Another day, another quaint-and-quiet, teeny-tiny, picture-perfect village that looks like it’s – quite literally – jumped straight from the pages of a fairytale book. But this particular village also comes with a rather star-studded history. Grab your rucksacks and your railcards, folks – because we’re off on another adventure. Where are we going, I hear you ask? The village of Turville, of course.
The village of Turville
Serenely situated in the gasp-inducingly gorgeous Chiltern Hills, slap-bang in the middle of the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside, is Turville. Oozing charm and steeped in history; the village dates all the way back to the prehistoric times. But perhaps even more impressive than its lengthy past is its jam-packed acting CV. So much so that it’s highly likely that you’ve seen the village of Turville splashed across your screen multiple times.
Turville is home to the truly scrumptious Cobstone Windmill (that starred as the Pott’s family home in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and St Mary the Virgin Church (best-known as for its role in The Vicar of Dibley). But the village’s claims to fame don’t end there. In fact, the Turville has provided the backdrop for many movies and television shows over the years, having featured in the likes of Killing Eve, Goodnight Mister Tom, 101 Dalmations, and Midsomer Murders. Not bad, hey?
If all that weren’t enough to firmly put Turville on the map, fear not – there’s more, folks. Turville is known as the ‘carrot capital of the UK’; boasting distinctive chalk hills and fertile soil which have long-supported excellent carrot cultivation. The village is also famous for being the home of the ‘Sleeping Girl of Turville’ – a case involving a girl who fell asleep at the age of 11, and supposedly didn’t wake up for nine years. Blimey.
With its plethora of places to eat, drink, and shop, it’s stunning scenery, and wonderful walking routes; it’s easy to see why Turville is the perfect place for a daytrip from the capital city. But apparently it’s an even better place to reside, having recently been named one of Britain’s best places to live by the leading lifestyle publication, Muddy Stilettos. I mean, with its line-up of celebrity residents (including Orlando Bloom and Tom Hollander); it hardly comes as a surprise. That being said, snapping up a gaff in Turville will set you back a rather eye-watering sum, seeing as the average house price is nearly £1 million. Yes, really.
Getting to Turville from London
The picturesque village of Turville is approximately an hour’s drive from London, and there is on-street parking available once you arrive. Non-driving Londoners can hop on a speedy train service from Marylebone to High Wycombe, and take a local onwards bus (or two) from there.