Welcome to New Hope
Historic river town with a wealth of cultural attractions
New Hope is a historic river town conveniently located across the Delaware River from New Jersey in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This diverse community is a popular weekend destination with a wealth of cultural attractions. The Bucks County Playhouse has seen performances from some of the world’s most celebrated stage and screen actors since it first opened in a former grist mill in the 1930s, and the town also features taverns that have been in operation since the 18th Century.
New Hope’s eclectic real estate mix includes 18th Century stone manors and gorgeous contemporary homes on acreage lots. The housing options are diverse, with modern and historic single-family homes to suit all budgets.
What to Love
- Historic river town
- The Bucks County Playhouse
- 18th Century taverns
- First Friday Fireworks Displays
People & Lifestyle
New Hope is a vibrant town with some of Bucks County’s most popular attractions. Residents enjoy an eclectic local dining scene and excellent antique shopping. There are also lots of opportunities for outdoor recreation along the Delaware Canal towpath.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Main Street runs parallel to the Delaware River and is filled with a wide array of restaurants, antique shops, art galleries, and cultural attractions. The Bucks County Playhouse is a major attraction housed within a 1790s grist mill located on Main Street. The playhouse opened in the 1930s and quickly became known as America’s most famous summer theater. The many famous names to have performed at the Bucks County Playhouse include Robert Redford, Grace Kelly, Bela Lugosi, Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, John Lithgow, and Liza Minelli. Diverse productions continue to be staged at the Bucks County Playhouse every year between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The Logan Inn is another historic landmark that first opened on the banks of the Delaware River in 1722. The Logan Inn features a tavern and an outdoor patio which opens from breakfast through dinner seven days a week. There is also live jazz music on Friday and Saturday nights. River House at Odette’s is another fine spot offering brunch, lunch, and dinner on Delaware. River House’s dinner menu pairs sophisticated steak and seafood offerings with specialty seasonal cocktails and French and Californian wines.
Marsha Brown serves sublime New Orleans-style creole cuisine with raw bar oysters inside a historic stone church with soaring 40-foot ceilings. Other New Hope highlights include eclectic food vendors at Ferry Market, tropical food and drinks plus live music at Havana, craft beer and gourmet bar eats at Triumph Brewing Company, and classic Irish pub grub and cold beers at The Dubliner on the Delaware. New Hope is also home to many unique antique shops. A bridge connects New Hope to Lambertville in New Jersey, which boasts many more options for antiquing.
Things to Do
New Hope is one of Pennsylvania’s top weekend getaways. This is especially true in late April when the town celebrates the Annual Shad Fest. The festival marks the migration of American Shad fish from the ocean’s salt water to the freshwater of the Delaware River. Along with delicious fish prepared in many different ways, the festival features a diverse live music lineup and scores of arts and crafts vendors.
Another popular New Hope attraction is the spectacular First Friday Fireworks Displays held on summer evenings from June through August. The New Hope Railroad offers rides on a historic steam train with a two-hour round trip taking in the gorgeous scenery of the Bucks County countryside. New Hope is a year-round arts destination with many galleries. New Hope Arts Inc features indoor and outdoor exhibitions spanning many styles and mediums. The Bucks County Children’s Museum is packed with fun hands-on exhibits encouraging kids to learn about the world around them through play.
Schools
Public schools in New Hope are operated by the New Hope-Solebury School District.
- New Hope-Solebury Upper Elementary School, Public, 3-5.
- New Hope-Solebury Middle School, Public, 6-8.
- New Hope-Solebury High School, Public, 9-12.
- The Solebury School, Private, 7-12.
