The world-famous London Underground network does not just transport passengers around the capital, as some of its stations are located outside of the M25. These include Amersham, Chalfont and Latimer, Chorleywood and Rickmansworth on the Metropolitan line, and Epping on the Central line. Also amongst this bunch of extra-London stops is Chesham, which serves the market town of the same name in Buckinghamshire. The terminus boasts its own water tower and signal box and is Grade-II listed. It was opened in 1889.
Historic England notes that this is because of its architectural importance as “the most complete surviving example of a late 19th-century rural Metropolitan station”. It is also “a vivid reminder of the Metropolitan Railway’s early expansion into London’s rural hinterland”, and “the station building, signal box and water tower form an unusually coherent and intact group”. It is the furthest Tube station from the centre of London, at around 25 miles away, as well as the most northern and western station on the network. The distance between Chesham and its neighbour, Chalfont and Latimer, is the longest between two adjacent stations – 3.89 miles.
The closest National Rail station to Chesham is Amersham, which is also on the Metropolitan line. Chiltern Railways says it takes 32 minutes to travel from there to London Marylebone using its fastest route.
According to Google, to get to Baker Street from Chesham on the Tube, it takes around 56 minutes.
Residents previously told our sister site MyLondon that they could not do without Chesham station, even though the area very much feels like Buckinghamshire, rather than the capital.
Locals also said that many have moved to the area in recent years, who commute to London for work.
Righmove says that house prices in Chesham had an overall average of £499,307 over the last year. The majority of properties sold were terraced, selling for an average price of £431,688.
Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £531,486, with detached fetching £800,841. Overall, the site adds, the historical sold prices in Chesham over the last year were 3% up on the previous year, and similar to the 2022 peak of £495,127.
Jasbir Phull, 67, worked in railway maintenance, including at Willesden depot, for more than 40 years. He was visiting his son who recently moved to the area.
Mr Phull said: “For me, it’s a lovely place to come to, considering I live in Harrow. It’s nice and peaceful.
“I’ve been coming here a couple of years, my son bought a property and I come and see him every now and then. I just wish there were more trains.“
Michael Bouchier, 59, and Theresa Bouchier, 57, off for a night out at the Roundhouse in Camden.
Mrs Bouchier said she does not use th stop often, but she does make use of it. She added: “We don’t work there [in London], so we don’t need it. Only for nights out.”
Mr Bouchier said that they use it once a month and that Chesham station is “quite crucial”.
David Courtney, 71, said: “The station’s fine. There been talk for years of it closing, but there’s so many more people living round here now and commuting to London.
“It’s not just during rush hour that it’s busy, it’s during the day. I usually catch a train at 11:30am and it’s surprising how many are on it and coming back. The station’s definitely needed.”
