Page Contents
Things to do in Buckinghamshire
Days out in Buckinghamshire
Places to visit in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire, one of the loveliest of the Home Counties, contains the Chiltern Hills, the River Thames and the rolling acres of Aylesbury Vale.

A county of fascinating contrasts, with tranquil country walks, unspoiled villages, country parks and vibrant market towns.

Visitors find a vast choice of attractions, from a Home of Rest for Horses to Bletchley Park, home of the famous 'Enigma' encryption machine and one of the largest collections of Churchillian memorabilia.

The new town of Milton Keynes, in the north of the county has tree-lined boulevards, litter-free, uncongested roads, clean-cut modern buildings, and is famous for its shopping facilities.

The nearby historic towns of Stony Stratford, Bletchley, Wolverton and Newport Pagnall, offer fascinating insights into the long and colourful history of the area that predate this unique new City.

The Vale of Aylesbury is the ideal destination whether you enjoy walking, cycling, shopping or discovering England's heritage. A good place to begin is at the County town of Aylesbury, just north of the Chiltern Hills. Outdoor markets are held in the historic cobbled square. Children will enjoy visiting the Roald Dahl Children's Gallery at Buckinghamshire County Museum.

The ancient town of Buckingham dates back to the 7th century and contains some fine Georgian buildings as well as the imposing town hall and the distinctive Old Gaol. Nearby is Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit and Stowe Landscape Gardens, one of the finest Georgian landscape gardens in Britain.

Picturesque Wendover, renowned for fine eating places and antique shops, nestles into the edge of the Chiltern Hills - the focal point is the clock tower, built in 1842. The Ridgeway National trail leads through Wendover Woods up to Coombe Hill, and 33 miles of footpaths surround the town.

In the south west of Buckinghamshire, Princes Risborough on the Icknield Way is worth a visit, to see the many 16th century houses and its brick Market House with open arcades. This is the ideal base for exploring the Chiltern Hills and Whiteleaf Hill.

High Wycombe, one of the county's largest towns, is world-renowned for its furniture industry. The Museum at Castle Hill shows many examples of craftsmanship of the 17th and 18th centuries. For more information visit the Buckinghamshire Tourist Information office at Pauls Row, High Wycombe.

. With the River Thames running through the town, Marlow is associated with water based activities - in particular rowing. Fine Georgian buildings and the famous Suspension Bridge built in 1831, are distinctive features. Albion House in West Street, was the home of the poet Shelly and his wife Mary, author of Frankenstein.

The south east of Buckinghamshire has many interesting attractions and pretty market towns. Amersham is divided into top Amersham, a thriving commercial centre and Old Amersham, worth visiting to see the half-timbered buildings and period cottages. The town holds outdoor markets and has a good selection of shops.

Chesham is an attractive town situated in the Chess Valley, amid the Chiltern Hills. St. Mary's Church in the old town has a fine collection of exhibitions and artefacts. Pretty cottages dating from the 16th to 18th century and Lowndes Park, 28 acres of grassy slopes and Skottowes Pond where wildfowl have made their home.

The picturesque Old Town of Beaconsfield has traditional old-world inns, period buildings and a fine church. G.K. Chesterton who wrote the Father Brown stories and children's author Enid Blyton both lived in Beaconsfield. Children love to visit Bekonscot Model Village, the world's first model village.

For further information on Buckinghamshire visit http://www.visitbuckinghamshire.org/

Days out in Buckinghamshire

• Ascott House and Gardens
  Originally a half-timbered Jacobean farmhouse, Ascott was bought in 1876 by the de Rothschild family and considerably transformed and enlarged.
  
• Bekonscot Model Village
  Bekonscot is the oldest model village in the world. Portraying rural England in the 1930's, time has stood still in this wonderland of make-believe, which is over 80 years old.
  
• Bletchley Park
  Bletchley Park was the home of Britains secret codebreaking centre during World War II, where an unlikely group of mathematicians, crossword puzzle fanatics, chess masters and others achieved what seemed impossible.
  
• Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
  The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre is a working Steam Museum, with one of the largest collections of locomotives, vehicles and railway memorabilia in the UK.
• Bucks Goats Centre
  We are a children's animal farm and adventure centre featuring a wide range of animals, including llamas, birds, donkeys and every breed of domestic goat found in Britain.
  
• Chenies Manor House
  The semi-fortified brick Manor House was built by Sir John Cheyne about 1460. Sir John Russell (later the 1st Earl of Bedford) made additions in 1526, and it was his principal residence.
  
