Living in Princes Risborough

Princes Risborough is celebrated for its strong community spirit and active local life. The town hosts a weekly market on Thursdays, featuring fresh produce, crafts, and household goods. There are frequent community-led events, such as summer fetes, annual Christmas lights, and charity fundraisers, that bring residents together and foster a sense of belonging.

The local community centre is a hub for classes, social clubs, and special interest groups. The town is surrounded by green spaces, including King George V Park and pathways leading into the Chilterns, encouraging outdoor exploration and village-to-village walks. Popular charity runs, cycle events, and countryside rambles add to the active lifestyle on offer.

Heritage is fostered through the local history museum and societies that celebrate Princes Risborough’s unique past, making it an area where new arrivals are quickly welcomed and integrated into social networks.

Princes Risborough maintains a reputation as a safe and secure place to live. Crime rates in Princes Risborough are generally lower than the national average, contributing to the area’s appeal for families and those seeking a peaceful environment. The town’s compact size and strong sense of community help with neighbourhood vigilance and maintaining an approachable atmosphere.

Local police teams engage actively with residents, running schemes like Neighbourhood Watch and dedicated community safety forums. There are periodic surgeries and events to keep residents informed and involved in policing matters. Areas in and around the town centre typically remain calm, with most incidents being of a minor nature.

Ongoing partnership work between community groups, the local council, and police helps keep safety standards high and encourages residents to be proactive about preventing anti-social behaviour.

Parking in Princes Risborough is generally straightforward, though it can be busier during market days and school drop-off times. The town provides several low-cost public car parks close to the high street and railway station, with a mix of long and short stay options. On-street parking is available in residential areas, often without restrictions, though spaces can be limited in older streets with narrower layouts.

For residents, Buckinghamshire Council offers permit parking schemes in some areas, ensuring locals can access spaces near their homes. There is usually less congestion in Princes Risborough compared to larger towns, and traffic flow remains manageable outside of peak times.

Princes Risborough is well-served by major road links. The A4010 runs directly through the town, connecting with the A413 and providing access to the M40 motorway, making regional travel convenient. Notable travel times:

• High Wycombe – approx. 20 minutes via A4010 (8 miles)
• Aylesbury – approx. 20 minutes via A4010 (8 miles)
• Oxford – approx. 35 minutes via A40/A4010 (20 miles)
• Thame – approx. 20 minutes via B4011 (8 miles)

Princes Risborough offers a solid selection of food, pubs, and cafes catering to most tastes. The town centre is dotted with independent cafés, tea rooms, and bakeries, making it a favoured location for daytime eats and coffee. Several popular pubs, such as The Red Lion, The Whiteleaf Cross, and The Bird in Hand, provide classic pub grub as well as real ales and seasonal menus, often accompanied by lively quiz or music nights.

Restaurants in Princes Risborough include traditional British and international cuisine, with Indian, Italian, and Thai options. High street takeaways offer pizza, fish & chips, and more, satisfying evening cravings or family treats. While the town isn’t known for a bustling nightlife, it does host occasional live music, performances at the local community hall, and nearby theatres such as Aylesbury's Waterside Theatre offer further entertainment options.

The social scene in Princes Risborough is more relaxed, focusing on friendly gatherings rather than late-night bars or clubs, which can be found in nearby towns.

School Quality: Princes Risborough is well-regarded for its schools, from successful primary schools such as Princes Risborough Primary and St Teresa's, to secondary education with Princes Risborough School. These provide families with a mix of education options locally.

Parks and Green Space: The town is surrounded by accessible countryside, play areas, and parks like King George V Park, offering safe outdoor spaces for children to play and families to spend time together.

Childcare: Local nurseries, preschools and after-school clubs meet the needs of working parents, with several options within the town and nearby villages.

Safety: Princes Risborough's low crime rates and close-knit community help create a reassuring environment for raising children.

Family Activities: There are diverse options for leisure, from sports clubs to the local library, museum, and events such as fetes and farmers’ markets, all contributing to the town’s family-friendly ethos.

Princes Risborough is an excellent choice for pet owners seeking pet-friendly living. The extensive network of footpaths and bridleways into the Chiltern Hills allows for scenic dog walks and rambling. King George V Park, Whiteleaf Hill Nature Reserve, and the Phoenix Trail all offer popular outdoor spaces for exercising dogs and socialising with other pet owners.

The town has several local veterinary practices and pet supply stores, ensuring easy access to animal care and supplies. Many pubs and cafes are dog-friendly and welcome well-behaved pets, while rental properties commonly accept pets, reflecting a generally positive attitude in the community toward animal companions.

With easy access to open countryside and green spaces right on the doorstep, Princes Risborough is well-suited for those who value outdoor lifestyle for themselves and their pets.

Princes Risborough enjoys excellent transport links, making it well-positioned for commuters and those needing regular travel access. The town’s railway station is a major feature, situated on the Chiltern Main Line, providing regular direct services to London Marylebone in around 40 minutes and connections north to Birmingham and Banbury. There are also direct trains to Aylesbury and High Wycombe.

For buses, several local and regional routes connect Princes Risborough to surrounding villages, Thame, Oxford, and Aylesbury, facilitating journeys for shopping, work, and leisure. The town is also conveniently placed close to the M40 and A4010 routes, giving drivers easy access to the wider Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire regions.

Proximity to airports is another advantage: London Heathrow is under an hour by car, providing extensive international and domestic flight options. For key commute times:

• London Marylebone: approx. 40 minutes by train
• Oxford: approx. 35 minutes by car
• High Wycombe: approx. 20 minutes by car or train
• Aylesbury: approx. 20 minutes by train or car

Primary Schools in Princes Risborough
Princes Risborough is served by several well-regarded primary schools. Princes Risborough Primary School is a popular choice with families, offering a broad curriculum and strong links to the community (Ofsted rated 'Good', June 2017). St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, located just outside the town centre, is another highly rated option (Ofsted 'Outstanding', March 2017). In the nearby village of Monks Risborough, Monks Risborough Church of England Primary School (Ofsted 'Good', March 2019) serves a catchment including parts of the town.

Secondary Schools in Princes Risborough
The town is home to Princes Risborough School, a mixed secondary school and sixth form with academy status, catering to students aged 11-18 (Ofsted 'Good', November 2017). Nearby, Whiteleaf hosts The Mandeville School, providing an alternative option for older pupils in the wider catchment.

Independent & Specialist Schools
Within easy reach are independent schools such as Griffin House School (preparatory, close to Little Kimble) and accessible options in High Wycombe and Aylesbury, renowned for their academic performance.

Colleges & Universities
Post-16 education is available at Princes Risborough School's own sixth form, and further opportunities can be found at Aylesbury College (a short drive) offering a wide range of vocational courses. For higher education, students usually commute to Oxford Brookes University, University of Oxford, or Buckinghamshire New University in High Wycombe, all under an hour’s reach.