England
Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Travel Guide - Historic Houses

Ascott Location map Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire Jacobean home of the fabulously wealthy de Rothschild banking family. The house is set in enjoyable gardens, composed of an unusual mix of formal Victorian and 20th century informal plantings, a mix of trees, shrubs, and informal walks. Wing, Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire, England, LU7 0PS Location: 2 m SW Leighton Buzzard, on A418 Website: Ascott Email: info@ascottestate.co.uk Phone: 01296 688 242 Fax: 01296 681 904 National Trust

Boarstall Tower Location map Boarstall, Buckinghamshire An imposing 14th century moated gatehouse surrounded by gardens. Boarstall was built by John de Haudlo in 1312. The exterior chambers are largely unaltered since the early 17th century. Boarstall, Buckinghamshire, England, HP18 9UX Location: midway between Bicester and Thame, on B4011 Website: Boarstall Tower Phone: 01280 822850 National Trust

Chenies Manor House Location map Chenies, Buckinghamshire A gabled manor house begun in the 15th century with 16th century alterations. Once the home of the Russell's Earls of Bedford. There are several unusual architectural features, including a secret hiding hole, and a medieval undercroft, plus a collection of antique dolls. Chenies, Buckinghamshire, England, WD3 6ER Location: off A404 Phone: 01494 762 888 Historic Houses Association

Chicheley Hall Location map Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire An outstanding example of a Georgian manor house, Chicheley was begun in 1719 by Sir John Chester. The ceiling of the great hall is especially outstanding; this was the work of William Kent, and depicts Herse and her sisters sacrificing to flora. The manor is surrounded by 100 acres of lawn and parkland, with 25 acres of gardens, and is notable for the unique canal on the east side of the house. Chicheley, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England, MK16 9JJ Location: on A422, off A509 2 m NE Milton Keynes Website: Chicheley Hall Email: enquiries@chicheleyhall.co.uk Phone: 01234 391 252 Fax: 01234 391 388

Claydon House Location map Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire A box-like classical exterior hides the most extraordinary rococo interior in Britain. Woodwork by Luke Lightfoot has to be seen to be believed. Even if you aren't usually a fan of rococo (as this writer is not), you will be overwhelmed by the craftsmanship. The Verney family have been in continuous occupation of Claydon for over 380 years. The house also features memorabilia of Florence Nightingale, who was a friend of the family and a frequent visitor to Claydon. Buckingham, Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire, England, MK18 2EY Website: Claydon House Email: claydon@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 01296 730 349 Fax: 01296 738 511 National Trust

Cliveden Location map Taplow, Buckinghamshire Stately home, now let as a hotel, with formal gardens, including temples, fountains, and statues, woodland walks, water garden, rose garden, and herbaceous borders. Good views of the Thames. The present house, the third on the site, was built in 1851 by Charles Barry. Once the home of Nancy, Lady Astor, it is now let as a hotel and is open only on certain days. Admission to house by timed ticket. Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England, SL6 0JA Location: on B476, W of Maidenhead Website: Cliveden Email: cliveden@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 01628 605 069 Fax: 01628 669 461 National Trust

Hughenden Manor Location map High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire Hughenden Manor was the home of Victorian prime minister and statesman Benjamin Disraeli from 1848 until his death in 1881. Most of his furniture, books and pictures remain in this, his private retreat. There are beautiful walks through the surrounding park and Chiltern woodlands and the garden is a recreation of the colourful design of his wife, Mary Anne. High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, HP14 4LA Location: 1.5 m N High Wicombe, on A4128 Website: Hughenden Manor Email: hughenden@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 01494 755573 Fax: 01494 474284

Nether Winchendon House Location map Nether Winchendon, Buckinghamshire A historic manor on the banks of the Thame, Nether Winchendon has been in the same family since 1559. The most striking feature of the house is the multi-arched screen which fronts the courtyard. This is quite unusual, and to the best of my knowledge, unique in England. The house has featured in many popular television programs and feature films, including Miss Marple, The Bridget Jones Diaries, and James Bond: Tomorrow Never Dies'. Aylesbury, Nether Winchendon, Buckinghamshire, England, HP18 0DY Location: 2 m N of A418 between Thame and Aylesbury Website: Nether Winchendon House Email: contactus@netherwinchendonhouse.com Phone: 01844 290 101 Fax: 01844 290 199

Princes Risborough Manor House Location map Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire An elegant 17th century red-brick house just off the market square in Princes Risborough. The house features fine period architecture and furnishings, including a Jacobean staircase of unusual design. The Manor House was once the home of Sir Peter Lely, court painter for Charles II. Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, England, HP17 9AW Location: off market square Website: Princes Risborough Manor House Phone: 01494 755 573 National Trust

Stowe House Location map Buckingham, Buckinghamshire One of the finest 18th century houses in England, set in the glorious Stowe Landscape Garden (separate admission). The home of the high-flying Temple-Grenville family for 350 years, Stowe offers superb neo-classical interiors, including the Marble Hall, an elliptical domed chamber surrounded by a frieze of classical figures of nearly life-sized proportions. Well worth a visit - and spare time for the wonderful gardens! Stowe House Preservation Trust, Stowe School, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, MK18 5EH Location: 3 m NW Buckingham, off the A422. Follow the brown signs for Stowe Landscape Gardens. Website: Stowe House Email: amcevoy@stowe.co.uk Phone: +44 (0) 1280 818166 Fax: +44 (0) 1280 818186

Waddesdon Manor Location map Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire Waddesdon manor was built between 1874 and 1889 in the style of a 16th-century French chateau for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild to entertain his guests and display his vast collection of art treasures. It houses an extraordinary assemblage of French 18th-century decorative arts to rank in importance with the Metropolitan Museum, New York and the Louvre in Paris. Outstanding paintings include portraits by Gainsborough and Reynolds and works by Dutch and Flemish masters of the 17th century. Waddesdon has one of the finest Victorian gardens in Britain and is renowned for its seasonal displays. A Rococo-style aviary houses a splendid collection of exotic birds and vintage Rothschild wines are found in the wine cellars. Aylesbury, Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire, England, HP18 OJH Location: 6 m NW Aylesbury, on A41 Website: Waddesdon Manor Email: waddesdonmanor@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 01296 653 226 Fax: 01296 653 212 National Trust

West Wycombe Park Location map West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire The house is one of the most theatrical and Italianate mid-18th-century buildings in England with facades designed as classical temples. The interior has Palmyrene painted ceilings and decoration, and pictures, furniture and sculpture all dating from the time of the 2nd baronet, Sir Francis Dashwood, founder of the Dilettanti Society and infamous member of the Hellfire Club. The interior remains as he left it in 1789, a splendid rococo symphony of marble, marquetry, and intricate plasterwork. Dashwood also created the perfectly preserved rococo landscape garden set in the beautiful Chilterns countryside. West Wycombe village also belongs to the National Trust but West Wycombe Caves and adjacent café are privately owned. West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, HP14 3AJ Website: West Wycombe Park Phone: 01494 513 569 National Trust