• Claydon House
  Claydon is an extraordinary house with remarkable 18th century, rococo and chinoiserie decoration. Features include the unique Chinese room and parquetry Grand Stairs.
  
• Cliveden
  This spectacular estate overlooking the River Thames has a series of charismatic gardens featuring topiary, statuary, water gardens, a formal parterre and woodland and riverside walks with magnificent vistas.
  
• Cowper & Newton Museum
  Visit Orchard Side, home of the 18th century poet, translator and Letter-writer William Cowper. See displays of his works, portraits and memorabilia, plus those of his friend John Newton.
  
• Hughenden Manor
  Hughenden Manor was the home of Victorian prime minister and statesman Benjamin Disraeli from 1848 until his death in 1881. Most of his furniture, books and pictures remain in this, his private retreat.
  
• Milton's Cottage
  Come and visit the Grade 1 listed XVIth Century cottage where John Milton lived and completed "Paradise Lost" and started "Paradise regained".
  
• Odds Farm Park
  A visit to Odds Farm Park provides an opportunity to meet many rare and interesting animals - and have a great day out at any time of the year.
  
• Stowe Landscape Gardens
  One of the first and finest Georgian landscape gardens in Britain, Stowe has over 30 arches and temples mirrored in the waters of lakes or silhouetted against the sky. The garden and park were created by the Temple family during a two hundred year period.
  
• Waddesdon Manor
  Waddesdon manor was built between 1874 and 1889 in the style of a 16th-century French chateau for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild to entertain his guests and display his vast collection of art treasures.
  
• West Wycombe Park
  The West Wycombe Park house is one of the most theatrical and Italianate mid-18th-century buildings in England with facades designed as classical temples.
  

Places to Visit in Buckinghamshire

• Amersham Old Town
  Amersham Old Town is popular with visitors and locals alike, the town has a wide sweeping High Street, half timbered buildings, picturesque period cottages and a wonderful selection of exclusive designer and craft shops.
  
• Aylesbury
  Aylesbury, the county town of Buckinghamshire, is a lively market town steeped in history. Located at the foot of the Chiltern Hills and at the heart of the rich agricultural Vale of Aylesbury.
  
• Beaconsfield
  The picturesque town of Beaconsfield is divided into two separate and distinct parts - the old and the new. The attractive old town, is flanked by former coaching inns and old buildings.
  
• Bletchley
  Bletchley in Buckinghamshire is five miles south of Milton Keynes, close to the A5 and the M1 motorway.

  
• Bow Brickhill
  Situated at the south east corner of the new city of Milton Keynes, the village of Bow Brickhill nestles into the hillside, adjacent to large areas of woodland.
  
• Buckingham
  Buckingham, dating back to Saxon times, the town can boast that it was once granted a charter by the legendary Alfred the Great. The enchanting Georgian buildings of the town centre are enlivened by the unique Old Town Gaol and Town Hall.
  
• Burnham
  Burnham is an ancient township that was referred to in the Domesday Book. North of the village lies Burnham Beeches, purchased in 1880 by the Corporation of the city of London, for use by the public 'forever'
  
• Chalfont St. Giles
  Chalfont St. Giles is a small and very historic village, famous for its connections with John Milton, who lived here whilst fleeing from the Plague of London
  
• Chalfont St. Peter
  Chalfont St. Peter, often described as the gateway to the Chilterns, is a picturesque village situated at the South East corner of the Chiltern district.
• Chenies
  Chenies is a picturesque village with a pretty green, surrounded by an old school, chapel and ancient parish church.
• Chesham
  Chesham is the largest town in the Chiltern district, located amidst the steep green Chiltern Hills.
  
• Cold Brayfield
  Cold Brayfield, in the ancient hundred of Bunsty, lies in flattish arable land in a loop of the Great Ouse.
  
• Denham
  Denham Village survives as a peaceful and unspoiled area of historic buildings.
  
• Fingest
  We have just received a description of Fingest from one of our readers. This description is currently being prepared for publication and will appear on this page within the next few days.
  
• Flackwell Heath
  Flackwell Heath is a bustling village on the edge of the Chiltern Hills. Once famed for its cherry orchards, its' success now is having good schools and great transport links with London and the Midlands.
• Great Missenden
  Great Missenden at the head of the Misbourne valley is an attractive small town, with a long curving High Street of half timbered and Georgian shops, a graciously proportioned Baptist Church and a number of traditional pubs.
  
