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Bicester |
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| Founded by / origin | Bicester is believed to have been established by the West Saxons in the 6th century. The Domesday survey of 1086 records the town as Berencestra, its two manors of Bicester and Wretchwick held by Robert d’Oily, who built Oxford Castle. |
| 80 word description of the town or area | Bicester, for centuries a thriving market town, has developed enormously in the last 20 years. Its strategic position close to the M40, fast rail and road links and accessibility to Birmingham and Heathrow airports have brought many families and professionals to the town. Bicester Village designer outlet park has over three million visitors a year. Sports are well catered for with a newly refurbished sports centre, active rugby and football teams, golf at Bicester Country Club and polo at Kirtlington. Bicester is well served with superstores but the town centre still has many independent shops and regular markets in the pedestrian area. |
| The town’s personality in three words | Practical, transforming, central |
| If the town were a celebrity, it would be… | |
| If the town put on a party, the party would be… | Proms in the Park - Bicester has its own proms each summer live from the bandstand at Garth Park with great music and fireworks. |
| Train station | Bicester North has fast direct trains to London Marylebone and Birmingham. Bicester Village station has regular services to Oxford and London Paddington. |
| Bus station | Buses go from Bure Place in the town centre to Oxford every 15 minutes throughout the day. There is a regular coach service to Milton Keynes, Northampton, and Cambridge. Other bus services link surrounding villages and towns. |
| Famous residents or ex-residents | Jenson Button, Formula 1 racing driver |
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Aylesbury |
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| Founded by / origin | Aylesbury probably took its name from the Anglo Saxon word Aigle’s Burgh, meaning hill town or fort, and was a small market town. Aylesbury played a major role during the English Civil War as a stronghold for the Parliamentarian forces. In the market square stands a statue of John Hampden, a local resident and member of parliament and a cousin of Oliver Cromwell. |
| 80 word description of the town or area | Aylesbury retains some buildings from the Medieval, Georgian and Victorian periods and has a conservation area around Market Square, Kingsbury Square and Church Street. The town’s population has doubled since the 1960s due to major housing developments. Facilities include the Friar’s Square shopping centre, a cinema, bowling alley and a civic centre. The redevelopment of the Waterside area includes a 1,200 seat theatre which opened in October 2010 and 24,000 square metres of retail space in 2010. Both Aylesbury Grammar and Aylesbury High Schools are popular and come high in the league tables. |
| The town’s personality in three words | Lively, multicultural, historic |
| If the town were a celebrity, it would be… | Sir Trevor MacDonald |
| If the town put on a party, the party would be… | A street party where all cultures and nationalities mix |
| Train station | Aylesbury has a railway station with a direct service to High Wycombe and London Marylebone. |
| Bus station | There is a bus service to Oxford and Thame which runs every 30 minutes approximately. Other routes include a frequent service to High Wycombe, Milton Keynes and Tring. |
| Famous residents or ex-residents | Waddesdon Manor was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild to display his outstanding collection of art treasures and to entertain the fashionable world |
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Buckingham |
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| Founded by / origin | Buckingham is said to have been founded by Bucca, the leader of the first Anglo Saxon settlers. |
| 80 word description of the town or area | Buckingham is a vibrant and attractive market town that lies between Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit and the famous Capability Brown landscaped gardens at Stowe. The town’s economy was strengthened by the arrival of the Grand Union Canal. The University of Buckingham is the only university independent of direct government support in the UK. The University organises the Buckingham Music Festival, lectures and concerts attended by residents of the town. There is a good choice of quality shops, restaurants and a branch of Waitrose supermarket. There are good sports facilities including swimming pools, an all-weather sports pitch, cricket, rugby and football clubs plus horse-riding and golf nearby. Towcester race course is a short drive away. |
| The town’s personality in three words | Learned lover of history |
| If the town were a celebrity, it would be… | Simon Schama |
| If the town put on a party, the party would be… | A pub quiz |
| Train station | The nearest mainline rail stations are at Aylesbury or Amersham, with services to London Marylebone. |
| Bus station | There are various bus routes to Banbury, Bicester, High Wycombe and Milton Keynes. |
| Famous residents or ex-residents | George Gilbert Scott, the 19th-century architect who designed St Pancras Station in London |
