The Prettiest Places to Visit in Buckinghamshire

2026-07-30T17:10:19Z

When people talk about beautiful English counties, the conversation usually drifts straight to the Cotswolds or the Lake District. Meanwhile, Buckinghamshire is sitting quietly in the corner like the effortlessly stylish friend who doesn’t need to shout about it. Packed with chocolate-box villages, rolling Chiltern hills, riverside towns, grand country estates and woodland that looks like it’s been lifted straight from a period drama, Bucks is one of those places that somehow has it all.

The Chiltern Hills

If Buckinghamshire had a crown jewel, the Chiltern Hills would certainly be wearing it. This protected National Landscape stretches across much of the county and somehow manages to look stunning in every season. Spring carpets the woods with bluebells, summer fills the chalk grassland with wildflowers, autumn turns the beech woods into a blaze of gold and copper, while winter adds that moody, misty atmosphere that makes every walk feel like the opening scene of a Richard Curtis film.

The joy of the Chilterns is that no two walks ever feel quite the same. One minute you’re wandering through ancient woodland beneath towering beech trees, the next you’re crossing open hills with enormous skies stretching in every direction. Keep an eye out for red kites soaring overhead — the Chilterns are one of the best places in the country to spot these magnificent birds after their incredibly successful reintroduction.

Waddesdon Manor

Some country houses are impressive, but Waddesdon Manor is positively showing off. Built in the late 1800s by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild as a place to entertain Europe’s elite, this spectacular French Renaissance château stands majestically in the Buckinghamshire countryside. It’s the sort of building that makes you question whether you’re actually in England.

Inside, you’ll find priceless paintings, dazzling porcelain, glittering furniture and enough opulence to keep interior design fans happily occupied for hours. Outside, the immaculate gardens are every bit as spectacular, with formal parterres, fountains, sculptures and beautifully landscaped walks, which is great for letting the kids burn off steam. If you visit at Christmas, prepare yourself for one of the country’s most magical festive displays, complete with sparkling light trails and one of the most famous Christmas markets in the South East. Even if stately homes aren’t normally your thing, Waddesdon has a habit of converting sceptics.

Ivinghoe Beacon

You know those views that make everyone instinctively stop talking for a moment? That’s Ivinghoe Beacon.

Rising above the surrounding countryside at the eastern end of the Ridgeway National Trail, this ancient hill has been drawing people to it for thousands of years, first as an Iron Age hill fort and now as one of Buckinghamshire’s greatest viewpoints - on a clear day you can even see across several counties.

We’d especially recommend visiting at sunrise or sunset, when the rolling hills glow golden, and the landscape seems to stretch forever. The chalk grassland is also incredibly important for wildlife, so look out for colourful butterflies, orchids and wildflowers dancing in the breeze.

Marlow

If riverside towns could compete in a beauty pageant, Marlow would be walking away with the sash every single year. Sitting elegantly beside the Thames, it’s effortlessly glamorous without ever feeling pretentious. Georgian buildings line the bustling high street, with independent businesses tempting you inside at every turn.

Food lovers are particularly spoiled here thanks to its outstanding restaurant scene, including Michelin-starred dining alongside cosy cafés and traditional pubs. The suspension bridge is one of the town’s most photographed landmarks and makes the perfect starting point for a stroll along the Thames Path. Visit during the summer regatta or one of Marlow’s many festivals and the whole town buzzes with energy, yet somehow still manages to retain its relaxed riverside charm. Click here to learn more about what Marlow has to offer.

West Wycombe

West Wycombe is almost suspiciously pretty. Every honey-coloured cottage, winding street and ivy-covered building looks like it’s been art-directed for television — which, as it happens, many of them have. Productions including Downton Abbey, Little Dorrit and Cranford have all made good use of this ridiculously photogenic village.

The National Trust’s West Wycombe Park is reason enough to visit on its own, with its grand Palladian mansion surrounded by sweeping landscaped gardens, ornamental lakes and classical follies. Then there’s the famous Hellfire Caves, carved deep into the chalk hillside and wrapped in enough myths and spooky stories to delight anyone who enjoys a little mystery.

Turville

There are pretty villages… and then there’s Turville. Hidden deep in the Chiltern Hills, this tiny village somehow manages to look exactly as though it’s wandered out of a vintage postcard. The famous windmill (from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) perched above the village is the icing on an already very picturesque cake.

Television fans will instantly recognise Turville from The Vicar of Dibley, Midsomer Murders, Jonathan Creek and countless other productions. Even if you’ve never watched any of them, you’ll appreciate the impossibly charming cottages, village green and peaceful atmosphere. Climb the hill to the windmill for breathtaking views before rewarding yourself with lunch at one of the village pubs. Frankly, it’s impossible to have a bad day here.

Stowe Gardens

If you like your gardens with a healthy dose of theatrical drama, Stowe is right up your street. This enormous landscaped estate was designed to surprise visitors around every corner, and centuries later it’s still doing exactly that. Think elegant temples reflected in peaceful lakes, hidden statues peeking through trees and sweeping avenues that seem to go on forever.

Unlike many formal gardens, Stowe feels wonderfully adventurous. Every path leads somewhere intriguing, whether it’s a Gothic temple, a Palladian bridge or another spectacular viewpoint. Bring comfortable shoes because you’ll cover far more ground than you expect, and don’t rush. Half the magic lies in slowly discovering each carefully planned vista just as its designers intended.