• Hambleden
  Visit Hambleden, where Lord Cardigan (of Light Brigade fame) was born in the Manor House. You can see his sea chest, which accompanied him to the Crimea, preserved in the beautiful old church.
  
• Hedgerley
  This small but picturesque old village was once a famous brick making centre in the 17th and 18th centuries.
• High Wycombe
  Situated in the heart of the Chilterns, High Wycombe is the largest town in Buckinghamshire, having grown up during the 18th and 19th centuries around the furniture industry, and was once known as 'the furniture capital of England.'
  
• Ibstone
  We have just received a description of Ibstone from one of our readers. This description is currently being prepared for publication and will appear on this page within the next few days.
  
• Iver Heath
  Iver Heath is in south east Buckinghamshire and is part of the Iver parish. The word Iver means brow of the hill. It is approximately 20 miles west of London, close to the M25 and the M40, with the M4 about two miles to the south.
  
• Lavendon
  Lavendon is perhaps not a typical Home Counties village, although it is in Buckinghamshire; reportedly the most northerly village in that county.
  
• Lillingstone Dayrell
  We have just received a description of Lillingstone Dayrell from one of our readers. This description is currently being prepared for publication and will appear on this page within the next few days.
  
• Maids Moreton
  Maids Moreton, lovely Buckinghamshire Village. There are no shops now, just The Old Post Office, (a private residence) and the pubs, 'The Wheatsheaf' in the village itself, and 'The Buckingham Arms' at Duck Lake.
• Marlow
  Marlow is a pleasant Georgian town, situated on a beautiful stretch of the River Thames, midway between Reading and Windsor. Marlow is surrounded by the lovely countryside of the Chiltern Hills which are designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
  
• Milton Keynes
  In Milton Keynes, you'll never be short of something to do. The city offers some of the most exciting activities and some of the best entertainment experiences anywhere in the UK, Milton Keynes is a truly exceptional destination to visit.
• Newport Pagnell
  Newport Pagnell is an established market town in Buckinghamshire, four miles north of Milton Keynes and close to the M1 motorway.
  
• North Marston
  North Marston is A village in Buckinghamshire 3 Miles south of Winslow and 4 miles North of Waddesdon. Marston literally means farm-by-marsh - referring to the clay soils of the village that hold water whenever it rains.
  
• Olney
  Olney is a traditional market town on the Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire borders, just a short drive from Milton Keynes.
  
• Penn
  Penn is extensively wooded and criss-crossed by lanes and footpaths.
  
• Prestwood
  Once the home of the late Prime Minister Atlee, Prestwood has grown tremendously in the last twenty years. Just a mile up the hill from Roald Dahl's home town of Great Missenden, Prestwood has much to offer.
  
• Princes Risborough
  Princes Risborough lies in the lee of the Chiltern Hills, mid-way between Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire's County Town, and High Wycombe, the County's largest town. It is approximately 35 miles north west of London and 25 south east of Oxford.
  
• Puttenham
  The beautiful County of Hertfordshire extends a peninsula westwards into Buckinghamshire, a borough that was given the name of Dacorum under the 1974 Local Government changes.
  
• Stoke Hammond
  The village of Stoke Hammond is to be found in the north eastern quadrant of the great County of Buckinghamshire.
  
• Stoke Poges
  Stoke Poges is famous for its association with Thomas Gray. The poet lies in the simple tomb of his mother and sister in the churchyard of the Church of St Giles.
  
• Stony Stratford
  The small market town of Stony Stratford is in north Buckinghamshire on the banks of the Great River Ouse.
• Taplow
  Taplow is a small, quiet village separated from Berkshire by the River Thames.
  
• Turville
  Visitors to the tiny village of Turville, in Buckinghamshire may find themselves with a weird sense that they have been there before. In fact this village is better known as Dibley from the BBC TV series the Vicar of Dibley
  
• Wendover
  Wendover is a picturesque town, one of its jewels being the Red Lion, whose former guests include Oliver Cromwell and Robert Louis Stevenson. The focal point of the town is the Clock tower, built in 1842.
  
• West Wycombe
  Picturesque West Wycombe has belonged to the National Trust since 1934. Most of the buildings lining its one main street date from the 17th and 18th centuries and the Church is a very well-known landmark, with its golden ball dominating the village.
  
• Winslow
  Winslow is a small town of immense charm and character. The most prominent building is Winslow Hall, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the early 18th century.
  
• Wolverton
  The small town of Wolverton is on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, between Stony Stratford and Newport Pagnall.