property, homes and houses for sale in Buckinghamshire

The county of Buckinghamshire is considered by many to be the idyllic rural landscape of Edwardian fiction and is known colloquially as leafy Bucks. This has led to many parts of the county being very popular with commuters to London, inevitably resulting in property hotspots. The area under control of Buckinghamshire County Council is divided into four districts: Aylesbury Vale to the north, Chiltern to the east, South Bucks, and Wycombe to the west. The town of Milton Keynes is a unitary authority and forms part of the county for various functions but does not come under the control of the county council. Buckinghamshire borders Greater London to the south and, clockwise, the counties of Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Buckinghamshire has a modern service-based economy and in 2002, together with Berkshire and Oxfordshire, was cited as the seventh richest sub-region in the European Union. Manufacturing industries include furniture-making, traditionally centred at High Wycombe, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural processing. For the visitor, Buckinghamshire offers tranquil countryside and lively towns. Of particular note are the pretty and desirable market towns of Marlow, Amersham and Buckingham. Lovers of historic houses are truly spoilt for choice; for example, the magnificent Waddesdon Manor was built at the end of the 19th century for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild to entertain his guests and to display his vast collection of art treasures. Built in a French Renaissance-style, it houses one of the finest collections of French 18th century decorative arts in the world, as well as important portraits by Gainsborough and Reynolds. Waddesdon Manor is set in one of the finest Victorian gardens in Britain, and is preserved by the National Trust. For an adrenaline rush, you need look no further than Xscape, Europe's largest indoor skiing complex; or Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit, which hosts the British Grand Prix each year. For children, there is the enchanting Bekonscot Model Village, with its complex rail network, which excites the dads too; and the brand new Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.

A brief history

Buckinghamshire is Anglo Saxon in origin and means 'the district (scire) of Bucca's home', an Anglo-Saxon landowner. Buckinghamshire's great wealth was worthy of note when the Domesday Survey was undertaken in 1086 and, subsequently, William the Conqueror annexed most of the manors for himself and his family. In Tudor times, after dissolving the monasteries, King Henry VIII was responsible for making Aylesbury the county town over Buckingham, which he did to curry favour with Thomas Boleyn so that he could marry his daughter, Anne.

The Industrial Revolution and the arrival of the railways completely changed the landscape of certain parts of the county. Wolverton, in the north, which is now part of Milton Keynes, became a national centre for railway carriage construction and Buckinghamshire still has good rail links to London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Living in Buckinghamshire

There are a number of key towns in Buckinghamshire, so whether you are searching for flats in Amersham, or for new homes in Marlow, or estate agents in High Wycombe, you will find a good selection of properties for sale on the Primelocation website.

One of the most popular areas for property buyers is the vibrant town of Aylesbury. Over recent years, the town and surrounding villages has seen considerable growth in new housing developments, and the area is a magnet for families wanting to live in a semi-rural environment, but with a good choice of schools and great transport links to London. The railway station in Aylesbury is on a direct line to London Marylebone.

Semi-detached Victorian houses for sale in Aylesbury with generous gardens are on the market for around £200,000. For the same price, you will find two-bedroom flats for sale in Aylesbury in sensitively designed and centrally located apartment blocks, created by construction companies that, in many instances, have not repeated the crass approach to the natural world that so typifies much of England's reconstruction following the second world war.

Buckinghamshire is a county rich in history, beauty and proximity to London. For example, Bourne End is a village with fewer than six thousand inhabitants, conveniently located between the M4 and M40 motorways. The railway station in Bourne End is on the Marlow to Maidenhead branch line which joins the mainline for London Paddington. Therefore, Bourne End's excellent road and rail links to London make it a sought after home for commuters. Flats for sale in Bourne End offering two bedrooms vary in price considerably depending on location. For instance, a two-bedroom flat in a Victorian semi-detached conversion will probably be on the market for under £200,000. A flat of a similar size enjoying views over the River Thames can cost in the region of £580,000 (including balcony!). Houses for sale in Bourne End range from typical post-war, semi-detached family homes for around £300,000, to handsome Victorian houses with six bedrooms, two bathrooms, coming to market for a touch under £600,000. The pressure to build new homes is considerable and private developments are expanding the area. But, despite the growth in the local population, Bourne End is still very rural and one of many jewels in Buckinghamshire's richly encrusted crown.

Buckinghamshire estate agents can offer homes to suit all pockets, whether you are searching for Buckinghamshire mansions, Georgian & Regency townhouses, purpose-built flats, or modern detached houses in choice developments near good transport and shops.

Travel and transport links in the county of Buckinghamshire

If you're searching for property in Buckinghamshire and transport links into London are a requirement, you will find the county has a good road and rail network. To the west and south is the M40 which joins the M25 near Gerrards Cross. The A41 links Aylesbury with Bicester to the north-west and south-easterly to Tring, Berkhamstead and Watford. Chiltern Railways operates from Marylebone Station in London and links to Amersham and Aylesbury and, on a loop line, to High Wycombe, Princes Risborough and Bicester. Out of Paddington Station, First Great Western trains has a direct link to Maidenhead where it joins the branch line to Bourne End and Marlow.