Chalfont St. Giles, town (parish), Chiltern district, administrative and historic county of Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated just northeast of Beaconsfield and 24 miles (39 km) northwest of central London.

Much frequented by visitors because of its Quaker associations as well as its old-world charm, it is the site of the cottage (now preserved as a museum) in which John Milton completed Paradise Lost while living there in 1665–66 to escape the Great Plague then raging in London.

In the 17th century the Society of Friends, a religious sect commonly called the Quakers, met nearby in what is today the old Jordans hostel. The present-day Friends’ Meeting House was built in 1688. The burial ground contains the graves of William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania (U.S.), and other renowned Quakers. Pop. (2001) 6,696; (2011) 5,925.

English language school promotion illustration. Silhouette of a man advertises or sells shouts in a megaphone and emerging from the flag of the United Kingdom (Union Jack).
Britannica Quiz
Another Great British Vocabulary Quiz, Innit?
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Britannica Chatbot logo

Britannica Chatbot

Chatbot answers are created from Britannica articles using AI. This is a beta feature. AI answers may contain errors. Please verify important information using Britannica articles. About Britannica AI.