Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England. It borders Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The county town is Aylesbury, while the largest town by population is Milton Keynes, a separate unitary authority within the ceremonial county. Other sizable towns include High Wycombe, Chesham, Amersham and Beaconsfield. The area is known for the Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that runs north–south through the county.

Geography and landscape: The River Thames forms part of the southern boundary, with other rivers such as the Great Ouse and Misbourne draining different parts of the county. The Grand Union Canal passes through, linking London with the Midlands. The East West Rail project aims to improve rail links by connecting Milton Keynes with Oxford and Cambridge.

History and governance: Buckinghamshire takes its name from the historic town of Buckingham. For much of the 20th century it operated a two-tier system of county and district councils; since 2020 the area has been administered by Buckinghamshire Council as a unitary authority, while Milton Keynes remains a separate unitary authority within the ceremonial county.

Economy and transport: The county has a diverse economy, with logistics and distribution concentrated around Milton Keynes, together with manufacturing and services. Road connections include the M40, and rail services are provided by Chiltern Railways, linking London with the West Midlands via High Wycombe, Amersham and Aylesbury Vale. The Open University is based in Milton Keynes, and the area hosts historic estates such as Bletchley Park, Waddesdon Manor and Cliveden.

Culture and education: Notable cultural sites include Bletchley Park and Cliveden. Higher education institutions include the Open University in Milton Keynes and the private University of Buckingham in the county.