About

Great Missenden was once the home to famous author, Roald Dahl, and the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre has been created in his honour. Well worth a visit, you can discover how the village and surrounding countryside inspired many of his wonderful books and stories together with details and leaflets on Roald Dahl’s Countryside and Village Trails. Stroll down the historic High Street and Church Street, with their diverse and listed buildings. Did you know, high entrances at The George and Roald Dahl Museum indicate former use as Coaching Inns? Enjoy the Buryfield open space in the village centre, with its playgrounds, skateboard park and tennis courts. Take one of the footpaths to the hills and beechwoods and enjoy the stunning views. Seek out the River Misbourne, an important chalk stream, along the valley.

History

In Saxon times, Great Missenden lay on the route between the Royal Estates of King Harold in High Wycombe and Queen Elgiva of Chesham. In 1133, an Augustinian Monastery was established at Missenden Abbey, and remained until the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1538. The George Inn and Court House date from the 15th Century when the High Street was part of the route between London and the Midlands. As the village grew to cater for more travellers, so further coaching inns appeared and, in Victorian times, there were twelve inns along the High Street and Church Street.

Countryside

There are lots of lovely short walks and the beech woods are glorious in any season. Angling Spring Wood is the nearest or walk in Abbey Park.  Discover red kites, designer sheep, bluebells, wild flower meadows and orchids. This walk from Ballinger to Lee near Great Missenden is one of a series of socially distanced walks which avoids the most crowded spots and narrow pathways where possible. After you have explored the surrounding countryside, return to look round the shops and go to one of the fabulous local cafes.

Getting Here

You can catch a direct train from London Marylebone station, which takes under an hour.

The narrow and historic High Street is bypassed by the main A413 London to Aylesbury Road, easy to access from surrounding villages and larger towns.

There are two main car parks situated on the way into the village from the A413.

Markets, Festivals and Events

On Easter Bank Holiday weekend, you can enjoy The Great Missenden Food Festival, a family foodie event set just outside of the village.

The last Sunday of every month, you can enjoy The Roald Dahl Museum's Scoff 'n' Stroll, a historic walk with tales of Roald Dahl and how the surrounding area inspired his stories. This is followed by an afternoon tea in the Roald Dahl cafe.

Discover plenty of events through the year at Missenden Abbey, as well as an afternoon tea. Up the road from Great Missenden in Prestwood, find Malt The Brewery, where you can enjoy delicious ales brewed in the heart of The Chilterns. As well as Peterley Manor Farm, where you can enjoy delicious homemade cakes, brunch and lunch dishes which use local produce and ingredients. There is also a farm shop and 'Pick Your Own' in the summertime.

Filming Locations

Like many of Buckinghamshire's market towns and villages, Great Missenden has been used for the ITV hit drama, Midsomer Murders. In 1980, Hammer Film Productions shot a small series of horror films for television, many of them filmed in and around the village. The episode "Rude Awakening" starring Denholm Elliott who plays an Estate Agent trapped in a recurring nightmare, was filmed in a now barbers located in the centre of the village.

Did you know?

King Henry III, who built Westminster Abbey, was a frequent visitor to Missenden Abbey, on his way from London to his palace at Brill.