With close proximity to London, as well as the scenic countryside of Buckinghamshire, the market town of Aylesbury is popular with professionals and families alike.
Careful development in recent years has brought modern infrastructure without damaging the area’s historic charm. The largest town in the Aylesbury Vale, its vibrant history can be traced back to 650BC. Fortunately, the character of the ‘old town’ and many of the impressive sights remain intact. These include St Mary’s Church, the King’s Head Inn – once frequented by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn – and the towering statue of John Hampden, which commemorates a local hero and influential leader in the English Civil War.
Charles Compton statue in Aylesbury
With that being said, Aylesbury still manages to compete with larger towns or cities, providing impressive facilities from contemporary shopping complexes to award-winning restaurants. For the health-conscious, there is a great choice of leisure centres offering swimming and other fitness facilities.
Nearby villages and hamlets provide a quieter atmosphere, surrounded by the rolling landscape of Buckinghamshire and the Chiltern Hills. In a county with one of the highest numbers of National Trust properties in the UK, there’s always an attraction or two worth exploring.
Finally, the first-rate educational establishments provide further motivation for families relocating to the area, as does the ongoing development. The regeneration project will create even more property choice, with both flats and housing estates planned.
Transportation in Aylesbury
As an important commuter hub, trains to and from Aylesbury Station to London Marylebone are frequent. These are usually available five times per hour at peak times and take approximately one hour. The nearby station at Tring also provides a direct connection to London Euston, with a travel time of 40 minutes.
Travelling by car is just as convenient, with A roads leading to the M40, M25 and M1. Alternatively, for holidays and business trips, Aylesbury is only 40 minutes by car to Heathrow and London Luton airports.
Things to do in Aylesbury
Aylesbury is a place of contrasts, where modern shopping areas sit alongside historic attractions and conservation areas. Whether you’re retired, starting a family or a young professional, there are heaps of attractions in the region, such as:
- Buckinghamshire County Museum and Art Gallery
- Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery
- King’s Head Inn
- Waddesdon Manor
- Claydon House
- Stowe Landscape Garden
- Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
- Wendover Woods
- Rogue Bowling Aylesbury
- Aylesbury Tennis, Squash & Racketball Club
- ODEON Aylesbury
- Aqua Vale Swimming and Fitness Centre
What is Aylesbury Like?
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire, located midway between High Wycombe and Milton Keynes. Aylesbury has quite a mix of neighbourhoods, which range from busy and urban to rural. There are a range of different types of properties here, from new homes and developments to character properties dating back hundreds of years.
Aylesbury was a major market town in Anglo-Saxon times, and the town still exudes a charismatic “village town” feeling, most evident with the cobbled market square and cottage-dotted side streets. The town has seen a lot of development over recent years, but the outskirts still afford more peaceful surroundings.
Aylesbury has all the essential amenities in one place, which saves you from having to venture out of the town for any necessities. As a resident of Aylesbury, you will have easy access to the busyness of London, as well as the marvellous Buckinghamshire countryside, including the Chiltern Hills.
Those who move to Aylesbury usually do so for the more affordable housing options in comparison to the likes of Oxford, Milton Keynes and, of course, London. Whether your are an expanding family, looking for somewhere to settle in retirement or a London commuter looking for more value for your money, Aylesbury is worth your consideration.
Transport Links
The Aylesbury Vale Parkway train station, located in the north of the town, provides a service to London Marylebone station which takes around an hour. There is also the more central Aylesbury train station for those living in more central areas. Aylesbury is at the start/end of the line to London, meaning you will always have a seat in the morning.
Aylesbury is also located close to the M40, A41 and A418, providing easy access to Oxford and London, as well as to a number of nearby towns including Bicester and Milton Keynes.
Schools in the Area
Aylesbury has plenty to offer in the way of schools with several fantastic primary and secondary schools, as well as highly regarded private schooling options.
Main Attractions, Shopping and Restaurants
The great author Roald Dahl is one of the most notable names associated with Aylesbury. Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery provides a wonderful educational visit for children. Characters and events from the author’s stories educate children about history, literature and science.
The Discover Bucks Museum is a local cultural heritage venue which is a fabulous space to explore and learn about Buckinghamshire and the stories of people and places in the area.
For people interested purely in the artistic side of the arts, a short drive to Stoke Mandeville holds the Obsidian Art Gallery, with work changing between local and national artists.
The new and outstanding Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, located in the heart of the town, regularly hosts plays directly from London’s West End. You might even be fortunate enough to see the next big show before it hits London! The theatre also showcases touring musicals, which the whole family is sure to love.
The Queens Park Centre, also located in the town centre, is the UK’s largest independent arts centre, and serves as the creative and cultural hub of Aylesbury and Buckinghamshire.
Friars Square Shopping Centre and Aylesbury Shopping Park are the main hubs for shopping in Aylesbury, with a large selection of stores from big retail names including Next, PC World and Waterstones. The town is also around a 35-minute drive from Bicester Village, a highly regarded outlet of luxury designer clothes. Alternatively, you can take the train to London to enjoy endless shopping opportunities, not to mention a day out or night out in the capital.
Some of the best restaurants and places to eat in Aylesbury are the stylish Miya Japanese Grill and Bar, The Manor in Aylesbury offering a rooftop bar, fine food and cocktail bar and RajBhuj, an outstanding Indian restaurant. For drink options, the Craftyard serves a great selection of beer, gin and other drinks. Honey Bee is well known for its warm welcome and and choice of drink, and The Harrow is a traditional British pub with a courtyard garden as well as retro games machines with old-time favourites such as Donkey Kong and PACMAN.
Leisure Centres and Outdoor Activities
For those keen on sports, Aylesbury has plenty to offer. There is the highly regarded Aylesbury Tennis and Squash Club (which also offers racketball), Phoenix Badminton Club, Aylesbury Town Cricket Club and Aylesbury Golf Club. The Buckinghamshire town also has football, rugby and running and athletics clubs, as well as three bowling clubs. Fitness gyms including PureGym and the Gym Group are in the town too.
For green spaces and the outdoors, residents of Aylesbury can easily get into the glorious Chiltern Hills, as well as the Wendover Woods. There are a number of parks within the town itself too, including Bedgrove Park, Alfred Rose Memorial Park and Vale Park.
Also, Abbotts View Alpacas Farm is nearby. This is a family-run farm located in the heart of the Buckinghamshire countryside offering walks with alpacas. Coombe Hill, a National Trust area, which provides magnificent panoramic views, is within easy reach too.
Find out more about living in Aylesbury.