Beaconsfield: Market History, Walks and Bekonscot

Beaconsfield combines market history with historic buildings, walking routes and a miniature world. When planning your stay, you can choose from several different interests: local history, a short walk, cycling routes or Bekonscot Model Village & Railway. The direct rail connection to London may also factor into your choice of destination; trains to London Marylebone take just over 23 minutes.

Market History and Historic Buildings

Beaconsfield's development as a town began with the granting of market rights in 1255. The junction of High Street, Market Place and Windsor Street probably lies on the site of the medieval marketplace; its origins may date back as early as the mid-13th century. The town's history and the cautiously dated history of the marketplace thus offer two distinct starting points for a visit.

The parish church of St Mary and All Saints dates from the late 15th century and was restored in the 19th century. It is designated a Grade II* listed building. The Saracen's Head represents a different type of building: the timber-framed inn was built in the 16th century and rebuilt in the 19th century. The church and inn thus add different architectural styles and building histories to the story of the town.

Beaconsfield is also connected with film history. Beaconsfield Studios first opened on the site of the National Film and Television School in 1921. The studios' first sound film was The Squeaker in 1930. The town's history therefore includes a chapter on film production as well as its market and historic buildings.

Walks, Cycling Routes and Route Options

Enjoy Beaconsfield's four historic walks explore local history and literary connections. They are circular routes and are intended to take less than an hour at a leisurely pace. They offer a compact way to explore themes from local history and literature on a walk.

There are also six signposted circular cycling routes in and around Beaconsfield. This gives you a choice of different formats: short themed walks and designated cycling routes. The Chilterns Country Seer Green & Beaconsfield Walk offers another walking route, with circular and linear options starting from Seer Green and Jordans Station. There are no livestock gates on the route from Seer Green to Beaconsfield, but there are two wooden barriers, each about 70 centimetres high, at one point. If you choose this section, you can take the obstacle into account when planning your route.

Bekonscot Model Village & Railway

Bekonscot Model Village & Railway features miniature towns and picturesque landscapes in landscaped gardens. The scenes include small villages, busy main streets, castles, harbours and farms. Miniature street scenes sit alongside village and landscape scenes; together, these different motifs make up the attraction.

You can take a circular ride through the attraction on the Bekonscot Light Railway. Bekonscot is about a five-minute walk from Beaconsfield station. Actual walking times may vary depending on the route and conditions. This connection between the station and the attraction provides a useful point of reference if Bekonscot is part of your stay.

Getting to Beaconsfield

If travelling by car, Beaconsfield is right by junction 2 of the M40, between the A40 and the A355. Direct trains from Beaconsfield to London Marylebone take just over 23 minutes. Journey times and frequencies may change, so check the timetable for your travel date. The road details help you find your way by car, while the train journey time describes the direct connection to London.

Discover more destinations: Saunderton, Stoke Poges, Worminghall, Little Horwood, Wing, Farnham Royal, Penn, Wendover

For the broader travel overview: Buckinghamshire.