Home to historic villages and modern residences, South Bucks offers a captivating glimpse into England’s diverse landscapes. South Bucks is a district in the administrative and historic county of Buckinghamshire. The district was formed on April 1, 1974. It was formed by the amalgamation of the area of Beaconsfield Urban District with part of Eton Rural District.
The River Misbourne gracefully drains the northeastern part of South Bucks. South Bucks is bordered to the east by Greater London. The Grand Union Canal roughly marks the boundary. To the south, the River Thames creates a border with Berkshire. South Bucks also shares a border with Slough. Denham serves as South Bucks’ administrative center.
South Bucks boasts scenic beauty. You will find beech woods atop gentle chalk hills. Burnham Beeches and Stoke Park add to the area’s natural charm. The poet Thomas Gray rests at Stoke Poges’ parish church. South Bucks is well-connected by the M40 and M25 highways.
Did you know that South Bucks was originally named Beaconsfield? The district council resolved to rename it South Bucks on April 1, 1980. South Bucks was officially named South Bucks, not South Buckinghamshire. South Bucks District Council was based outside its administrative area until 2004. The council was based at the former Eton Rural District Council’s offices on Windsor Road in Slough. In 2004, the council moved to a modern office building at Capswood in Denham.
South Bucks boasts a rich history. Buckinghamshire is known as the National Trust capital of the UK. Buckinghamshire offers a private getaway for Prime Ministers. Chequers, a mansion estate set up in 1921 close to the Chiltern Hills, is a regular vacation spot for British Prime Ministers. Buckinghamshire grew Britain’s first pineapple at Dorney Court. The King enjoyed the luxury fruit so much, he decided to have the stalk planted for more to grow.
The Ridgeway, widely regarded as the oldest road in the UK, cuts through Buckinghamshire. The road is thought to have been used for over 5,000 years. The county is named after its original landowners. The land was once belonged to a family called Bucca. The name Buckinghamshire roughly translates as Bucca’s Home. South Bucks is a popular filming location for TV and movie productions. It’s also played host to the filming of movies such as those in the Star Wars and James Bond franchises.
In Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire, the world’s first Paralympic Games were hosted back in 1948. If you’ve never had the fun of visiting a model village before, you are missing out. Buckinghamshire is home to the oldest model village in the world in Beaconsfield.
Though South Bucks District Council was abolished on March 31, 2020. Its legacy remains. Its area is now administered by the unitary Buckinghamshire Council. South Bucks offers a blend of history, scenery, and accessibility.