Amersham: Historic High Street, Heritage and Walks

Amersham comprises two distinct areas: Amersham-on-the-Hill and Old Amersham. The town offers different points of interest, from medieval architecture to guided tours themed around film and history.

Getting to and finding your way around Amersham

Since the arrival of the Metropolitan Railway in 1892, Amersham-on-the-Hill and Old Amersham have been key points of reference in the town. The station is in the New Town. From there, you can reach the Old Town in about a 20-minute walk or around four minutes by taxi; both time estimates are approximate. Amersham can be reached directly from central London on London Underground services on the Metropolitan line. As service times may change, check the timetable before travelling.

High Street, Market Hall and Old Amersham

Old Amersham’s High Street brings together a range of historic architectural features. Long, narrow medieval plots, known as burgage plots, are still visible on its south side. They were once rented out to tradespeople. The facades feature 18th-century stucco and brickwork as well as medieval timber-framed houses; a row of gables stands at the eastern end. A walk along the street lets you take in both the layout of the older town and its different architectural styles.

The Market Hall was built in 1682 and donated to the people of Old Amersham by Sir William Drake. The Old Amersham Saturday Market is held beneath its roof every Saturday from 9am to 3pm. If you are planning to visit the market, check the current times before you travel. The hall thus brings together a historic site and a recurring event in the life of the town.

Church and museums

St. Mary’s Amersham is the old parish church in the centre of Old Amersham and dates from around 1140. The Drake Chapel contains numerous memorials to the Drake family. If you would like to visit the chapel, check the current access arrangements in advance. The church is also part of the annual Amersham Heritage Day, held in September. The programme includes Tudor Taster Walks and tours of the Drake Chapel. Exact event dates vary, and individual programme items may change.

The Amersham Museum is housed largely in a medieval hall house and has a medicinal herb garden. The museum also offers guided walks. Another collection is devoted to fairground organs: the Amersham Fair Organ Museum houses instruments by Gavioli, Marenghi, Hooghuys, Wilhelm Bruder Söhne and Gebr. Weber. Painted automata move to the music on many of the instruments. If you are planning a visit to this museum, check the current opening arrangements.

Guided tours and walking routes

The Amersham Museum’s guided Town Walks take place every second Sunday from April to October; dates may change. As a seasonal offering, the guided Tudor Walk gives an insight into life and death in 16th-century Amersham. The guides wear Tudor costumes. The two experiences therefore have different themes: the Town Walks offer a guided introduction to the town, while the Tudor Walk focuses specifically on a historical period.

The four-mile “Midsomer Murders & More” circular walk visits filming locations in Amersham. It starts in front of the station and passes through beech woods and rolling fields on its way down to Old Amersham. The tour combines film connections with a route through the landscape described. If you are planning this circular walk, check the latest booking details.

Another option is the step-free walk from Amersham to Little Missenden. The route is flat, suitable for parents with all-terrain pushchairs, and runs along the shore of Shardeloes Lake. Conditions may change; check the current state of the path before setting out. For a different focus, Amersham Food Tours offers guided walks exploring the town’s history and independent food scene. The “Pigs and Perfume” tour invites you to discover Old Amersham from a food-related perspective. Check current availability if you would like to include a food tour in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Aylesbury, Middle Claydon, Easington, Worminghall, St Leonards, Saunderton, Pitstone, Beaconsfield

For the wider travel overview: Buckinghamshire.