Aylesbury

Founded in Saxon times and the county town since the reign of Henry VIII, Aylesbury lies in rich pastureland in the shelter of the Chilterns. Post-war development took away much of the town’s character, but some parts, particularly around the market square, are protected by a conservation order. At various times in the Civil War, Aylesbury was a base for both Cromwell and the King, and this period of history is covered in the splendidly refurbished County Museum & Art Gallery. The museum, housed in a splendid Georgian building, also has an exhibit on Louis XVIII of France, who lived in exile at nearby Hartwell House. Also within the museum is the award-winning Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, an exciting hands-on gallery for children that uses Dahl’s characters to introduce and explain the museum’s treasures.