Chesham or Amersham?

[HepLaurenceLB]

We have viewed a lovely house in Chesham, very near the town, 4 beds, detached, big garden. We should make an offer but I had my heart set on Amersham. Even though we would get less for our money in Amersham.
WWYD?

I have lived in Chesham and in one of the villages on the other side of Amersham. Amersham old town is very pretty in a way that Chesham isn’t, plus it has lovely boutiquey shops and restaurants. However I would say that the newer bit of Amersham isn’t really that much different to Chesham in terms of its shops and its “feel”. Then there is Chesham Bois, which is lovely and is between Chesham and Amersham. Given how close Amersham and Chesham are to each other, I would go with choosing the house you love the most.

Thank you for your answer. If you had to live in Amersham, Chesham or Chesham Bois, which would you choose?

It would be a close call between Old Amersham and Chesham Bois. Both lovely.

It depends on how important the rail/tube connections are to you. Amersham has the Chiltern line as well as the metropolitan line. Pretty much the same in terms of schools and local amenities. Chesham Bois is pretty but a drive from most shops/amenities and both Chesham and Amersham stations.

I don’t drive so transport connections are important.

I lived in chesham until 2018 for over 20 years. I wouldnt choose to live in old amersham - its pretty and quaint but the sort of place i would go to for lunch or dinner as it has some nice restaurants. It has a massive 24 hr tesco which i only visited about 4 times during the whole 20+ years as its horrendous

New amersham is where the train station is and has a mix of properties and dr challoners boys grammar school if you need this, the girls school is in little chalfont.

Depending on your budget i would choose chesham bois if you can but it is the most expensive of the areas - practically london prices.

We liked chesham as its an ordinary little town with a proper town centre, large sainsburys and waitrose, large park and a grammar school. Bear in mind that if your kids dont get into the grammar schools the secondary schools can be hit and miss but there are a lot of private and independent schools in the area.

Would love to see what houses you are looking at as i still follow the housing market there - im nosey and i used to work in estate agency in the area.

Good luck.

@bilbodog
I would love your opinion on the house. I have 3 boys under 5.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99418058#/

Do you think the price is right for this property?

I'm not sure I could cope with that split in half kitchen regardless of location.

I know the area a little and Chesham is fine, has a few places to eat etc.

Do you need 4 bedrooms or could you manage with 3?

Ive looked at some houses which have recently sold in the area and this one is lovely:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/96033821#/

That top end of lowndes avenue has some lovely houses and is close to the park. I would avoid the bottom end near bellingdon road as houses in bellingdon rd have no parking so all park at the bottom of lowndes ave. i know this one is under offer or sold but it might be worth checking out sold properties in the area as well because if you see your dream house you can check wuth the agent to see if the sale is going through OK in case it falls through! Also what position are you in - are you selling something or not?

Looks like there isnt much to choose from at the moment so going into rented if you have to might be a good idea which puts you in a good position.

What is the most you could go up to?

I can recommend the frost partnership in terms of dealing with an estate agent as i worked in one of their other offices. They are one of the truly independent agents left and their staff have all worked in the area for a long time. I would trust their advice.

Sorry havent commented on the house! It looks nicely done but i think you could buy in a better area than that although it would probably have to be a semi depending on the top of your budget.

Manor way has some nice 1930s semis but none available at the moment. Bois moor road has a small number of 3/4 beds which are larger than the small terraces which make up most of this road. Parking cab be an issue down here but if you find one with a driveway that might be worth looking at.

Thanks for the advice. We could go up to 675. We are under offer and have a decision in principle from our mortgage company.

There is so little on the market at the moment that I think short term rental is our best bet.
Are there any areas of Chesham that should be avoided?

Pond park is predominantly council/ex-council. Chartridge lane is sought after but mainly large, expensive housing at the end closest to chesham and quite a long walk from further up with bus service not much good.

Will you ever drive or not? If you can drive it will open up more areas but i understand if you cant as my DH doesnt drive due to epilepsy, so weve always had to be within walking distance of the town centre.

I wouldnt rule out the house youve posted but go and look and walk round the area. They are quite narrow roads around there and im not sure what parking is like.

Do you live in the area now or not?

We are moving out of South London. We have family in Marlow so we want to be close but Marlow is no good for me not driving. I will probably never be able to drive. The thing that worries me about the house I shared is that it is opposite a small council block.

We are looking to make a move to Chesham / Amersham. To be honest, both towns feel similar..we are looking at Chesham as it’s better value for money.. I fell madly in love with a house in Latimer, but it sold ☹️.

Chessmount Rise, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-100311116.html

Brushwood Road, Chesham, HP5
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73958001.html

I would make my decision based on schools.

To throw another at you - have you looked at beaconsfeild

I grew up 20 plus years in old Amersham. It’s lovely the school is good.
Chesham is seen as ‘rougher’

I have heard brushwood primary school is very good so is Chesham grammer

@HurtingHillary we did look at Beaconsfield but with 3 boys we did not know what to do about secondary schools.

Beaconsfield is a lot more expensive.

@Housebuyer2020 we looked at brushwood from the road and decided the hill to get to it was too steep with a double buggy.

I was raised in Amersham, and it was a world apart from Chesham (which had a pretty awful reputation).
If your boys might be aimed at the grammar school, then I would stick to Amersham if you can.

I have lived in this area for 40 years and I know it pretty well. My DM was born and raised in the area and DH is from Chesham.

First: a geography lesson. The Chess is a river. Chesham grew up around the Chess. It was a working factory town surrounded by villages in the Chilterns. The workers lived in the valley near the factories. The managers and better off folk live above the valley. All the better housing in Chesham is up hills. The most desirable places to live are in the villages. Certainly not in central Chesham, except in the old part around Germain Steeet.

Chesham is wholly different to Amersham. Amersham on the Hill is Metroland. Built around the station. It’s a popular place to live and has some sought after primary schools. All the best schools in Chesham are in the surrounding villages. Chesham has a Waitrose but it’s a diverse community with poverty.

Chesham Bois is very expensive as is Old Amersham. Your budget won’t get much in either. Both attractive but i have no idea about buses. Trains go from Amersham and both Amersham and Chesham have the underground.

All of Bucks has the 11 plus. The Challoners Grammar and High are fantastic. Co Ed Chesham Grammar is rightly sought after too. The secondary modern in Chesham is the Chiltern Hills Academy in Chartridge Lane. This is usually not thought to be as good as The Amersham School in Amersham.

If you don’t need the underground, your money might go further in Wendover. If gas z train station, a popular secondary modern in John Colet and in catchment for the Aylesbury grammar schools. Boys grammar and Sir Henry Floyd CoEd. Wendover is often viewed as better than Chesham for all sorts of reasons.

Lots to think about.