Denham is a leafy village that sits close to Uxbridge, Rickmansworth and Gerrards Cross in the heart of South Buckinghamshire’s popular commuter belt.
It has expanded over the years to incorporate the areas well beyond the village green. As well as Denham Village, it now includes Higher Denham, New Denham, Denham Garden Village, Denham Green and Tatling End.
Denham is bordered by the M25 and the A40/M40 and has two railway stations. It’s enveloped by Colne Valley Regional Park, which gives it a green and pleasant backdrop, as well as miles of riverside walks.
There are some exclusive houses in Denham, including several mansions, which has served in pushing up the average property value in the area to its current £635,000. Keep up-to-date with the latest value trends here.
West Drayton is another London area that benefits from easy access to the Colne Valley Regional Park – find out more with our guide.
Living in Denham: what to expect
Denham looks and feels like the countryside, but it's actually only 15 miles from Kensington High Street.
The Rivers Colne and Misbourne and the Grand Union Canal run through and around Denham, and the wetlands of Colne Valley include a series of lakes.
The winding Village Road really embodies Denham's quintessential 'English village' credentials, with its picturesque cottages, church (St Mary's) and stone walls that conceal larger country homes.
Good schools are another key draw of Denham. Buckinghamshire's schools include renowned state grammar schools such as Dr Challoner’s and Chesham. Private schools within easy driving distance of the village also include Eton College, Harrow, Wycombe Abbey and Merchant Taylors’ School.
Where to start your property search
There’s a traditional English charm about the period houses in Village Road and The Pyghtle in the old part of Denham. They look out on to the village green and are within easy distance of three pubs – the Falcon, the Green Man and the Swan Inn.
Lower Road in Higher Denham is a good place to start a search for bungalows and more modern family houses. This tree-lined road has a community hall and field at one end, which is maintained by the Higher Denham community group.
Priory Close makes an ideal family location if you’re looking for space without over-stretching your budget. The semi-detached houses here come with good-sized gardens and are set around green space. For bay-fronted semis consider Nine Stiles Close in New Denham.
Along leafy Cheapside Lane you'll find spacious family houses and chalet-bungalows.
Houses around Nightingale Way and Ashcroft Drive are convenient for Denham Green E-ACT Primary Academy. Denham Green Close is a good road to find properties with off-street parking and deceptively large gardens.
If you’re looking for a commuter flat, apartments in Kings Mill Way, part of a gated island development with a daytime porter, may fit the bill. Uxbridge underground station is within a mile of the properties.
The Denham Garden Village is a complex of retirement houses, bungalows and apartments. Residents have access to an on-site GP surgery, health spa and village shop – ideal if you’re looking for a ready-made community with plenty of facilities.
The most exclusive addresses in the Denham area include Over The Misbourne Road, Halings Lane and Slade Oak Lane. Expect to pay more than £3 million for a modern country home close to the golf course and even more for a period property with paddocks and land.
Nearby: Consider Harefield and West Hyde, on the east side of Colne Valley Park, as alternatives to Denham. You’ll find swanky apartments in the restored Breakspear House. Top properties come with parking spaces, high ceilings and period details, as well as contemporary bathrooms and kitchens, and a £1 million-plus price tag.
If period properties are more your style, watch the market for the waterside Arts & Crafts cottages with pretty gardens.
Getting around Denham
By rail: Denham has two railway stations. Denham Golf Club, in Higher Denham, has services running to London Marylebone that take less than 30 minutes. From Denham Station, trips to London Marylebone take 23 minutes whereas journeys to Birmingham Moor Street take around two hours.
In neighbouring Uxbridge, the underground station is served by both the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines.
By car: The M40 and A40 run east and west on the borders of Denham. The M25 Junction 16 is also less than three miles away. It’s a quick flit south to the M4, either via the A412 to Slough or Junction 15 of the M25.
By air: Heathrow international airport is less than 10 miles away and London Luton is around 25 miles by car. Heathrow is the UK's busiest airport and has a wide choice of both domestic and long-haul flights.
Things to do in Denham
Outdoors: The Colne Valley Park encompasses much of Denham and beyond, covering 43 square miles in total. It includes woods, lakes, reservoirs and historical parks. Visitors can follow a self-guided walk or join a group to learn some extra information on the way. Fishing, horse-riding and sailing are also available.
A walk through Denham and Northmoor Hill Wood is uplifting at any time of the year, but spring is particularly colourful thanks to the hundreds of bluebells.
Boating and watersports: Head for Denham Waterski Club, which offers open water swimming, skiing and wakeboarding.
More water-based activities can be enjoyed at Hillingdon Rowing Club. The club has novice and casual rowing sessions, as well as serious competitions and regattas. It also holds land training for fitness and strength at Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre in Dews Lane.
Denham Deep Lock is a great spot to watch the narrowboats chug by. Denham Day Boats or Hillingdon Narrowboats Association provide a boat hire service if you want to have a go yourself.
Golf: Golf lovers have the pick of the greens around this area of South Buckinghamshire. Denham Golf Club on Tilehouse Lane has a course designed in 1910 by Harry Colt. The Clubhouse is set in 16th-century farm buildings and is now a popular place to pick up refreshments.
Or head to Buckinghamshire Golf Club on Denham Court Drive, which is set in the parkland around a manor house. The building’s origins go back to the 17th century and the course is considered challenging.
Festivals: Roads are closed for stalls to open during the annual Denham Village Fayre, which has its origins in a 15th-century charter fair. Attractions include music in St Mary’s Church and churchyard, classic cars, traditional stalls and Morris dancing, plus steam train rides on the village green.
Shopping: For day-to-day shopping there’s a parade of shops close to Denham station, including the well-regarded Village Butchers, a post office and general food store, as well as restaurants, take-aways and the Green Cafe.
Intu shopping mall at Uxbridge is the place to go to find big-name stores such as Debenhams, H&M and Next. Uxbridge also has a market from Thursday to Saturday in the Market Square and a selection of independent shops alongside favourites such as the Body Shop, M&S and Costa in the Pavilions.
Food and drink: Besides the three pubs on the village green, Denham also has its own restaurant – Biggles – at Denham aerodrome. It serves continental dishes made with fresh ingredients, which range from beef wellington to seafood paella.
For entertainment alongside good food and drink, try The Fat Cow in Cheapside Lane, close to the village hall. It puts on live music and soul nights as well as serving food, ale and wine.
Hidden Denham
Denham Deep Lock, as the name suggests, is the deepest lock on the Grand Union Canal. You can help open and close the lock gates or watch the waterfowl from the tearooms and café across the canal.
5 reasons to live in Denham
Great travel connections
Easy access to the trails of Colne Valley Regional Park
Excellent schools
Choice of grand homes
Charming village atmosphere
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