In and around Buckinghamshire...

Banish boredom as the summer holiday weeks wear on. A refreshing hour or two in the space and beauty of one of our special places will reboot your kids and resurrect your day.

Summers are wonderfully busy times with families embracing time together in glorious noisy abandon. But now and again, we all need time out in a peaceful spot to just be, or to explore our surroundings in a more considered way.

Our places are bursting with scented roses, vibrant peonies and glorious bedding schemes. It's a wonderful time to visit summer gardens in Buckinghamshire.

Around the Chilterns, summer meadows are rippling with grasses and dotted with wild flowers and the woodlands are cool in the dappled shade. Why not head out for a walk?

It doesn't take much to encourage a British person to think about a picnic. A glimpse of sunshine, a sniff of scotch egg or finding a blanket in the back of a car. Here are some great picnic spots near you.

Make the most of the summer by camping out under the stars at one of our special places in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The rangers put on incredible events with campfires, marshmallows and bat walks all on the cards.

Enjoy opera, Shakespeare and Roald Dahl at West Wycombe Park and Cliveden this summer.

Whether you live here or are coming to visit, here's a reminder of the wonderful places nearby.

We have some of the finest country houses and breathtaking formal gardens in this region.

The Chilterns are well known for their rolling hills, wooded green valleys and chalk downland meadows. Come along for a walk or a picnic.

Hartwell House, near Aylesbury, was given to the National Trust with two other Historic House Hotels in 2008 to ensure their long term protection. The hotel operates as a stand-alone commercial operation, but its annual profits go towards supporting our ongoing conservation work. Perfect for a luxury break exploring Buckinghamshire.

From music recitals to garden tours and food & drink events, Hartwell House has a lively programme of activity for everyone to enjoy. It's advisable to book in advance for traditional afternoon tea, which is available year-round. Patrons of the hotel and restaurant are welcome to walk in the gardens and parkland which extend over 90 acres.