After a year in which very few Midsomer Tours took place, thanks to coronavirus restrictions, the popular Midsomer Tours of Thame are back! They recommence on Wednesday 14th April, starting outside the Town Hall at 2 pm, and continue each Wednesday until 27th October. The tours are led by a team of seven knowledgeable guides (all volunteers) who are enthusiastic experts, not only on Midsomer Murders locations, the different episodes, the actors, the bizarre methods of murder and much more, but on local history too.
The guides will escort you round the 23 Midsomer filming locations in Thame, tell you about each location – including Thame Town Hall (aka Causton Town Hall), the Spread Eagle and Swan Hotels, estate agents Chancellors and Tim Russ, Rumsey’s Chocolaterie and Thame Museum. Participants will also learn fascinating snippets about Thame’s history, from Neanderthal remains to the English Civil War and Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. A popular stop point is the Prebendal, which featured in a recent episode, not only rich in history as a building, but also the former home of Bee Gee, Robin Gibb, buried in St Mary’s Churchyard nearby.
Theglobally acclaimed Midsomer Murders is a TV phenomenon, which has been running since 1997 and is still going strong. 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).
Tony Long, tour organiser, commented, ‘We are delighted that the ever-popular Midsomer Tours can start again. Over 6 million people watch Midsomer Murders in the UK and millions more worldwide. When people see it on TV, they want to come and visit the beautiful towns and villages of Midsomer, such as Thame. When they are here, they spend money in our restaurants, pubs, hotels, and shops – which has got to be good for the town and its economy, especially following the lockdowns’.
He added, ‘Following government advice, we will ensure that the now smaller tour groups comply with social distancing guidelines. Participants may wish to wear face masks, but none of the locations involves being indoors, so this is not necessary. Hand sanitiser can be provided on request’.
