Attractions and Places To See around Buckingham - Top 20
Best attractions and places to see around Buckingham include a mix of historic landmarks, natural spaces, and cultural sites. This historic market town in north Buckinghamshire, England, is situated on the banks of the River Great Ouse, offering scenic views and walking opportunities. The region provides a blend of historical significance and picturesque rural landscapes. Visitors can explore a variety of sites, from significant historical landmarks to natural reserves.
Best attractions and places to see around Buckingham
- The most popular attractions is Stony Stratford Nature Reserve, a trail that is a beautiful part of the wider Ouse Valley Park. This reserve is known for its breeding and over-wintering birds, as well as various dragonfly species, and features five lakes and wet meadows.
- Another must-see spot is Rear of the Temple of Friendship, a man-made monument within Stowe Gardens. This 18th-century structure, designed by James Gibbs, was built as a tribute to friendship and offers views of other historical monuments within the estate.
- Visitors also love Mursley Water Tower and RAF Memorial, a historical site built in 1938. This landmark serves as a memorial to a Wellington bomber crew who tragically struck the tower in 1943 during a training flight.
- Buckingham is known for its historical sites, natural reserves, and cultural attractions. The area offers a variety of experiences, from exploring ancient temples to observing wildlife in wetland habitats.
- The attractions around Buckingham are appreciated by the komoot community, with 42 upvotes and 12 photos shared by visitors.
Last updated: May 5, 2026
Rear of the Temple of Friendship
Highlight • Monument
Inscribed on the exterior of the building is AMICITIAE S (sacred to friendship), and inside were placed busts in white marble of Lord Cobham and nine of his friends: Earl Bathurst, the Earl of Chatham, the Earl of Chesterfield, Earl Gower, the Earl of Marchmont, Earl Temple, the Earl of Westmoreland, Lord Lyttleton, and Frederick, Prince of Wales. (Three of these men were Cobham's nephews: his heir Richard Grenville, later Earl Temple; William Pitt, later Earl of Chatham; and Sir George Lyttelton.) On the ceiling was a painting of Britannia surrounded by other figures, one of which held a label with the words "The Reign of King Edward III," another of which held a scroll with the words "The Reign of Queen Elizabeth," and a third holding a scroll with the incomplete title "The Reign of ------" which was covered by Britannia's mantle and which she seemed unwilling to look at.
Views from the portico include the Temple of Ancient Virtue in the Elysian fields to the northwest, the Queen's Temple at the far end of Hawkwell Field, and Lord Cobham's Monument, the Gothic Temple, and the Palladian Bridge along the east side. From the windows in the rear of the central room the Corinthian Arch can be seen, and at a time before the view was obscured by planting, the Temple of Venus could be seen on Kent's Bastion to the west. A fire in the early nineteenth century rendered the building an empty shell, and parts of it in danger of falling were demolished in 1884. Today the Temple has the feeling of a romantic ruin.
faculty.bsc.edu/jtatter/friends.html
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Stony Stratford Nature Reserve
Highlight • Trail
Created in 1979 from the gravel workings used in the building of the nearby A5, the reserve comprises five lakes and 57 acres (23 ha) of wet meadow. It is owned and operated by the Parks Trust.
Two hides allow you to spot various bird species, depending on the time of year. Terns, oystercatchers and lapwings nest on the islands between March and June. It’s a good place to see a number of raptors, including kestrels, sparrow-hawks, buzzards and red kites. It is not uncommon to spot ospreys on autumn passage.
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Temple of Ancient Virtue
Highlight • Monument
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Mursley Water Tower and RAF Memorial
Highlight • Monument
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Bell Gate, Stowe Gardens
Highlight • Monument
1850s – New Inn closed as a hostelry. Bell Gate continued to be used until the late 19th century. The farmstead and smithy continued and the estate kennels were housed at New Inn for the deer hounds.
2011 – New Inn will once more welcome 21st century visitors to Stowe who will retrace the steps of 18th century tourists along Bell Gate Drive and through Bell Gate, the original entrance to this stunning landscape garden.
newinnatstowe.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/just-a-little-bit-of-history
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The Stony Stratford Nature Reserve is a beautiful nugget of countryside with cleared islands and renovated bird hides connected by footpaths. The nature reserve offers nesting grounds and thriving wetland habitats for wildfowl and waders such as Kingfishers. Make sure to take advantage of the picturesque lake with its dipping platform, known for its vibrant dragonflies and damselflies.
