Although many travelers start their journey to England in London, there is vast and beautiful country to explore. You will certainly want to enjoy the rich history of London and all of the iconic sites there. To get a true feeling for England as a whole, though, you will want to venture out of the heart of the city and into some of the other beautiful cities and towns. One place you will want to visit is Milton Keynes and the surrounding area in Buckinghamshire, England.
Milton Keynes was built fairly recently, in the late 1960 through the early 1970s. As a new city, it was designed to be very friendly to pedestrians and cyclists. As you are walking or riding, you will not be worrying about being close to cars. It was also intentionally designed so you could go from one part of the city to another in less than 20 minutes. To make the most of your journey, you will want to click here so you can hire a car for your travels in the area. One of the best things about Milton Keynes is that has great shopping and dining in a modern city, yet offers beautiful greenery and hills just five minutes from town.
Bancroft Roman Villa
Although Milton Keynes itself is a very new city, it is still rich in history. In the town’s Loughton Valley Linear Park, you will find the Bancroft Roman Villa. The villa was discovered in 1971, and was an excavation site for some 15 years.
All in all, there are 8 Roman farm estates that have been identified in the area of Milton Keynes. It is estimated that construction of the villa began in the 1st century. When built, it would have featured a limestone hearth, a heating system that was underfloor, and a bathing suite. There was also a fish pond, and gardens surrounded by walls.
Cosgrove Iron Aqueduct Northamptonshire
About 14 km from Milton Keynes, you will be able to visit and explore a very unique attraction. The Cosgrove aqueduct is an iron trough that that was designed to carry the Grand Union Canal across the River Great Ouse.
The aqueduct, which was constructed in 1811, is called the “Iron Trunk”. It is navigable, and is 4.6 meters wide and around 2 meters deep. It elevates the surface of the canal some 12 meters above the surface of the river.
The Market Town of Amersham
For an idyllic adventure in the countryside, journey to the market town of Amersham. This lovely location is nestled in rolling hills about 57 km from Milton Keynes. Once there, you will find waterfront Georgian-style buildings, medieval houses that are half-timbered and coaching inns.
One of the must-see attractions is a 17th century Market Hall; events are still hosted at the Market Hall on weekends. A walk down Amersham’s High Street reveals historic facades dating from the 18th century. The local museum is a great resource featuring examples of the town’s shoe repair, manufacturing and lace-making history.