Buckinghamshire ~ England

About the County

Stretching from the London outskirts towards the Midlands, Buckinghamshire is home to the Chiltern Hills and the River Thames. Country walks run between picturesque villages with a host of welcoming pubs. There are many pretty market towns, such as Marlow, Amersham and Buckingham. Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire, and is steeped in history. Buckingham is a vibrant market town with a fine array of Georgian buildings. High Wycombe is renowned for its furniture industry, which dates back to the 17th century. Marlow has many fine Georgian houses and riverside walks. Milton Keynes is a modern town famous for its shopping facilities. Princes Risborough has many 16th century cottages and delightful houses. Wendover is a picturesque little town nestled into the edge of the Chiltern Hills and surrounded by rich woodlands. Winslow. The most prominent building is Winslow Hall, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the early 18th century.

Places of Interest

There are some magnificent historic houses, including Waddesdon Manor and the stunning Cliveden. Xscape is Europe's largest indoor skiing complex. Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit has lots of events. Bekonscot Model Village, the Bucks Railway Centre, and the Roald Dahl Children's Gallery are great for the kids! Bletchley Park is a living museum, where visitors are transported back to 1942. Over a third of the county is covered by the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which stretches right across the southern part of Buckinghamshire. There are over 2,500 miles of public rights of way, including two National Trails - The Ridgeway, and the Thames Path. The 61-mile Bernwood Jubilee Way provides a wonderful trail, with a number of shorter sections to choose from for a pleasant day's walking. There are many bridleways and byways, and the National Cycle Network. North Buckinghamshire in particular is brilliant for cycling. In the Vale of Aylesbury, the Grand Union Canal also offers miles of fascinating inland waterways scenery to explore.

Living in Buckinghamshire

The county has strong transport links, with trains running from many stations to all over the country. London is less than an hour by rail from many parts of the county. The motorway system will also take you to the capital very quickly, and there are very good local and national bus and coach services. All the London airports are within easy reach, as well as Birmingham, Chiltern and South Bucks and Wycombe. There are many good schools, both independent and comprehensive, from nursery through to secondary, further education colleges and universities. There are several special needs schools, offering a range of facilities. There are many fantastic sports and leisure facilities throughout the county, both public and private member's clubs, encompassing everything from swimming, tennis, squash, golf, gymnasiums, martial arts, yoga, dance and fitness centres. Buckinghamshire has great shopping facilities, Beaconsfield, Wendover and Old Amersham offer a wide selection of antique and craft shops and designer boutiques. There is excellent town centre shopping and three weekly markets in the cobbled square of Aylesbury. Central Milton Keynes Shopping Centre attracts millions of visitors from all over Britain and from overseas. There are also many gastronomic pleasures to be found across the county, Wendover in particular is famed for its many culinary delights. Buckinghamshire is a vibrant and lively county, Marlow Town Regatta and Festival, Buckinghamshire County Show, Silverstone Motor Racing Programme. The Roald Dahl Festival, Bucks Art Week, Theatre in the Villages and Stowe Events Programme are amongst the many events that the county hosts each year.

Cities, towns and villages within Buckinghamshire