Day Trips from London: Turville Village

There are plenty of quaint, quiet English villages that have become seriously popular in recent years due to their beauty and stereotypical Englishness, yet somehow Turville Village in Buckinghamshire seems to have escaped the attention despite the fact that it is stunningly beautiful, full of pubs serving excellent food and the filming site of some very famous British TV shows and even one film which is likely one of your childhood favourites.  Here are some of the reasons you should make Turville Village the destination for your next country break:

It feels really rural

What more do you need when you are on a break from the city and venturing out in the countryside other than feeling like you are actually out there in the middle of it?  Turville is beautiful, full of wildlife and most of all, completely quiet!  There is a very limited phone signal so it forces you to switch off, unwind and take in your surroundings. 

But it’s still close to London

It’s just over an hour’s drive away from central London, so you don’t have to go far to feel like you really are cut off from the outside world.  Plus the drive there through the fields and villages is simply stunning.  Be warned though, a car is a must when exploring here.  If you don’t have access to a car your best bet would be to get a train to High Wycolm and then get a taxi for the remaining 20-minute journey to the village, however, if you are spending any time here it’s hard to get around the villages without a car.  Many lanes do not have a curb so aren’t suitable for walking.

It’s got a surprising silver screen status

Turville is small, according to the last senses there are only 340 people living here and it would take you under 5 minutes to do a lap of the village, and yet it is so beautiful it has been the filming location for a surprising number of films and TV shows.  The most famous of which is, of course, the classic British Film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  The Cobstone Windmill on top of the hill which overlooks the village is the location of the iconic windmill home of Caractacus Potts in the movie.  It but can be easily accessed via a footpath from the village itself however sadly it’s surrounded by a high fence these days as it’s on private land so can’t be viewed up close, but it’s still great to see from a distance.

Then there are all the TV shows!  It seems that not only has this village been a filming location of Midsummer Murders more times then you can keep up with but every pub in the surrounding area has a plaque somewhere stating they’ve filmed there for an episode or two also.  Many of the outdoor scenes in Goodnight Mr Tom were also filmed here, a Christmas special of Jonathan Creek and the village church provided all external shots for the classic British comedy The Vicar of Dibley.  That isn’t even all the films and TV shows shot in this tiny village but it goes some way to show how quintessentially English and beautifully this village is. 

The food is fantastic

This area is full of Bistro pubs and each one of them has fantastic reviews.  The only one in the village itself is the Bull and Butcher, which is popular due to its real ales, great views, amazing location, original wooden beams and open fires.  Trying to call into one for Sunday dinner we found it booked out with visitors coming from far and wide to grab a bite to eat in this rural setting.  On an evening we were there we chose The Chequers Inn for dinner and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time.  There are no photos of the food as I was having a phone-free night so trust me on this, it was amazing, and I loved the relaxed pub atmosphere.  

Sunset as viewed from our Airbnb

Amazing wildlife

Apart from the usual farmyard animals, you would expect to see like cows, pigs and sheep there is plenty of other wildlife to be spotted all over this area.  We spent a good amount of time watching hawks dive for their dinner on top of the hill, watching them swoop so quietly and hoover in the air was fascinating to watch.  Our Airbnb had amazingly large glass windows (use my affiliate link, use my code for £34 off your first stay) and we were greeted one morning with an owl on the fence!  It was amazing being able to see the bird so close up.  

It’s simply stunning

I know I have used this word a lot in this post but Turville is in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Beauty so need I say more?  The cottages all date from the 16th to the 18th century so it’s an amazing place to winder around and admire the history all around.  

There are loads of other great things to see and do nearby

Not only is Turville Village surrounded by other beautiful villages but the famously awe-worthy Henley-on-Thames is just a 10-minute car ride away so you can take a beautiful walk along the river, or why not stop in at Stonor Park stately home to take in the amazing history or visit the National Trust owned Gray’s Court for a great day out.  There’s even the Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery close by if that takes your fancy.  

Turville Village is a quintessential English village that is beautiful, calm, and yet surrounded by so much to see and do.  Have you ever visited an English Village? Which is your favourite?

Looking for a similar countryside getaway?  Make sure you check out my post on Pooh Corner and Pooh Sticks Bridge and my other Day Trips from London.