Buckingham: Street Market, History and Nature Trails

Buckingham combines a lively town history with green paths, parks and unusual insights into the past. Those planning a trip with varied ideas for each day will find both culture and nature here: a historic street market, a museum in a former prison, paths along former transport and waterways, and parks with riverside landscapes give the town its own character.

History, Market and Special Places

Buckingham Street Market takes place every Tuesday and Saturday. Held twice a week, the street market dates back to 1554 and can therefore be a central part of a stay if you would like to combine local town life and history.

Buckingham Old Gaol houses a registered museum that explores various aspects of Buckingham’s past. This also includes the town’s military history. Visitors can also explore the cells in which poachers, drunkards and occasionally murderers were imprisoned. This visit offers a distinctly different experience from a walk through the parks and brings the town’s history vividly to life.

Buckingham Chantry Chapel is another historic stop. Before visiting, you should contact Stowe Gardens on 01280 817156 to check whether the chapel is open. This information is important for planning your day, as it allows you to combine the visit more easily with the other interests on your trip.

Waterways, Parks and Walks

The restored section of the Buckingham Canal follows the Ouse Valley Way walking trail. Buckingham Canal Nature Reserve also contains a lock gate hidden in the woodland. Those interested in water engineering, landscapes and quieter discoveries can include these features in their day-trip plans.

The Railway Walk follows the route of the former railway line. The straight footpath is about a mile long and runs alongside ponds and a diverse range of wildlife. At the end of the path on Tingewick Road, you can leave the Railway Walk, cross bridges and slopes to reach an orchard, and explore it. The route can therefore be enjoyed as a walk in its own right or used as a starting point for further nature observation.

In Bourton Park, the river and ponds form a diverse ecosystem with otters, kingfishers and dragonflies. Paved paths there are suitable for running or a longer walk. Chandos Park has a different focus: the River Great Ouse runs through its centre, and the park also includes, among other things, a children’s playground. For families, this can be a suitable complement to a culture-focused day.

Heartlands Park combines landscape and history. It contains evidence of medieval ridge-and-furrow field patterns. The park’s paved paths are wheelchair accessible. Those who would like to discover Buckingham along themed routes can use the Buxplore app: it offers walking routes that identify notable buildings and places associated with historic events. The Buckingham Circular Walk is clearly signposted.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Stay?

The choice of a holiday apartment or holiday house can be guided by the mix of days out you would like to enjoy. For those interested in culture, the market, Old Gaol and Chantry Chapel are the main attractions. Those who prefer spending time outdoors can choose between the canal, Railway Walk, Bourton Park, Chandos Park and Heartlands Park to create varied landscape and walking plans. Families can include the playground at Chandos Park in their itinerary, while the accessible paved paths in Heartlands Park may be a specific consideration for visitors using a wheelchair.

Buckingham cannot therefore be reduced to a single attraction. The town offers historical insights, waterside landscapes, wildlife watching and paths with a range of thematic focuses. Choose your accommodation according to the kind of days you would like to experience, and then make the most of the town’s variety for a varied stay.

For further travel planning, you can also visit the pages on Flackwell Heath, Pitstone, Denham, Stone, Middle Claydon, Aston Clinton, Wendover and Chalfont St Giles.

For the higher-level travel overview: Buckinghamshire.