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Buckinghamshire is divided into four areas: in the south is Chiltern and south Bucks; in the west is the Wycombe area; in the center of the county is the Aylesbury vale, while in the north Milton Keynes is the dominant force.
Southern Buckinghamshire plays host to the Chiltern hills, much of which is an AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty). Countryside walks include sections of the popular Ridgeway path. There are scenic villages to visit, especially along the Thames river.
 In the Chilterns is John Milton's 16th century cottage, where he wrote Paradise Lost. The cottage holds exhibits on his work and times. Poetry lovers will want to visit Stoke Poges, home of the churchyard in Thomas Gray's 'Elegy written in a country churchyard'. At the Chiltern Open Air museum, are a number of historic buildings that range from a Victorian Toll House, to an iron age house, to a historic farm.
Or choose a garden to visit. Langley is a historic parkland of 130 acres where herds of deer once roamed. In the parkland are rhododendron and azalea filled temple gardens, a pond, and a walled arboretum. Two other parks, Black and Denham have abundant trails that include part of the South Bucks long distance way.
 The town of Amersham is in this part of the county. Amersham's high street (the old part of the town) is a mixture of half-timbered and Georgian buildings. The site itself dates from Saxon times and was visited by the Danes and Queen Elizabeth I. The Griffin hotel (now a restaurant) and the Crown hotel were once staging posts. Also on view are 17th century workhouses, a 1683 market hall, Drake’s Almshouses dated 1657, 17th century Chimney cottage, an old corn mill and brewery, St Mary's church and much more. Pick up a town trail leaflet at the tourist office to discover these buildings and their history.
 One and a half miles north of High Wycombe, is a 17th century house, Hughenden Manor, once the home of prime minister Benjamin Disraeli from 1848 to 1881. Furniture, books and pictures that belonged to him are on the premises. A village green and historic church are on view. Walks in the surrounding hills, woods, and farmlands are a favourite pastime.
West Wycombe Park, a mid 18th century rococo landscape garden, was created by Sir Francis Dashwood, founder of the Dilettanti Society and the Hellfire Club to compliment the theatrical and Italianate home it surrounds. The house façades are formed as classical temples, and in the interior are pictures, furniture, and sculpture dating from the times.
Also at West Wycombe are the famous hell-fire caves. These were excavated in the 1750s from an old quarry by Dashwood to provide work for unemployed farm workers. The Hell-fire club members sometimes held meetings in the caves.
 West Wycombe, a Chilterns hillside village, is home to several hundreds of years worth of buildings. Of note are those from the 16th to 18th centuries. An iron age hill-fort is on view with a church standing in the middle. In the town museum is a children's discovery centre, exhibits, and videos. A changing exhibition space and program give more information on local and Marlow village history and art. Of special note is the furniture section dedicated to the historic Windsor chairs and other furniture that was made from Chiltern hills beechwood. The grounds include picnic spaces.
 Marlow, an attractive town on the Thames river, had a market as long ago as the Saxon period. The town became fashionable during Georgian times, and some buildings from that time still remain in the high street. Check out the 14th century parsonage on St Peter street and the 18th century Marlow Place opposite as well as the 16th century inn. The church of All Saints with its 170-foot high spire is Victorian. The Thames river path passes through the town and provides scenic waterside walks.
The Aylesbury vale section of the county is named after Buckinghamshire's leading town, Aylesbury. The town has a conservation area of Georgian buildings around St Mary's church. In the same area in a 15th century building is the Buckinghamshire county museum and art galley that includes a Roald Dahl children's gallery. The mid 15th century King's Head Hotel played host to Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou while on their honeymoon--check out the stained glass in the front window. Henry VIII also found his way here while courting Anne Boleyn.
Buckingham, in this area, is notable for its 15th century chantry chapel (National Trust). It is located near St Peter and St Paul church (1781)--check out the 1471 Bible in the church. Another historic building in Buckingham is the 1750s town hall. The museum in the gaol built about the same time details the history of the town.
Claydon house displays 18th century rococo and chinoiserie decoration. There is a Chinese room and a staircase done in parquetry. The house was lived in by the Verney family for over 380 years and visited regularly by Florence Nightingale, a relative.
