A galaxy of delights have been lined up for Midsomer fans this year! The ever-popular Thame Midsomer Tours start the 2023 season on Wednesday 5th April, continuing each Wednesday until 26th October. There will also be Saturday tours at 2 pm from 17th June to 16th September. In addition, during the summer, there will be joint packages with Chinnor & Princes Risborough Heritage Railway, which include the walking tour and a steam train trip with cream tea on board.
The tours are led by a team of seven knowledgeable guides (all volunteers) who are enthusiastic experts, not only on Midsomer Murders locations, the episodes, the actors, the bizarre methods of murder and much more, but on local history too. Thame is one of the most-filmed locations, sometimes appearing as Causton, sometimes as one of the many picturesque villages in Midsomer County (aka Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire).
The tours start from outside the Town Hall at 2pm, where you will be greeted by your friendly guide. You will be escorted round the 23 Midsomer filming locations in Thame, and your guide will tell you about each one – including Thame Town Hall (aka Causton Town Hall), the Spread Eagle and Swan Hotels, the Black Horse, Rumsey’s Chocolaterie and Thame Museum. You will also learn fascinating snippets about Thame’s history, from its ancient Neanderthal remains to the English Civil War and Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. A popular location is the Prebendal, not only rich in history as a building, but also the former home of Bee Gee Robin Gibb, who is buried in St Mary’s Churchyard nearby.
Tony Long, tour coordinator, commented, “We are delighted that our popular Midsomer Tours are starting a new season, not only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but also featuring a joint package with the Chinnor Heritage Railway during the summer. Last year was the 25th anniversary of the much-loved Midsomer Murders ITV series, which attracted even more interest than usual, but we expect tourists and fans from far and wide to continue taking the tour and visiting Midsomer, now in its 26th year and counting”.
