The large market town of Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire. Historic buildings remain around Church Street and Castle Street. Aylesbury Bus Station is less than ¼ mile from the Rail Station, cross Friarage Road and into the road tunnel under the Shopping Centre. Some trains continue to Aylesbury Vale Parkway on the edge of the town.
The main displays cover the history of Buckinghamshire. Tudor House, Georgian Room and Walled Garden. Café.
The Roald Dahl Children's Gallery has hands-on exhibits inspired by his stories.
Admission free to main Museum. Charges for Roald Dahl Children's Gallery and special exhibitions.
Open Museum, TWThFS 1000-1600. Roald Dahl Children's Gallery, Sat and school holidays 1000-1600.
www.buckscountymuseum.org
The historic King's Head dating from 1455 is one of England's best-preserved coaching inns
with wooden beams and floors in the Bar (run by a local brewery). The cobbled courtyard is surrounded on
all sides by old stables, the Great Hall and the archway used by coaches.
Open Daily from 1100 (1200 on Sun).
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
A standard gauge steam railway at Quainton Road station. Visitor Centre, museum, miniature railway
and Travelling Post Office coaches. Refreshment Room and picnic areas. Events programme.
Open see website for days and train times.
www.bucksrailcentre.org
Bus 16 from Bus Station to opposite Railway Centre entrance, 20 minutes journey.
M-S about every 2 hours. Operated by Red Rose Travel.
Unfortunately there are no regular buses on Sundays but for some special events shuttle buses operate from
Aylesbury Vale Parkway station (see website for details).
A magnificent French-style château built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in 1874 to display his outstanding
collection of art treasures and entertain fashionable society. The fine Victorian gardens include sculptures and an ornate aviary.
Woodland playground. Tearooms and restaurants. It is about 1 mile from the Welcome Pavilion to the house.
The estate is managed by the Rothschild Foundation.
Open Apr-Oct, WThFSSu 1000-1700, House 1100-1600 by timed ticket.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk |
www.waddesdon.org.uk
Bus 16/17 from Bus Station to Waddesdon, opposite Anstey Close, then ¾ mile walk to Welcome Pavilion.
15 minutes journey, both routes M-S every 1-2 hours. Operated by Red Rose Travel.
Buses pass Aylesbury Vale Parkway station or you can walk from there (3 miles).
A Georgian country house with a lavish interior. Claydon has been occupied by the Verney family
for over 550 years. Florence Nightingale was Lady Verney's sister and spent summers here. Tearoom.
A separate charge applies for the historic gardens which are not owned by the National Trust.
Open Apr-Oct, MFSSu 1030-1530.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk |
www.claydonestate.co.uk
Bus 16 from Bus Station to Steeple Claydon, Surgery, then 1¾ miles walk.
50 minutes journey, M-S about every 2 hours. Return bus from the same Surgery stop.
Operated by Red Rose Travel.
Buses pass Aylesbury Vale Parkway and also operate from
Bicester North.
St Michael's Church in Steeple Claydon has a landmark steeple that can be seen from miles away.
Ascott House is half-timbered and dates from the 16th century. It was transformed by the
Rothschilds and houses paintings, fine furniture and oriental porcelain. The extensive gardens are a mix of
formal and natural areas. Tearoom.
Open Apr-mid Sep, TWThFSSu 1200-1700, House 1300-1600.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ascott |
www.ascottestate.co.uk
Bus 100/101/150 from Bus Station to opposite entrance, immediately after Wing, about 25 minutes journey.
100/101 M-S about ½-hourly, operated by Red Rose Travel.
150 M-S hourly, operated by Arriva.
Buses also operate from Leighton Buzzard.
Thame is an attractive and historic market town. Medieval, Tudor, Georgian and Victorian buildings can all be found in the town. The town has been used as a filming location for the popular Midsomer Murders TV series. Markets are held on Tuesdays. Excellent Town Trail leaflets are available from the Tourist Information Centre in the Town Hall, or download them from the website.
TI Town Hall, tel.01844 212833. Closed SSu.
www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk
Bus X7 from Bus Station to Thame Hign Street, about 35 minutes journey.
Daily ½-hourly. Operated by Arriva.
The bus passes Haddenham & Thame Parkway station which is near Thame.
Thame Museum has permanent displays and temporary exhibitions covering the history of the town and local area.
Highlights include Elizabethan wall paintings and a Civil War soldier's uniform. Admission free.
Open TWS 1000-1600.
www.thamemuseum.org
Bus to Thame, see above.
A reserve with a rich variety of wildlife in several different habitats, including a meadow, wetland and woodland.
Open at all times.
www.cuttlebrook.org.uk
Bus to Thame, see above.
A fine example of a medieval timber-frame courthouse set in an idyllic village, it was the second building
acquired by the National Trust. The ground floor (now tenanted) was the village poor house and steep steps lead up to the courtroom
which remained in use until the 1900s. Exhibition about Long Crendon village.
Allow time to also explore the attractive village of Long Crendon with historic thatched houses.
Open please see website.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Bus 110 from Bus Station to Long Crendon, Chearsley Road, about 25 minutes journey.
Buses continue to Long Crendon, The Square. M-S about 2-hourly. Operated by Redline.
You may like to combine this with visiting Thame (see above) which has more frequent buses. Long Crendon is
2¼ miles from Thame, see the Thame map for the walking route.
Buckingham is an attractive small market town with fine Georgian buildings. A Town Trail leaflet is available from the Tourist Information Centre.
TI Old Gaol, tel. 01280 823020.
www.discoverbuckingham.uk
Bus X60 from Bus Station to Buckingham, High Street, about 45 minutes journey. X60 M-S hourly, operated by Arriva. Buses also operate from Bicester North and Milton Keynes Central.
The Museum is housed in Buckingham's Old Gaol and covers the town's history including prison life.
Features include the story of a Saxon coin hoard recently found nearby and an exhibition about the life of local author,
Flora Thompson. Tel. 01280 823020.
Open M-S 1000-1600.
www.buckinghamoldgaol.org.uk
Bus to Buckingham, see above.
A 15th century chapel restored by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1875.
It has had many uses and now is a coffee shop and secondhand bookshop.
Open TWFS 1000-1500 but subject to alteration.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Bus to Buckingham, see above.
Stowe is a large Georgian landscape garden and park. Designed as an earthly paradise,
the winding paths, lakes, temples and monuments provide many picturesque views.
Visitor Centre at entrance. Café. Picnics welcome.
Stowe House (not NT) is a school but the state rooms can be visited, see
www.stowe.co.uk or ask at the Visitor Centre.
Open Daily 1000-1700 (1600 Nov-Jan).
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Bus to Buckingham (see above) then 2 miles via West Street and
Stowe Avenue to the entrance and Visitor Centre.
