The best places to live in Buckinghamshire have been named in an annual list published by a national lifestyle blog.
Muddy Stilettos recently listed its ‘Top 250 Best Places to Live’ including the top 10 areas in the county.
Four Buckinghamshire places entered the list for the first name as Amersham, Marlow and Olney retained their spots.
Founder and editor-in-chief of Muddy Stilettos, Hero Brown said: “When people decide to move, they’re searching for more than just a house - they want a home, a lifestyle that works for them and their family, and if they’re strategic, a long-term investment too.”
“Our 2023 Top 250 Best Places to Live’ guide will give them that extra reassurance they need to make their search easier in these difficult economic times.
The top 10 best places to live in Buckinghamshire
- Amersham
The guide said: "Amersham has all the perks of countryside living – it’s scattered with half-timbered buildings and pretty period cottages and is in the heart of the Chilterns (it’s an Area of Outstanding National Beauty).
"Refined and elegant from one end of its historic high street to the other, the area nevertheless has a buzzy ‘town’ feel with its thriving indie shops and excellent foodie offering. "
- Brill
The guide said: "Brill – affectionately known as ‘Brill on the Hill’ – has a Grade II listed windmill sat on a (yes, you guessed it) big hill that looks over the border between Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
"And it’s a suitably rural symbol for this sweet, red-bricked little village that woos residents and visitors alike with its bucolic charms but yet is only a 15-minute drive to Thame and 33 minutes to Oxford."
- Great Missenden
The guide said: "As Roald Dahl’s home for more than 30 years, and therefore the birthplace of Matilda, The BFG and The Twits, Great Missenden and its pretty neighbouring village Little Missenden have a storybook-like quality, with pretty chocolate box cottages, traditional pubs and half-timbered shops set against the backdrop of the stunning Chiltern Hills and Misbourne Valley."
- Haddenham
The guide said: "If your idea of a perfect village includes chocolate box thatched cottages, a duck pond, idyllic 12th century church, respected schools and excellent commuter links, it’s time to start feeling the love for Haddenham.
"A large village with around 5000 residents, there’s a great community vibe here as well as a strong family feel.
"There are good facilities too, including three children’s parks, a cricket/football ground (a dedicated cricket ground with pavilion is planned with a new development currently being built), and a small but active tennis club, along with village dentist, medical centre, pharmacy, post office and two supermarkets."
- Hambleden
The guide said: "Part of a clutch of picture-perfect villages that make up the Hambleden Valley and encompassing the stunning Culden Faw Estate, the sweet village shop and quiet streets lined with brick and flint cottages make this village a popular filming location with an IMDb profile to envy including deep breath – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Witches, The Avengers, 101 Dalmatians, Into The Woods, Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci.
"The village is also just a short car ride away from cosmopolitain Henley and Marlow.
- Long Crendon
The guide said: "Rolling fields, thatched cottages with honeysuckle around the door, historic coaching inns and a gentler pace of life: Long Crendon is prime Midsomer Murders country. But, er, without the murders.
"There’s a mix of locals and big city incomers with young families here, tempted by the excellent school options (see below), laidback village life and an easy commute to London or Oxford."
- Marlow
The guide said: "You know those houses that are just ready to move into, no work needed, not even a lick of paint? Yep, that’s Marlow.
"The original escape for Londoners due to its close proximity, stunning Victorian architecture and riverside locale, overtime it’s cultivated all the mod cons of city life and has a vibrant social scene that’s great for families (the local Jam Theatre for kids and Pub in the Park that originated in Marlow), an excellent foodie and shop offering all ready to enjoy. "
- Nether Winchendon
The guide said: "Anyone who ambles through Nether Winchendon does so open-mouthed because it’s so damned pretty – a tumbling of ancient thatched cottages, grand manor houses and stylish new build barns.
"Surrounded by countryside, with gorgeous walks in all directions, Nether Winchendon is quiet and almost nostalgically ‘English’ – the red post box, the church, dating from the 13th century, the silent lanes.
"That said, it’s also conveniently placed between Thame and Aylesbury (both around five miles away) and close to Haddenham, so you get the benefits of rural living without feeling cut-off, and the commuting options are plentiful."
- Olney
The guide said: "Sat equidistant (circa 11 miles) from Bedford, Northampton and Milton Keynes, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Olney might just blend in with the new town feel of the region. But you’d be wrong.
"It’s a beautifully preserved Georgian market town that boasts an indie-loving high street, a farmers’ market every first Sunday of the month and a stellar food and drink offering."
- Swanbourne
The guide said: "For a small village – under 500 residents, at last count – Swanbourne certainly packs a punch.
"As well as all the essentials (an excellent village pub, a shop and post office), there’s also a gym, yoga studio, and even a rifle range – all in the shadow of the elegant Swanbourne House, home one of the country’s few co-ed prep school to offer full boarding."
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