Why you should explore beautiful Buckinghamshire by car
Leave London via the A40 and on a good day it is possible to reach the market town of Beaconsfield within 45 minutes. You’ve now left the North Circular, and all your London worries, far behind and entered the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Sitting firmly on the commuter belt, Beaconsfield was once crowned “Britain’s richest town”. It is 23 miles from London and close to Slough, Amersham and High Wycombe. Apart from its prime real estate, the town is best known for being the location of the world’s oldest model village. Built in 1929, Bekonscot Model Village and Railway is set in 1.5 acres of gardens and contains a Gauge I railway line.
It is worth stopping off at the Royal Standard pub, which claims to be the oldest free house in the UK and a resting place for Charles I when he took refuge there during the Civil War. The White Hart, Royal Saracens Head and the Swan are also well-reviewed.
From Beaconsfield, Marlow is just an 18-minute drive away. The writer, and Marlow resident, Jerome K Jerome described it as one of the “pleasantest river centres I know of” and “a bustling, lively little town”, this is still true today. There has been a settlement here since 1015, but the best-known landmark is William Tierney Clark’s grand suspension bridge, completed in 1832 and joining the two counties of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.
Top spots for lunch include The Hand and Flowers, the first gastro-pub to be awarded two Michelin stars. Even during a week day, Marlow’s pubs are high in demand for lunch, as we discovered, so if a pub lunch is on your itinerary it’s best to book in advance. If the locally brewed Rebellion Beer takes your fancy or heading back into the capital sounds like too much of a chore, the Macdonald Compleat Angler offers 4-star accommodation in a 17th century house overlooking Marlow Weir.
On to Henley-on-Thames, best known for its annual regatta, you are now technically in Oxfordshire. Having been in the car with you for a while now, your passenger may be feel the need to sample some local ale, so head down to the Henley Ale Trail, a pubs tour run by local pub company Brakspear. Visit the spectacular River and Rowing Museum, recognised by The Times as one of the top 50 museums in the world. This extraordinary museum holds a collection of 20,000 items relating to rowing and the River Thames, as well as a permanent exhibition on the children’s novel The Wind and the Willows.
Our journey back into London took us onto the M40, but if you’re still after some more country driving, head up into the Chilterns and follow signs towards Amersham, and later join the M25 to get back into London.
About the Car – Caterham Seven 160 S
For this trip we made use of an icon of the English country drive, the Caterham Seven 160. Based on a design that was first drawn up in 1957, the Caterham is an ultra-light two-seater sports car built for the enjoyment of driving, rather than practicality.
There is no power steering, no alarm, no air-conditioning or even proper doors. The lack of interior fittings is one of reasons why the 160 weighs in at just 490kgs, so the 660cc engine can carry this car from 0-60 mph in 6.91 seconds. The lack of power steering is hardly noticeable, the handling is extremely responsive and the back-to-basics setup makes the Caterham one of the most entertaining sports cars available on the market today.
Specifications – Caterham Seven 160 S
Engine Suzuki 660cc, three-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission 5 speed gearbox
Weight 490 kg
0-60mph 6.91 seconds
Top Speed 100mph
CO2 emissions 114 g/km
Fuel economy 57.6 mpg (combined)
Head out of the capital and spend a day in the historic towns of Beaconsfield, Marlow and Henley