A Guide to Living in Buckinghamshire

Where is Buckinghamshire? 

With an area of 3,467 kilometres squared, Buckinghamshire shares borders with Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire. The principal town is Aylesbury. Buckinghamshire was historically divided into four divisions: Chiltern Hundreds (the northern section), Great (or Eastern) Divisions (the eastern and central sections), and South or Western Divisions (the south-western section).

Areas in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire is famous for its countryside, which is popular with walkers and cyclists. The county’s most notable beauty spot is the Thames Valley through which it runs north to south. It contains some of England’s finest countryside areas and small towns and villages. Some of the more popular areas in Buckinghamshire include Aylesbury, Wycombe, Chiltern Hills and Leighton Buzzard

Aylesbury

The town of Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire. It is a market town and also home to the Chilterns, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The area is well known for its rolling hills and quaint villages.

Wycombe

The district of Wycombe is located in the northwest of Buckinghamshire. The most notable towns in the district are High Wycombe and Marlow. The area is known for its natural beauty as well as its proximity to London.

Chiltern Hills

The Chilterns are a range of chalk hills that run through several counties in southern England, including Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. The area has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty because of its beautiful countryside. It is also home to the famous prehistoric monument known as Wayland’s Smithy.

Leighton Buzzard

The town of Leighton Buzzard is located in central Buckinghamshire just south of the Chiltern Hills and northwest of Luton, Bedfordshire. The settlement dates back to Roman times and is hugely popular because of its close proximity to London.

Universities in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire’s primary universities include the University of Buckinghamshire and Buckinghamshire New University.

University of Buckinghamshire 

With a campus located in High Wycombe, the University of Buckinghamshire is a non-profit private research university with over 5000 students. It is the oldest of the UK’s five private Universities and offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in a variety of subjects from law and healthcare to education, humanities and design.

Buckinghamshire New University

Also known as Bucks New University, this public institution has two campuses in High Wycombe and one campus in Uxbridge. It enrols around 14000 students from across the globe every year to study on its various undergraduate courses. Buckinghamshire New University specialises in teacher training, nursing and business courses.

Top Schools in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire has a range of excellent schools to offer to prospective students. There are over 100 state primary schools and 35 secondary schools in Buckinghamshire, ranking it as one of the best education systems on a local level in England.

Some of the standout schools include:

Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School – for boys aged between 11-18, the Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School has a comprehensive academic programme that is a great preparation for higher education, includes advanced level courses and an extensive range of after school clubs.

St Bernard’s Catholic College – has been awarded Specialist Science status by the Department of Education to provide excellence in science teaching. It offers high-quality education from Year Seven all the way through secondary school until GCSE exams at 16.

Dr Challoner’s Grammar School – Founded in 1561, Dr Challoner’s is the oldest grammar school in Buckinghamshire and one of the most prestigious schools in the country with a long history of academic excellence.

Population of Buckinghamshire

The county is home to over half a million people and Buckinghamshire’s population has been growing steadily since the last census. However, it does have significant rural areas which still attract many new families looking for somewhere quieter than city living but with good transport links. The majority of residents live in urban or suburban settings and there are plenty of amenities available within close proximity such as public transportation services, hospitals, shops and restaurants.