The village is often named as one of the prettiest and best places to live in the UK – but it has a dark past that has seen it used as a filming location for horror movies.
Hambleden, a quintessentially English village nestled in a Buckinghamshire valley, is often hailed as one of the most picturesque and desirable places to live in the UK.
The village’s stunning scenery and old-world charm have made it a magnet for film crews over the years. The Telegraph has even ranked it among England’s 30 most beautiful villages, most recently in 2022.
Adding to its character are the breathtaking landscapes of the Culden Faw Estate, which spans a whopping 3,500 acres of mature beech woods, parkland, and sweeping chalk valleys. The estate incorporates the village within its scenic vista, according to Surrey Live.
It’s not the only quirky British village that’s caught the eye of celebrities like Liam Gallagher and Tom Cruise.
For those with a taste for the finer things, the Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery is a must-visit. This award-winning establishment offers enchanting tours through its vineyards and the chance to sample an impressive selection of wines.
Just a stone’s throw away is Cliveden House, a place steeped in history and intrigue. Known for its high-profile guests and centuries of scandalous rumours and extravagant parties, Cliveden has been a mainstay since 1666.
What would a picturesque country village be without its trendy eateries beloved by famous faces?
Tucked away in the heart of Hambleden sits The Stag and Huntsman, far from your typical gastropub but one that boasts “killer wallpaper” whilst doubling up as a delightful boutique hotel.
Hambleden has, quite naturally, attracted some notable residents over the years. Deep Purple founding member Jon Lord both lived and passed away here, whilst 2003 Rugby World Cup champion Phil Vickery also called the place home for a period.
Given all this, it’s hardly surprising that a visit sometimes feels like wandering onto the set of a Midsomer Murders episode. This picture-perfect village has served as the setting for numerous major productions across both the small and big screens.
It’s provided the scenery for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Into the Woods and Nanny McPhee Returns, plus television programmes including Agatha Christie’s Poirot, and Amazon’s mini-series Good Omens starring David Tennant. More recently, Greys Anatomy leads Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams were spotted in the village whilst filming Disney’s Enchanted follow-up, Disenchanted, which hit screens in 2022.
Amongst the renowned directors who selected it as a filming destination, Tim Burton stands out as perhaps the most celebrated. He picked Hambleden as the location for Johnny Depp’s horror flick Sleepy Hollow.
Yet this diminutive village harbours a sinister, sinister secret that matches the atmosphere of Burton’s spine-chilling masterpiece. In 1912, archaeologists unearthed the skeletal remains of 97 newborn babies at the historic Yewden Villa.
The bones were unearthed in 2008, stashed away in old cigarette tins at Chiltern Archaeology, sparking a heated debate over the cause of their deaths. In 2010, a researcher suggested that the ancient Roman villa may have functioned as a brothel where residents and workers committed infanticide over a half-century period.
Other theories propose it was home to a cult that performed gruesome operations on the infants. Regardless of the grim truth behind this shocking discovery, Hambleden continues to be a perfect spot for a countryside day trip filled with mystery, history and enchanting charm.