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The Temple of Ancient Virtue is a circular peripteral ionic temple with a domed cella on a podium, approached by two flights of steps. The Temple of Ancient Virtue is a circular peripteral ionic temple with a domed cella on a podium, approached by two flights of steps. Built in the 1730's to a design probably by Kent. The design is inspired by the Temple of Sibyl at Tivoli. Copies of the original four statues of greek heroes representing the enlightened ideals of Lord Cobham and his Whig friends have been reintroduced. Although now largely obscured from the west, the Temple of Ancient Virtue, completed in 1737 to Kent’s designs, was intended to close the long vista known as the Great Cross Walk which passed at a slight angle across the south front of the house. This arrangement followed Joseph Addison’s vision of a ‘great road’ along which ‘the middle-aged party of mankind ... marched behind the standard of Ambition’. The temple was raised on a grass mound, and its site was far more open than it is now. The design was based on the ancient Temple of Vesta at Tivoli, which Kent knew at first hand from his extended sojourn in Italy in the 1710s, and from Book IV of Palladio’s Quattro Libri, here translated from the Corinthian to the Ionic order. The temple is inscribed on the outside ‘Priscae virtuti’ (‘To Ancient Virtue’) and was devised as a cenotaph to four Ancient Greeks who embodied the virtues that Lord Cobham found so lacking in the public figures of his own day: Socrates, Homer, Lycurgus and Epaminondas. The circular temple form has a solemnity and nobility well suited to memorial buildings, from Hawksmoor’s great mausoleum at Castle Howard (1729) to John Russell Pope’s Jefferson Memorial in Washington (1939). Bordered by laurel and elevated both by the grass mount and its own basement, with narrow stairs cut into it, this is an overtly exclusive building worthy only of a select few. The four Ancient Greeks are represented by life-size Portland stone statues signed by Peter Scheemakers, and for which he was paid in 1737. These were sold in 1921, but have recently been replaced in the form of casts taken from the originals. The chosen individuals represent four of the five branches of public life referred to in Addison’s essay – a general (Epaminondas), a legislator (Lycurgus), a poet (Homer) and a philosopher (Socrates). Above the niches are the following inscriptions (with translations taken from Defoe and Richardson’s Tour of 1742): I. EPAMINONDAS Cujus a virtute, prudentia, verecundia, Thebanorum respublica Libertatem simul & imperium, Disciplinam bellicam, civilem & domesticam, Accepit; Eoque amisso, perdidit. From whose Valour, Prudence, and Moderation, the Republick of Thebes received both Liberty and Empire, its military, civil, and domestick Discipline; and, with him, lost them. II. LYCURGUS Qui summo cum consilio, inventis legibus, Omnemque contra corruptelam munitis optime, Pater patriae, Libertatem firmissimam, Et mores sanctissimos, Expulsa cum divitiis, avaritia, luxuria, libidine, In multa secula Civibus suis instituit. Who having invented Laws with the greatest Wisdom, and most excellently fenced them against all Corruption, as a Father of his Country, instituted for his Countrymen the firmest Liberty, and the soundest Morality, which endured for many Ages, he having, together with Riches, banished Avarice, Luxury, and Lust. III. SOCRATES Qui corruptissima in civitate innocens, Bonorum hortator, unici cultor DEI, Ab inutili otio, & vanis disputationibus, Ad officia vitae, & societatis commoda, Philosophiam avocavit, Hominum sapientissimus. Who being innocent in a most corrupt State, an Encourager of the Good, a Worshipper of One only god, as the wisest of Men, reduced Philosophy from useless Indolence, and vain Disputations, to the Duties of Life, and the Advantages of Society. IV. HOMERUS Qui poetarum princeps, idem & maximus, Virtutis praeco, & immortalitatis largitor, Divino carmine, Ad pulcre audendum, & patiendum fortiter, Omnibus notus gentibus, omnes incitat. Who being the First of Poets, as he was the greatest, the Herald of Virtue, and Bestower of Immortality, known to all Nations, incites all, in a Divine Poem, honourably to dare, and resolutely to suffer. The inscriptions placed above the doorways invite the visitor to reflect on the qualities represented by these four men, but also on their counterparts and opposites in modern life, as represented by neighbouring buildings on which the doorways were aligned: Charum esse civem, bene de republica mereri, laudari, coli, diligi, gloriosum est: metui vero, & in odio esse, invidiosum, detestabile, imbecillum, caducum. To be dear to our Country, to deserve well of the State, to be praised, honoured, and beloved, is glorious; but to be dreaded, and hated, is a matter of Ill-will, detestable, weak, ruinous. Justitiam cole & pietatem, quae cum sit magna in parentibus & propinquis, tum in patria maxima est. Ea vita est in coelum, & in huc coetum eorum, qui jam vixerunt. Maintain Justice, and thy relative Duty; which, as it is great, when exercised toward our Parents and Kindred, so is greatest towards our Country. That life is the Way of Heaven, and to this Assembly of those, who have already lived. (MOLA survey 2019 Clearly visible in the SUA data and is situated on top of a well defined mound overlooking Worthy River to the east. Source: nationaltrust.org.uk
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From here it is not far to the Palladian Bridge.
