Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire ranges from the modern grid of Milton Keynes, built for shopping and business, to Aylesbury and Buckingham, both long-established market towns with plenty of everyday amenities. Beaconsfield, Amersham, Gerrards Cross and Chesham offer a mix of period buildings, independent shops and easy links towards London, making them practical bases for those who want town life without losing a sense of history.

Away from these hubs, the county's villages move at a gentler pace. Chalfont St Giles and Wingrave retain the feel of rural Buckinghamshire, with quiet lanes and old cottages, while Little Meadle, Radnage and Chackmore are smaller still, tucked into farmland and woodland. These are places suited to slow walks and peaceful stays, best paired with a day or two exploring the busier towns nearby.

Buckinghamshire's places to stay range from farmhouse bed and breakfasts to modern hotel chains, reflecting a county that mixes countryside villages with the planned city of Milton Keynes. Mill Farm and Furtho Manor Farm give a sense of the rural side, offering quiet rooms close to fields and footpaths, while options like Moxy Milton Keynes cater to visitors wanting straightforward, well-located city stays near business parks and shopping.

Smaller B&Bs such as Home Farm Bed & Breakfast, Church End Cottage and The Willowford tend to sit in the villages outside the main towns, useful for exploring the Chilterns or breaking a journey along the motorway corridors. Telford House, Montpellier House and The White House add to the choice for those preferring a period property with a more personal feel over a larger hotel. Deciding between them usually comes down to whether you want to be within walking distance of Milton Keynes' centre or based somewhere quieter with easy road links.

Buckinghamshire mixes rolling Chilterns countryside with the modern sprawl of Milton Keynes, so days out here range from woodland parks to indoor activity centres. Milton Keynes accounts for a good share of the county's family attractions, with things like Splash House and Hunt Fun offering wet or active fun regardless of the weather, while Aylesbury and Beaconsfield lean towards outdoor pursuits and open spaces such as The Rye.

Beyond the towns, look for the more unusual outings that give the county its character: wildlife rescue centres, alpaca encounters and heritage sites sit alongside adventure-style venues like Urban Battlefields and Racewars. Families with younger children tend to find better value in the softplay and swim centres, while older groups and those after something more active gravitate towards the outdoor and combat-style activities scattered across Aylesbury and Thame.

Buckinghamshire's dining scene runs from riverside grandeur to unpretentious local favourites. Marlow has become something of a food destination in its own right, with Sindhu At The Compleat Angler making the most of its Thames-side setting, while Milton Keynes offers a broader spread of everyday options, from Chicken Cottage and Fireaway Pizza to Akasaka Wolverton for something more distinctive.

Away from the main towns, tea rooms and cafes such as Bekonscot Tea Rooms and Risborough Cafe suit a slower pace, ideal after a walk through the Chilterns. Curry houses feature strongly too, with Sheeshmahal and The Spice Village among the county's better-known names, alongside quirkier spots like The Garden Tipi for something different.

With well over a thousand places listed, choice tends to come down to setting as much as cuisine, whether that means a proper pub lunch in a village, a quick coffee stop, or a destination meal by the water in Marlow.

Buckinghamshire's countryside suits camping and glamping better than its size might suggest, with sites tucked among farmland and woodland across the Chilterns and beyond. Weatherhead Farm Accommodation, Shillingridge Glamping and Hill Farm Glamping sit in this rural belt near Wendover and Radnage, good bases for walking the escarpment, while Wingbury Farm Glamping and The Old Stone Barn offer a similar feel further towards Aylesbury.

Elsewhere the choice shifts with geography. Emberton Country Park near Olney gives a lakeside, family-friendly setting, and Silverstone Camping at Buzzard Holt Hosting near Buckingham draws visitors timing their stay around the circuit. Orchard View Farm and Penn Meadow Farm bring farm-based options closer to High Wycombe and Marlow, useful if you want easy access to the Thames valley alongside quieter fields for a tent or pod.

Buckinghamshire's self-catering cottages tend to be converted farm buildings and old barns rather than purpose-built holiday lets, which gives places like Moat Farm, The Cart Shed and Pheasants Hill Old Byre a character shaped by their previous working lives. Many sit in small clusters around villages and farmland, offering a quieter alternative to hotels for a family break or a longer countryside stay.

Options range from compact bases such as Barn Suite and The Library Suite, suited to couples or short breaks, through to larger properties like Ttich Manor and Longways for group gatherings. Yew Tree Cottage and Little Willows sit further into rural settings, while Park Gate Apartment offers something closer to town, useful if Milton Keynes is on your itinerary alongside the county's villages and open countryside.