A brisk 23-minute train journey makes Beaconsfield a hotspot for space-seeking commuters who hope to switch the skyscraper backdrop to green rolling hills. Named ‘Britain’s richest town’ by The Daily Telegraph, Beaconsfield has no shortage of luxury homes and is considered the largest prime market town outside the M25.
Living in Beaconsfield offers a town with two counterparts, Old and New, the former adopting a quieter village feel and the latter a thriving social community with popular London chains. Both only moments away from the peace of the Chiltern countryside.
Situated near an AONB and the world’s oldest and original model village there’s plenty to take in. Stuart Mun-Gavin, our Northern Home Counties advisor, takes us on a tour around the area.
Beaconsfield and the surrounding towns offer an excellent supply of schools, which is a common driver for prospective home buyers, especially those in or near the various catchment areas. Davenies School is a prosperous school for boys between the ages of four and thirteen and is part of the IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools). With a broad curriculum and numerous extra-curricular opportunities, Davenies encourages students to relish the learning experience.
Receiving an ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) grade of ‘Excellent’, High March is a non-selective prep school for girls between the ages of three and eleven, recognised for its academic rigour but also warm high-quality pastoral care.
With a variety of private and public schools in the area to choose from, Beaconsfield is established as an attractive area for family movers.
As Beaconsfield is considered within the favourable commuter belt, many successful London chains thrive within the community and add to the appealing lifestyle, including Gail’s Bakery. If you prefer supporting a local business, The Old Tea House is nestled within the Old Town and reportedly has the ‘best bacon baps in Beaconsfield’. Quaint “Benedict’s Store” has excellent coffee and the perfect atmosphere to pull up a chair and get stuck into a book.
Whether you are in the ‘Old Town’ or ‘New Town’ there are several boutique shops to indulge in. ‘Jak and Liza’ is an independent fashion outlet with a strong focus on sustainable brands. In a similar vein, Clements & Church provide bespoke suits for both men and women with a tailoring service alongside.
For places to eat or visit, the area has a variety of options. Restaurants include The Cape, which has been described as a ‘shabby-chic café’ and has a South African twist as a nod to the owners’ roots. Walk back in time, on the edge of Beaconsfield, the oldest free house in England, The Royal Standard, established over 900 years ago sits in Forty Green. As well as being a historical hot spot, filmmakers have flocked to the establishment with well-known blockbusters such as ‘Hot Fuzz’ and ‘Theory of Everything’ featuring the celebrated pub. For a memorable and wild experience, The Crazy Bear Hotel is top of the list. Included on Condé Nast’s Hot List for best new hotels in the world, the walls are certainly not short of crazy taxidermy and quirky décor – it’s definitely one to see for yourself.
For hiking enthusiasts, Beaconsfield is adjacent to the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which boasts core values like habitat restoration and climate change, creating a landscape of remarkable beauty and character.
For entertainment and events, locals have the best of both worlds. Situated just a short train journey from London, homeowners can take advantage of the city’s culture.
On the other hand, the internationally known, Henley Regatta is just a popped champagne cork away from Beaconsfield and is not one to miss. To stay more local, the town host a market every Tuesday (and the farmers market once a month on Saturdays), which has a large variety of good quality stalls with a great bunch of friendly traders. During the summer months, Hall Place offers a charming open garden, and the renowned Beaconsfield Art and Craft Fair in July.
It’s almost impossible to talk about Beaconsfield and not mention its celebrated model village, Bekonscot, which happens to be the oldest in the world. It portrays aspects of England mostly dating from the 1930s and is a great day out.
The most desirable area in Beaconsfield is ‘the golden triangle’, which sits between, and includes, Burkes Road & Gregories Road. This tends to have bigger houses and larger plots of land whilst still being an easily accessible distance from shops and the train station.
The average £/ sq ft value in Beaconsfield tends to be between £500-£650. However, the larger properties are closer to £700-£800 per sq ft.
The Old Town has more period properties with plenty of former coaching inns and timber clad buildings. As the New Town was founded after the construction of the railway in the early 20th century, the property in this area is typically newer. In more recent years, there has been significant investment in redevelopments, with more modern and contemporary homes being built, due to the demand and changing lifestyle requirements of a home.
It’s no surprise that due to its close proximately to London, the types of buyers that are drawn to the area are likely families looking to move out of the city to take advantage of the amenities and excellent schools within the area.
If you’re interested in a property search within the area, click here to speak to Stuart directly.