Lots of musicians and people involved in film locally. Lowndes is quite a busy road and used as a cut though by some - it gets snarled up at school time due to the Chiltern hills school (not highly rated due to previous head but on the up and had a lot of money spent redeveloping it recently - great facilities). Traffic doesn’t last long as if you are used to london it should be bareable. Lowndes has a good ‘community’ with street whatsapp etc.
Second house is Chartridge lane - more open and further away from town. Lots of developers knocking down older houses (historically very large gardens) and squeezing more houses onto plots. I think this school is in catchment for chartridge school (primary), which is excellent and very sought after. Ley hill school is also very popular. Lowndes catchment must be elmtree
school which again seems popular (as is Newtown) and possibly more diverse both racially and in terms of demographic. Schools like ley hill and Chartridge attract money to buy houses in catchment, whereas elmtree and Newtown are just good schools (I believe). We are further from chartridge than lowndes and would have got in when we were looking so you aren’t completely bound by catchments (may be changing with more houses and families moving to Chartridge).
at secondary - I’ve mentioned Chiltern hills and there is brushwood and thomas Harding which both seem to have good reputations and I know children doing well at both. There are also lots of children from Chesham schooled in the surrounding villages and at great missenden/the misbourne. Chesham prep (grammar) seems very popular amongst my friends, over Challinor’s which has better league results.it also has the sports centre backing onto it (so good access to facilities there) and an award winning riding club which is pretty unique and open to all pupils.
thw only school to avoid is ivingswood but schools can change dramatically and quickly round here! Waterside is a good example of one which wasn’t doing well but now has people raving about it!

Aylesbury is a large diverse town and still on the mainline to London (on it now)

@JuneM thank you! We are going to visit next weekend. The development sounds good.

We think the house on Lowndes Avenue is overpriced as the average sold price on the road is £610k. Similar properties on the road went for less but in a much better condition. The price has already been dropped though and it's OIEO. Will still view I think and have a think

@Shouldbehoovering thanks so much! That's really helpful. When we initially started looking we saw a lot about Chesham being the poor neighbour of Amersham but it sounds great. The countryside walks are a big plus too as we love walking. Thanks for the intel on the schools, they all sound good but is definitely Year dependent based on how many children are applying to just have to keep fingers crossed! 🤞🏽

What are your thoughts on the pricing of the two houses I've linked? I'm surprised they are the same price when one is in need of a complete renovation and one would just be cosmetic changes but is arguably on the better road

Chesham Prep is a private school, not grammar school. You can't compare league tables or results because they are completely different age groups.

Chesham has a really excellent sense of community and there are frequent arts/music/community events in the town centre. It's also home to a higher than average number of creatives and musicians - so much so there's two music shops. There's a thriving market every Wed & Sat with the huge fruit and veg stall a highlight. The town also has a good number of independent shops including a stationers, butchers and bakers who've been there for decades. Several independent cafes serve excellent food. Lowndes park with lake extends out to the countryside and the unspoilt Pednor valley. Quite a few pubs notably the Queens Head in the old town (where much of The Imitation Game was filmed) and George and Dragon which also hosts live music.

Not diverse like London, but more so than Amersham. I'd say Amersham has more wealth but Chesham is a friendlier town (I worked there for many years and still visit).

Sorry, yes - you are absolutely right. I meant Chesham grammar (also previously called chesham high).

If you want diversity look at Milton Keynes. Best train connection given the distance and surrounded by countryside with easy access to M1 if you have family north.

I also don’t know if this is true but have been today been told that Amersham has ‘had money spent on it and now it is chesham turn’. I have no idea if this is true but given the plans for the park, I am keeping my fingers crossed!!

amazing walking - you very rarely have to walk down a road (might have to cross one) and can go for miles!

The houses…. I’m probably out of the loop. I can see the lowndes one being more expensive for character and kerb appeal, plus access to park and town. The Chartridge one is perhaps a bit more dissociated from town and possibly less of a community there. I am told that doer uppers don’t cost much less than something which has had the work done but also no experience in that area really. Potential to extend would be another factor affecting price round here. I don’t think lowndes is a conservation area and am sure that chartridge is not, although the land around it is all AONB and greenbelt.

Lot of snobbery in Amersham and looking down their noses on Chesham. Absolutely no reason for it - both have some very very wealthy people in them and some poor people. Difference in Chesham is people do not flaunt their wealth like Amershites like to.

Live in Chesham for 17 yrs after moving out from the big smoke - never felt unsafe, has a the facilities you need, great little clubs and pubs. Good community spirit.
Chesham tandoori and Papad - both brilliant but v different curry places
Thai Kitchen on the high street - fab
The Drawing Room
The Crown, George ad Dragon, Black Horse (got new name recently), Old Swan
10 mins to Berko if the Met line down

And no McDonalds 0- it clsoed down due to lack of business back in the 1990s!!!

Good area to raise kids and get into work in London if you need to

Thanks @colouringindoors ☺️ I love that there's such a great sense of community. Will definitely be looking for that as we are moving away from family