Old Amersham

Old Amersham somehow manages to feel both sophisticated and wonderfully cosy at the same time. Its broad high street is lined with centuries-old coaching inns, timber-framed buildings, boutique shops and independent cafés that make it dangerously easy to lose your whole afternoon.

History is woven into almost every corner. Medieval architecture sits alongside Georgian elegance, while St Mary’s Church and the fascinating Amersham Museum reveal stories stretching back hundreds of years.

Black Park Country Park

Need a woodland escape without venturing too far from civilisation? Black Park has you covered. With over 500 acres of woodland, lakes, heathland and wide forest tracks, it’s one of those excellent places that feels genuinely wild despite being incredibly accessible.

Dog walkers adore it, families love it, and film buffs may find it strangely familiar — scenes from everything from Harry Potter to James Bond have been filmed here. There are miles of walking and cycling routes, a beautiful lake for peaceful strolls and plenty of opportunities to simply sit beneath the trees and forget about emails for a while. Sometimes that’s exactly what the doctor ordered.

Coombe Hill

For views that genuinely deserve the word panoramic, head straight to Coombe Hill. At 852 feet above sea level, it’s one of the highest viewpoints in the Chilterns and rewards visitors with magnificent scenery across Aylesbury Vale and beyond. On exceptionally clear days, you can see for what feels like forever.

The Boer War Memorial standing proudly on the summit adds a poignant historical touch to an already memorable landscape. One of the most popular circular walks in the county begins here, winding through woodland and open countryside before returning to those incredible views. Pack binoculars if you’re a keen birdwatcher, because red kites are almost guaranteed to make an appearance.

Hambleden Valley

If someone asked AI to generate the perfect English countryside, it would probably come up with Hambleden Valley. Brick-and-flint cottages, village greens, ancient churches and gently rolling hills all combine to create one of the loveliest corners of Buckinghamshire.

Hambleden itself is the star attraction, but the surrounding villages are equally enchanting. Walking routes thread between woodlands, fields and quiet lanes, while cosy country pubs provide exactly the sort of lunch stop every countryside ramble deserves. Film crews regularly descend on the valley because, quite honestly, why build a set when somewhere this gorgeous already exists?

Hughenden Manor

Hughenden Manor isn’t just beautiful — it also comes with one of the most fascinating backstories in Buckinghamshire. This elegant Victorian mansion was the home of former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, and behind its handsome exterior lie stories of politics, royalty and even secret map-making during the Second World War.

The surrounding parkland is every bit as lovely as the house itself, with woodland trails, sweeping views across the Chilterns and seasonal displays of bluebells that are genuinely spectacular. It’s a brilliant place to combine history with a long countryside walk, and the National Trust café is ideal for rewarding all that cultural enrichment with coffee and cake.

Cliveden

Few places do grandeur quite like Cliveden. Perched dramatically above the River Thames, this magnificent estate has welcomed royalty, politicians, literary greats and socialites for more than 350 years. The formal gardens are among the finest in England, overflowing with colourful borders, perfectly clipped hedges, ornate fountains and spectacular sculptures.

There’s plenty to discover beyond the gardens too. Woodland walks lead down to the river, where boats gently drift past and the pace of life slows dramatically. Keep an eye out for the famous parterre viewed from the terrace — it’s one of the most photographed sights in Buckinghamshire for very good reason. Whether you’re visiting for the history, the architecture or simply somewhere outrageously pretty to wander, Cliveden always delivers.

Chenies

Tiny, peaceful and delightfully under-the-radar, Chenies is one of Buckinghamshire’s best-kept secrets. The village itself is full of charming cottages and leafy lanes, but it’s Chenies Manor House that steals the show. This beautiful Tudor manor has connections to Henry VIII and still feels wonderfully atmospheric centuries later.

The gardens are particularly special, especially during tulip season when thousands of blooms transform the grounds into a riot of colour. Wander through the peaceful grounds, explore the historic church and then simply enjoy the blissful silence that seems to settle over the village. It’s proof that some of Buckinghamshire’s prettiest places are also its quietest.

Great Missenden

Beloved as the home of Roald Dahl, Great Missenden has an unmistakable storybook charm. Its winding high street is lined with independent shops, cosy cafés and centuries-old buildings that somehow make everyday errands look impossibly picturesque.

A visit to the Roald Dahl Museum is a must for families, but even beyond the literary connections, the surrounding countryside is glorious. Walking trails disappear into the Chiltern Hills in every direction, making it easy to combine village exploring with a proper countryside ramble. It’s the sort of place where you arrive intending to stay for an hour and somehow find yourself lingering all afternoon.

Ready to fall in love with Buckinghamshire?

Whether you’re chasing sweeping views, postcard-perfect villages, riverside lunches, historic estates or woodland adventures, Buckinghamshire quietly delivers some of England’s most beautiful days out. The best part? Many of these places are only a short drive from one another, making it wonderfully easy to build your own Bucks road trip. Just don’t blame us when “we’ll pop out for an hour” somehow turns into a full-day adventure… and your camera roll mysteriously fills up with approximately 427 photos of cottages.