Best Places to Live: Gerrards Cross

WHY?

Dubbed ‘mini Hollywood’ due to the influx of celeb residents over the years (Cilla Black, Fern Brittan, plus numerous footie players), GX (as the cool kids call it) encompasses the benefits of countryside living – foodie gastropubs, acres of local parkland and rural surrounds – whilst maintaining a buzzy town feel and easy access to London.

EAT

In central Gerrards Cross there’s smart gastropub The Apple Tree, or slightly off the beaten track is The Three Oaks, a handsome pub with a more restaurant-y feel that’s held a Bib Gourmand (excellent food at excellent value) since 2014. Family-run Di Paolo offers a modern Italian with refined flavours and presentation, or if you’re after casual daytime dining head to buzzy Fego (lots of healthy and veggie options here) or cool indie café Huddle for specialty coffee and artisan food, freshly prepared daily in the kitchen.

SHOP

GX isn’t best in show when it comes to shopping (head 12 minutes down the road to Beaconsfield for more choice), although you will find womenswear boutique Heidi & Hudson and Winser London alongside a Waitrose and sweet indie Gerrards Cross Bookshop.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Black Park Country Park boasts over 500 acres of woodland with 10 miles of bike trails, wildlife spotting, an adventure playground, Go Ape and the odd celebrity sighting (it’s right next to Pinewood Studios and has been used in Harry Potter, James Bond Goldfinger, Captain America, Jurassic World and more). There is also an excellent local tennis club (members only) with a whopping 18 courts to play on, plus the luxury subterranean spa at The Langley is just five miles away (we’re talking 1600 sq m of marble, glass and wood interiors, 16 metre indoor swimming pool, mood lighting, plus the only hotel hammam outside of London). The capital is just a short ride on the train with its endless supply of museums, culture and things to do.

AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE

Deep breath… the average house price here is £983,975 with the majority of sales in the past year being detached properties at an average of £1,217,609. Semi-detached are much cheaper at £651,168 and flats are £503,222 on average.

HOT PROPERTY

On for £1.9m with Strutt & Parker, this brand new townhouse features 4 bedrooms plus a 1-bed annex with commanding views over West Common.

SCHOOLS

There is a clutch of brilliant independent schools in Gerrards Cross including girls’ day schools Maltman’s Green and St Mary’s, co-ed day prep school Gayhurst and boys’ day school Thorpe House. The Gerrards Cross CofE Primary School is rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

BEST KEPT SECRET

Stanley Kubrick filmed parts of his 1962 film Lolita in GX, most notably the exterior of Charlotte Haze’s house which still stands today on Packhorse Road.

COMMUTE

Speedy. The fastest route into London Marylebone takes 19 minutes on the train or driving will take just under an hour (21 miles).

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