Discovering Market Town Magic

Our ‘days out on the doorstep’ theme continues with Sandra Smith heading sharp left and then right out of her drive in central Bucks.

- Catherine Jones 

FROM chocolate box villages encapsulating history to inviting countryside and cutting edge architecture, Buckinghamshire’s appeal is widespread. But there’s another bonus to this fabulous location. Because wherever you live you’re never too far from other counties, so in no time at all you can nip over the border and experience the landscape and culture of our neighbours. Which is why I’ve headed east and west this month and found two of the most appealing towns you can imagine, right (well, almost) on our doorstep.

TO THE WEST..

Buckinghamshire’s lengthiest geographical link is with Oxfordshire and it’s here that the ancient market settlement of Thame bursts with character, as Catherine Jones, author of romantic fiction and Town Councillor, enthuses.

“Thame is one of those towns that looks exactly like an English market town should; it has a church, cricket pitch, market square and a High Street of low buildings with higgledy piggledy roofs. And with a Food Festival, Carnival and weekly market, I mean, what’s not to love?”

The town certainly revels in character and independence. Take The Cross Keys pub, for instance. Home to Thame Brewery, this public house is traditional. To be specific, the emphasis here is on bar games, weekly quizzes and comedy evenings, all of which are a popular draw for locals. Of course, there’s food aplenty along the town’s main thoroughfare which houses an array of restaurants along with a host of independent retailers such as The Cottage Bakery, a family business selling breads and cakes all made on site, and award winning family butchers M Newitt & Sons.