Just west of London, Buckinghamshire has long been the place where England goes to admire its own good taste. Rolling hills, picture-perfect villages, stately homes, leafy lanes and long views, it is countryside with a well-ironed shirt and polished shoes. The locals have had centuries to fine-tune things and, quite frankly, it shows.
It is a county where the countryside feels manicured without being artificial, the houses look lived-in but pristine, and the pubs serve their roast dinners at exactly the right time.
The Chiltern Hills and long, peaceful views
The Chiltern Hills roll gently across much of the county, offering walkers wide views, beech woodlands and the satisfying crunch of gravel footpaths underfoot. It is classic English countryside: rolling rather than dramatic, but no less beautiful for it.
The Ridgeway, often called Britain’s oldest road, cuts across the hills, offering ancient trackways, wide skies and the occasional curious red kite circling lazily overhead. Autumn here, when the trees glow orange and gold, is particularly hard to beat.
Stately homes, long driveways and tidy gardens
Buckinghamshire does grand houses rather well. Waddesdon Manor, built by the Rothschild family, looks like something out of the Loire Valley, complete with turrets, lavish interiors and enough art to keep you indoors for hours – though the gardens tend to lure you back outside.
Cliveden, perched high above the Thames, offers sweeping staircases, formal gardens and a certain notoriety thanks to its mid-century political scandals. West Wycombe Park, Stowe, and Hughenden Manor (once home to Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli) add yet more historic options for the stately home enthusiast.
Villages, greens and England at its tidiest
The villages of Buckinghamshire seem carefully arranged for maximum charm. Places like Turville, Hambleden and Long Crendon come with thatched cottages, village greens and pubs that appear to have been serving ale since roughly the time of Henry VIII.
Many of these villages have doubled as film and TV locations, thanks to their ability to look perfectly historic without the need for any set dressing.
Roald Dahl, model villages and a touch of whimsy
The village of Great Missenden was home to Roald Dahl for much of his life, and the Roald Dahl Museum offers a charming insight into his world of giant peaches, giant friendly giants and slightly alarming headmistresses. It is also rather good fun for adults who grew up reading his books.
Meanwhile, Bekonscot Model Village in Beaconsfield has been delighting visitors since the 1920s, offering a perfectly preserved miniature version of 1930s England, complete with tiny trains, tiny shops and an improbably tiny cricket match permanently frozen in play.
Canals, rivers and leisurely meanders
The Grand Union Canal drifts through the county, offering towpath walks where ducks, narrowboats and joggers politely share the space. The Thames forms part of Buckinghamshire’s southern boundary, adding riverside walks, rowing and long views across meadows that feel pleasingly unchanged.
Where England quietly shows off its good side
Buckinghamshire is not a county of grand gestures. Instead, it offers countryside walks, historic houses, perfect villages and an unhurried kind of affluence. After a few days here, you begin to understand why so many Londoners have quietly moved out here, it is England doing rather well for itself, but without making too much noise about it.
10 of the best reasons to visit Buckinghamshire
1) The Chiltern Hills and the pleasure of a proper horizon
Buckinghamshire’s best trick is making a walk feel like a small holiday. The Chilterns are all beech woods, rolling ridgelines and views that gently remind your brain to unclench.
- Getting here London Marylebone to Amersham or Chesham, then bus, taxi, or a short walk into the hills
- Facilities Waymarked trails, cafés in market towns, pubs on and near routes
- Best time to go Late spring for fresh green, autumn for golden beech woods
- Time needed Half day to full day
- Don’t miss A ridge walk near Ivinghoe Beacon or the Ashridge edge of the Chilterns
2) The Ridgeway and an ancient path that still does the job
There is something satisfying about walking a route that predates modern fuss. The Ridgeway gives you big skies, chalky tracks, and the feeling that you are travelling, even if you end up back at the same car park.
- Getting here Train to Princes Risborough or Tring, then local taxis or buses for start points
- Facilities Trail signage, village pubs, occasional farm shops
- Best time to go Dry spells in spring and early autumn
- Time needed 2 to 6 hours depending on section
- Don’t miss The open stretches around Wendover Woods and the escarpment views
3) Waddesdon Manor and Buckinghamshire doing “extra” very politely
Waddesdon is a French château that somehow looks perfectly at home in the English countryside, like it arrived early and had time to settle in. Interiors, art, gardens, and enough grandeur to make you stand a bit straighter.
- Getting here Train to Aylesbury, then taxi or local bus options depending on day
- Facilities Café, shop, gardens, family activities, seasonal events
- Best time to go Spring and summer for gardens, winter for festive displays
- Time needed 3 to 5 hours
- Don’t miss The formal gardens and the house tour if you like a bit of drama in your wallpaper
4) Cliveden and a riverside view with a side of scandal
Cliveden has that high-above-the-Thames confidence, with terraces, fountains, and gardens that look like they have their own PR team. The history has its share of raised eyebrows too, which makes the whole place feel nicely alive.
- Getting here Train to Taplow or Maidenhead, then taxi
- Facilities Woodland walks, riverside paths, café, toilets, longer trails
- Best time to go Weekdays outside school holidays for breathing space
- Time needed 2 to 4 hours
- Don’t miss The viewpoint down to the Thames and a long loop through the woodland
5) Villages that look like they were arranged by a stylist
Turville, Hambleden, Long Crendon and friends have greens, cottages and lanes that seem to have agreed to keep things charming at all times. Even if you do not care about filming locations, it is hard not to enjoy a village that has clearly made an effort.
- Getting here Best by car, or train to High Wycombe, Marlow, or Princes Risborough then taxi
- Facilities Country pubs, small churches, occasional village shops
- Best time to go Early morning or late afternoon for quieter lanes and softer light
- Time needed Half day for a village hop, longer if you add a walk
- Don’t miss A pub lunch and a wander that includes a churchyard and a village green
6) Hughenden and a prime minister’s country escape
Hughenden Manor gives you history with muddy boots potential. You get the Disraeli connection, the house, and grounds that invite a proper stroll afterwards, ideally with the sort of thoughtful expression that suggests you have opinions on Victorian politics.
- Getting here Train to High Wycombe, then short taxi ride
- Facilities House access, gardens, woodland trails, café, toilets
- Best time to go Spring to early autumn
- Time needed 2 to 3 hours
- Don’t miss The woodland walks beyond the formal grounds
7) Stowe and the joy of an overachieving landscape
Stowe is one of those places where the gardens are not just gardens. They are statements. Temples, lakes, sweeping lines, and paths designed to make you wander into a view like you are starring in your own period drama.
- Getting here Train to Milton Keynes or Buckingham area bus links, often easiest by car
- Facilities Visitor centre, café, long walking routes, plenty of open space
- Best time to go Spring blossoms and crisp autumn days
- Time needed 3 to 5 hours
- Don’t miss The longer circuit that takes in the big set-piece viewpoints
8) Roald Dahl country and your inner child getting the keys
Great Missenden has a bright thread of imagination running through it thanks to Roald Dahl. The museum is playful without being cloying, and the surrounding countryside makes a good excuse to turn the visit into a day out rather than a quick stop.
- Getting here Train from London Marylebone to Great Missenden
- Facilities Museum, cafés, pubs, family friendly walks nearby
- Best time to go Year-round, especially good on drizzly days
- Time needed 2 to 4 hours including a village wander
- Don’t miss Pair the museum with a short Chiltern walk so you earn your cake
