Beaconsfield area and property guide
Why live here?
Beautiful countryside, pretty Chiltern villages, farmhouses, grand country houses and proximity to London make Buckinghamshire a popular county.
The most popular towns are well-known for their restaurants and bistros, and these are complemented with historic gastro pubs and traditional inns throughout the villages. For those wishing a quieter life, pretty villages in the Chiltern hills are close at hand, many adjoining open countryside offering delightful views and numerous walks and rides.
History
King’s perogative
William the Conquerer took over most of the manors in Buckinghamshire for his family's personal use. Many of the ancient woodland areas became the king's property for hunting purposes.
Henry’s favours
Henry VIII took almost a third of the county as personal property during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, making Aylesbury the county town instead of Buckingham to please Thomas Boleyn in the hope of marrying his daughter Anne.
The people’s parliamentarian
During the English Civil War, Buckinghamshire was mostly Parliamentarian, with “the people's hero”, John Hampden, being from the county. There was constant conflict between Aylesbury and Royalist Oxford, and some villages to the west of the county were largely destroyed.
The seat of industry
The Industrial Revolution was a new era for the industries in Buckinghamshire. High Wycombe became chair-making capital of the world.
The famous
Buckinghamshire has had many famous inhabitants and visitors, perhaps the most notable being Oliver Cromwell, William Penn, Sir Francis Dashwood, Florence Nightingale, Benjamin Disraeli, the Rothschilds, Sir John Mills and Sir Steve Redgrave who resides here still. Buckinghamshire has also had many literary connections with, most notably, John Milton, Mary Shelley, T. S. Eliot, Roald Dahl, Kenneth Grahame and Enid Blyton.
Film and TV
Buckinghamshire also has many film connections, including Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves having parts filmed in Burnham Beeches, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in High Wycombe and Bridget Jones’s Diary in Stoke Park Club. Television programmes also frequent the area with Inspector Morse and the Vicar of Dibley having filmed in the area, and Midsomer Murders who frequently still do.
Types of property for sale
Sought after properties in Buckinghamshire range from larger town houses with good access to train stations to pretty, period country cottages with beautiful views and larger manor houses.
Places of interest
A multitude of historic houses are in Buckinghamshire, including Rothchild’s Waddesdon Manor, Benjamin Disraeli's home at Hughenden Manor, the 13th century Chenies Manor and the stunning Cliveden Gardens.
Buckinghamshire is also one of the counties with the highest number of National Trust properties open to the public.
Other popular places to visit are the award-winning Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden, stunning landscape gardens at Stowe, Bekonscot model village in Beaconsfield and the Chiltern Open Air Museum in Chalfont St Giles.
Transport links Buckinghamshire
Roads:
The county of Buckinghamshire is bordered to the north-east by the M1 and to the south by the M40. The M25 passes through the eastern edge of the county, providing easy access to London Heathrow.
Rail:
The Chiltern line runs through the county, providing services into London Marylebone from Denham, Gerrards Cross, Seer Green, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough.
Chiltern Railways: 08456 005 165
Services from London Marylebone to Amersham, Great Missenden & Wendover, Seer Green, Jordans, Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury and Haddenham & Thames Parkway
First Great Western: 08457 000 125
Services from London Paddington to Bourne End and Marlow (via Maidenhead)
London Midland: 0845 602 4277
Services to Cheddington and Milton Keynes
London Underground:
Amersham and Chesham have tube stations which provide a link to Baker Street on the Metropolitan Line.
Airports:
Heathrow