The Evening Standard’s Homes & Property section, describes ‘Unspoilt villages with pretty chocolate box houses and plenty of green space an hour away from London, make the Chilterns a star choice for commuters, with grammar schools, market towns and sensible prices.’ One warning, however, for those interested in buying in this green spine running through Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire: just avoid the HS2 route.
You will need to do plenty of due diligence and check your searches before you select a property, to ensure that you are not within a location which may be directly affected by the new high-speed rail route – albeit the project still remains shrouded with uncertainty.
However, if you’re into walking, cycling and horse-riding, the 322 square mile Chilterns is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with plenty to offer. There is a National Cycle Network route. The Chess Valley is described as ‘particularly beautiful and peaceful’, and there is also a lively arts scene – including the Elgiva Theatre & Cinema.
For commuters, there is, amazingly, a tube station at Chesham – the furthest point on the Metropolitan line.
One of the most appealing of the Chilterns towns is Wallingford – “a classic market town” – according to Middleton’s Mark Parkinson, with a great range of pubs, cafes and restaurants. It’s also within reach of Reading mainline station, which makes central London and the city very commutable, particularly once the Crossrail route is completed.