In and around Buckinghamshire...

Banish boredom and take a break from the screens this summer holiday. 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.

Summer Sunday afternoons at West Wycombe Park are filled with music. On the Terrace of the Palladian mansion there are performances from a diverse range of musicians including jazz trio, early music, brass band and a-cappella choir.

Discover more about Hughenden's secret wartime past in our new permanent display supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. In ground floor rooms opened to the public for the first time, find out why this manor house was high on Hitler's target list.

In 1919, Nancy Astor broke political ground by becoming the first woman to take her seat in Parliament. To mark the centenary of this milestone, we're taking a closer look at the political and personal life of the woman behind the black tricorn hat.

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

Enjoy opera, Shakespeare and David Walliams at West Wycombe Park and Cliveden this summer.

Waddesdon, Hughenden and Canons Ashby 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 at Hughenden or Stowe?

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 in wild flower meadows and woodlands near you at Hughenden, Stowe and Cliveden.

Whether you live here or are coming to visit, here's a reminder of the wonderful places nearby. There are magnificent country houses such as Claydon or Waddesdon for a grand day out, or rolling hills and woodlands for glorious walks at Hughenden, Stowe and Ashridge. When the big-hitters are busy, why not check out some of the smaller hidden gems in Buckinghamshire?

We have some of the finest country houses such as Waddesdon and Claydon and breathtaking formal gardens with parterres at Hughenden, Waddesdon and Cliveden in this region. Tumbling herbaceous borders, informal pleasure grounds, orchards and kitchen gardens complete the picture.

The Chilterns are well known for their rolling hills, wooded green valleys and chalk downland meadows. They're perfect for a ramble or a picnic. For walks with easily accessible paths in a carefully designed landscape punctuated with elegant statues, monuments and temples, Stowe is your perfect destination.

Spring is here, which means it’s time to remove the covers from the historic statuary in gardens and parkland at places like Hughenden, Waddesdon, Cliveden and Basildon Park. Once the covers are off, the hard work begins.

2015 saw the start of a new phase of restoration for the gardens at Stowe. The Landscape Programme comprises of 54 tasks taking place over five years to reinstate many of the lost temples and monuments that once ‘dressed’ the gardens like pieces of a theatre set whilst undertaking maintenance on structures and lakes. Read more and keep up to date here.

Discover more about the work we're doing to prolong the life of our ancient trees. Throughout Europe ancient and veteran trees are now rare. At Ashridge Estate, Chrissy Hardy and the ranger team are fundraising to ‘halo-release’ 1000 veterans.

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.