 Waddeson Manor is worth a day, and it will take that long to tour the house and take in the collections, enjoy the Victorian gardens and grounds, the shop, and the great food in the restaurant. The house was built for the immensely wealth baron Ferdinand de Rothschild for the purpose of entertainment and displaying his art collection. Constructed from 1874-1889, it was built in the style of a 16th century French chateau.
 In the home is an amazing collection of French 18th century decorative arts, furniture, Savonnerie carpets, and Sèvres porcelain. Portraits by Gainsborough and Reynolds and works by Dutch and Flemish Masters of the 17th century hang on the walls. The gardens are famous for their seasonal displays, trees, and shrubs. The Rococo-style aviary houses exotic birds.
 Ascott House was transformed in 1876 by the de Rothschild family from a half-timbered Jacobean farmhouse to a more elegant and larger home. Inside is a collection of paintings, Oriental porcelain, and English and French furniture. Gardens are a mix of formal and natural and contain specimen trees and shrubs, a herbaceous walk, lily pond, Dutch garden, and a topiary sundial.
Stowe Landscape Garden is more than just a garden. The Georgian landscape was designed for the views of valleys, lakes, rivers, and more than 30 temples and monuments. There are walks throughout the extensive landscape. The house in the same grounds is a school, so not open to the public.
 Train lovers will want to visit the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, a working steam museum 6 miles north-west of Aylesbury. The Centre has a collection of 30 steam and diesel locomotives, and vintage carriages and wagons, all displayed in the sidings and sheds surrounding the Victorian country station of Quainton Road. Of particular note is a dining car from the Royal Train of 1901.
Outdoor enthusiasts can experience nature at the Snakemoor nature reserve, at Wendover woods, and at Stockgrove country park's 80 acres of ancient coppice woodland, heath remnants, coniferous plantations, grassland, and Georgian parkland and watch migrating birds on the lake.
Buckinghamshire Attractions
For opening times and full details of attractions see the Attractions section of our website.
Ascott House
2 miles south-west of Leighton Buzzard
Tel. 01296 688 242
Web: Ascott Estate
Buckingham Chantry Chapel
Market Hill, Buckingham
Tel. 01494 528 051
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
Quainton Road Station
Quainton, Nr. Aylesbury
Tel. 01296 655 450
Web: Bucks Rail Centre
Chiltern Open Air Museum
Newlands Park
Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St. Giles
Tel. 01494 871 117
Web: Chiltern Open Air Museum
Claydon House
Middle Claydon
Tel. 01296 730 349
Hughenden Manor
Bradenham, High Wycombe
Tel. 01494 755 573
John Milton's Cottage
Chalfont St. Giles
Tel. 01494 872 313
Web: Milton's Cottage
King’s Head Passage
The Market Square, Aylesbury
Tel. 01296 381 501
Langley Park
Opposite Black Park off the A412 Slough-Uxbridge road
Tel: 01753 511 060
Roald Dahl Children's Gallery
Church Street, Aylesbury
Tel. 01296 331 441
Stowe Landscape Gardens
3 miles north-west of Buckingham via Stowe Avenue
Waddesdon Manor
Near Aylesbury
Tel. 01296 653 203
West Wycombe Caves
Tel. 01494 533 739
Web: Hell Fire Caves
West Wycombe Park
Wycombe
Tel. 01494 513 569
Wycombe Museum
Priory Ave, High Wycombe
Tel. 01494 421 895
Buckinghamshire Tourist Information Centres
Chiltern District Council
King George V Road
Amersham
Tel. 01494 729 000; Fax. 01494 586 506
Website: Chiltern District Council
Aylesbury
8 Bourbon Street, Aylesbury
Tel. 01296 330 559
Buckingham
Old Gaol Museum
Market Hill, Buckingham
Tel. 01280 823 020
High Wycombe
Pauls Row, High Wycombe
Tel. 01494 421 892
Marlow
31 High Street, Marlow
Tel. 01628 483 597
Milton Keynes
Margaret Powell Square
890 Midsummer Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes
Tel. 01908 558 300
Wendover
The Clock Tower, High Street
Wendover
Tel. 01296 696 759
Photo Amersham Market Square Old Grammar School courtesy Matthew Jones at Amersham
Photo John Milton Cottage courtesy Milton's Cottage Trust Milton's Cottage
Photo Marlow Bridge courtesy Lyndon Yorke Track Air
Photo Buckingham Rail station courtesy Bucks Rail Centre
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