Chesham

Chesham is the most remote station on the London Underground network, reached by a single-track shuttle service from Chalfont and Latimer in Zone 8, and sitting in Zone 9 in the heart of the Chiltern Hills. The fact that you can reach Chesham by tube from central London is one of those facts that seems improbable until you stand on the platform at Baker Street and follow the train through the expanding countryside of Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire to its destination in a genuine Chilterns market town, forty kilometres from where you started. Chesham itself repays the journey: the River Chess runs through the centre, the High Street has genuine character, and the Chess Valley Walk - one of the finest day walks in the Home Counties - begins here.

Station Overview

Chesham station opened in 1889. It sits in Zone 9 and is the terminus of the Metropolitan line's Chesham shuttle branch. There is no direct service to central London from Chesham - you must take the shuttle to Chalfont and Latimer and change to the main Metropolitan line. The station does not have step-free access but has a car park.

Lines and Connectivity

The Metropolitan line shuttle connects Chesham to Chalfont and Latimer (approximately five minutes), where passengers change to main-line Metropolitan line services towards Baker Street and central London. Total journey time to Baker Street is approximately fifty minutes. The shuttle operates less frequently than the main Metropolitan line - check the timetable before travelling.

Facilities

Chesham station has a car park, shops and a travel information point. Chesham town centre, a short walk from the station, has a range of local shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants - more than you might expect for the end of a shuttle branch.

Accessibility

Chesham does not have step-free access. The shuttle and main line interchange at Chalfont and Latimer has step-free access, but the Chesham end of the journey does not.

Travel Tips

• The Chess Valley Walk starts at Chesham station and follows the River Chess through outstanding Chiltern scenery to Rickmansworth - about fifteen kilometres of genuinely beautiful walking. Allow a full day.
• Always check the shuttle timetable before travelling. Services are infrequent and missing the shuttle adds significantly to journey time.
• The town centre has good local pubs that make Chesham a worthwhile lunch or dinner destination after a Chess Valley walk.
• Chesham has a large car park and is a useful starting point for Chilterns walking holidays by those who drive up and then leave cars here.
• This is Zone 9 - fares are the highest on the network. Use a travel card or Oyster with Zone 9 coverage.

Nearby Attractions

Chess Valley Walk - starts at the station. A fifteen-kilometre walking route through the Chiltern Hills following the River Chess. Outstanding scenery. Free.

Chesham town centre - five minutes walk. A genuine Chilterns market town with good local pubs, cafes and independent shops.

Chiltern Hills AONB - surrounding the town. The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty starts essentially at the edge of Chesham, with walking routes in all directions.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The Chesham shuttle operates from approximately 05:00 to midnight but with limited frequency - always check the timetable. Summer is the best season for the Chess Valley Walk; the town is pleasant year-round. Avoid making this journey without checking the return shuttle time first.