A car-free day at Burnham Beeches and Stoke Poges works best as three stops on one loop: a morning walk under the ancient beech pollards, an afternoon at St Giles' churchyard and the Memorial Gardens, then a late lunch or early supper before a taxi home. The two places sit either side of the A355 at Farnham Common, but no bus links them and the nearest stations are an hour's walk away, which is why a pre-booked car does the joining up.
- Burnham Beeches is a National Nature Reserve run by the City of London; its car parks open from 8am and close from 4.30pm in winter.
- Thomas Gray finished his famous Elegy while living near St Giles' Church, Stoke Poges, and is buried in its churchyard.
- Neither site has a station within easy walking distance, so plan a drop-off in the morning and a timed collection for the afternoon.
How do you see Burnham Beeches and Stoke Poges in one day?
Start at the Beeches, finish in Stoke Poges. The woodland is at its quietest early, the café opens at 10am, and the Memorial Gardens beside St Giles' Church close at 4.30pm, so that order keeps you inside everyone's opening hours. Book one car to drop you on the edge of the Beeches after breakfast, a short hop across to Stoke Poges after lunch, and a final pickup once you have eaten. Stoke Poges sits about two miles south-east of Farnham Common, so the hops between stops are short.
If you are coming out from London, take the Chiltern Railways train to Gerrards Cross and ask for a pickup at Gerrards Cross station. Walkers staying locally can use our Farnham Common taxi service or the Stoke Poges taxi team, available around the clock.
What makes Burnham Beeches worth the trip?
It is ancient woodland with three layers of protection: National Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation. The City of London Corporation looks after the reserve, and it is best known for its old beech pollards, trees cut over centuries so that they grew into squat, many-limbed giants. The City came to own the land after the estate was put up for auction in 1879.
Film crews have used it for decades because Pinewood and other studios are close by. According to its Wikipedia entry, productions shot there include Goldfinger, The Princess Bride, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and First Knight. Filming is now limited to a small number of days a year to protect the wildlife.
The reserve is grazed by cattle and ponies as part of its management, so expect livestock on some paths. Barbecues and fires are banned at all times, and the City may close the site in winds over 45mph.
What are the parking charges and gate times at Burnham Beeches?
If a friend is driving separately, these are the numbers that matter. The main car park is along Lord Mayors Drive, with smaller Stag and Dell car parks on Hawthorn Lane, and payment is cashless.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Weekdays (excluding bank holidays) | £1.50 up to 2 hours, £3 over 2 hours |
| Weekends and bank holidays | £3 per day |
| Coaches and minibuses | £18 per day |
| Opening | Rangers start opening the parking areas from 8am |
| Closing (Lord Mayors Drive) | At dusk, from 4.30pm in winter up to 9pm in summer |
| Blue Badge holders | Free if the badge is displayed and the vehicle is registered |
Full details are on the City of London car parking page. The winter closing time is the one that catches people out: a long December walk can easily run past 4.30pm. With a collection booked instead, the driver meets you at an agreed spot and nobody is watching the clock for a locked gate.
There is no postcode for the main common. The City gives SL2 3PS as the closest, which is also the one to quote when you book, together with a landmark such as the café on Lord Mayors Drive.
Can you reach Burnham Beeches by train or bus?
Only with a long walk. The City's own travel guidance says Burnham station is at least 50 minutes on foot with no direct bus, and Slough station is about an hour and a half away on foot. The x74 bus from Slough to High Wycombe stops in Farnham Common, roughly 10 minutes' walk from the Beeches. For neighbouring Stoke Common, both Gerrards Cross and Slough stations are about an hour's walk away, with the 104 and Redline 335 buses stopping nearby.
That is workable for a keen walker with a free day, less so for grandparents, small children or anyone who wants a pub lunch without planning around a bus timetable.
Why is Stoke Poges famous?
For a poem. Thomas Gray completed Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard in 1750, while living near the Church of St Giles, and published it on 15 February 1751, according to Wikipedia's account of the poem. Gray himself is buried in the churchyard, in a tomb with his mother and aunt.
Next to the church stands Gray's Monument, commissioned by John Penn and designed by the architect James Wyatt. It is owned by the National Trust. Go in quietly: St Giles' is a working parish church, and services and funerals take priority over sightseers.
What are Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens like to visit?
They are a working cemetery run by Buckinghamshire Council, laid out as landscaped gardens and open to anyone who visits respectfully. The council lists 500 gated family gardens designed by Edward White, including a Gurkha memorial garden, alongside guided walks, tree trails and heritage open days through the year.
- Opening: daily, 8.30am to 4.30pm, per the Buckinghamshire Council page (correct as of September 2026).
- Address: Church Lane, SL2 4NZ, beside St Giles' Church.
- Parking: the car park opposite opens at weekends and bank holidays only, which is another reason a weekday visit is easier with a drop-off.
- Access: wheelchair users can enter through the churchyard.
Where can you eat afterwards?
The Red Lion at Stoke Green, a short drive from the church, is still trading in 2026 and makes an easy last stop before the ride home; check its hours on the Red Lion website and book at weekends. For earlier refreshments, the café, toilets and information point at Burnham Beeches open from 10am and close around 5pm, depending on the season. For more country inns across the district, see our guide to South Bucks country pubs.
What should you tell the driver when you book?
Four things make the day run smoothly:
- Each stop and a rough time for it. A drop at the Beeches, a transfer to Church Lane, a pickup from the pub. We quote a fixed fare for the plan in advance through our fixed-price taxi service.
- Muddy boots. The Beeches paths get churned up after rain. A bag for boots in the boot keeps everyone comfortable on the way to lunch.
- Dogs. The City asks owners to carry a lead and keep dogs in sight at all times. If a dog is coming in the car, say so when you book, as our guide to travelling with pets explains, so we send a suitable vehicle.
- Group size and mobility. Six walkers fit in the SEAT Alhambra, eight in the Ford Tourneo. Burnham Beeches has easy-access paths and seven disabled bays on Lord Mayors Drive, and our notes on less-mobile passengers cover the rest.
Stuck for time? Swap the Beeches for a shorter loop on Stoke Common, which the City manages alongside it, and keep the churchyard and lunch as they are.