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The water tower was built by the Buckinghamshire water board in 1938. On the 11th. April 1943 a four man crew flying in a Wellington BJ879, struck the side of the tower at 00:15. All four were killed. They were doing training circuits and landings, then tried to land twice at Little Horwood airfield whilst the weather was foggy. 26 OTU was formed in January 1942 at RAF Wing as part of No. 7 Group RAF Bomber Command to train night bomber crews using the Vickers Wellington. Disbanded in March 1946. http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/emerson00/air_mursley_tower.html
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The water tower was built by the Buckinghamshire water board in 1938. On the 11th. April 1943 a four man crew flying in a Wellington BJ879, struck the side of the tower at 00:15. All four were killed. They were doing training circuits and landings, then tried to land twice at Little Horwood airfield whilst the weather was foggy. 26 OTU was formed in January 1942 at RAF Wing as part of No. 7 Group RAF Bomber Command to train night bomber crews using the Vickers Wellington. Disbanded in March 1946. http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/emerson00/air_mursley_tower.html
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Built by Buckinghamshire water board in 1938.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What historical landmarks can I visit in Buckingham?
Buckingham offers several historical landmarks. You can explore the Mursley Water Tower and RAF Memorial, a site built in 1938 that commemorates a Wellington bomber crew. The town also features the Buckingham Old Gaol Museum, an 18th-century prison now housing exhibits on local history, and the Buckingham Chantry Chapel. Don't miss St Peter and St Paul's Church, a prominent Grade I-listed building with an elegant spire, and the Old Town Hall, an imposing Georgian structure topped with a gilded swan.
Are there significant historical estates or gardens near Buckingham?
Yes, just a few miles outside Buckingham, you'll find Stowe House and Landscape Gardens. This magnificent estate boasts 250 acres of 18th-century landscape gardens, managed by the National Trust, featuring winding paths, picturesque lakeside strolls, and historic temples like the Rear of the Temple of Friendship and the Temple of Ancient Virtue. Stowe House itself also offers tours of its opulent interiors.
Where can I enjoy nature and walks in Buckingham?
Buckingham is situated on the banks of the River Great Ouse, providing scenic views and walking opportunities. You can visit Bourton Park, the town's largest public park, offering green spaces for walks, picnics, and paths along the river. Chandos Park is also ideal for relaxed strolls, with the River Great Ouse winding through it for a calming natural experience.
Are there nature reserves for wildlife observation near Buckingham?
Absolutely. The Stony Stratford Nature Reserve is a beautiful part of the wider Ouse Valley Park, excellent for birdwatching, including breeding and over-wintering birds, and observing various dragonfly species. It features five lakes and wet meadows, providing a thriving wetland habitat for wildfowl and waders like Kingfishers.
What outdoor activities, like hiking or cycling, are available around Buckingham?
The Buckinghamshire countryside offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities. For hiking, you can explore routes like the 'River Great Ouse in Buckingham loop' or the 'Temple of British Worthies – Buckingham Old Gaol loop'. Cyclists can enjoy routes such as 'Buckingham to Brackley loop via Wolfe's Obelisk' or 'Lakers Nursery Café – James's Kitchen loop'. You can find more details and routes on the dedicated komoot guides for Hiking around Buckingham and Cycling around Buckingham.
What family-friendly attractions are there in the Buckingham area?
Families visiting Buckingham have several options. Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park is a great destination to experience British farming, see rare breed animals, encounter wildlife, and enjoy adventure play areas. The Stony Stratford Nature Reserve is also family-friendly, offering opportunities for nature walks and birdwatching. Additionally, parks like Bourton Park provide children's play areas and open spaces for activities.
Where can I find local produce and unique shopping experiences in Buckingham?
Buckingham hosts traditional markets every Tuesday and Saturday in the town center, where you can find local produce, baked goods, and handmade crafts. For a unique shopping experience, the Meadow Walk Shopping Centre provides a variety of independent traders.
Are there any notable cultural sites or events in Buckingham?
Beyond its historical buildings, Buckingham is home to the University of Buckingham, which contributes to the town's atmosphere. While not directly in Buckingham, the famous Silverstone Circuit, home of the British Grand Prix, is a significant cultural attraction in the nearby area for motorsport enthusiasts.
What are some less crowded attractions or 'hidden gems' near Buckingham?
For a quieter experience, consider exploring the smaller, historic chapels like Buckingham Chantry Chapel, or taking a peaceful stroll through Chandos Park along the River Great Ouse. The various temples within Stowe Gardens, such as the Temple of Ancient Virtue, offer serene spots away from larger crowds.
What is the best time to visit Buckingham's attractions?
Buckingham's attractions can be enjoyed year-round. Spring and summer are ideal for exploring the landscape gardens and nature reserves, with pleasant weather for walking and cycling. The traditional markets are active throughout the year, and historical sites like the Buckingham Old Gaol Museum are open regardless of the season. For specific events or seasonal displays at places like Stowe House, it's advisable to check their individual schedules.
Are there easy walking trails suitable for all abilities around Buckingham?
Yes, there are several easy walking trails around Buckingham. The 'River Great Ouse in Buckingham loop' is an easy 3.1 km walk, and the 'Buckingham Old Gaol loop' is another easy option at 6.6 km. These trails are generally flat and suitable for a relaxed stroll. You can find more easy routes on the komoot guide for Easy hikes around Buckingham.
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