West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire travel guide and West Wycombe information

Visit West Wycombe

West Wycombe is a small village about 3 miles west of High Wycombe. It is in the county of Buckinghamshire in the beautiful Chilterns Area of Outstanding Beauty.

Visit West Wycombe

West Wycombe is a lovely village and is also home to both West Wycombe Park - a stately home with 5000 acres of land, and the Hell Fire Caves.

The village of West Wycombe has cottages and inns dating back to the 16th century. It is very attractive though the constant stream of traffic through the village does detract a little.

Wander up Church Lane where there are some lovely houses including the 'old Rectory' with its old fashioned water pump outside.

Walk or drive up the hill to see the St Lawrence church and tower and its golden ball which you can see from miles around. You can climb to the top of the tower to get some excellent views. Even without going up the tower the views over West Wycombe and West Wycombe Park are amazing.

Also on the hill is the unusual Dashwood Mausoleum, a hexaganol structure in flint and stone.

Sir Francis Dashwood lived in West Wycombe Park in the 18th century. He founded the Dilettanti Society and co-founded the Hellfire Club. The Hellfire Club met in what are now known as the Hellfire Caves. These were a natural formation which Dashwood had excevated further to provide him with a meeting place and for the chalk which was used to build the road from West Wycombe to High Wycombe.

The Hell Fire Caves

The Hell Fire Caves consist of long winding passages which link several excavated 'rooms'. There is a banqueting hall and various chambers which contain scenes with various members of the notorious Hellfire Club. The last 'room' is the 'Inner Temple' and this is several hundreds of feet lower than the top of the hill above.

West Wycombe Park

West Wycombe Park is a National Trust property. The house is in a grandiose Italianate style and the gardens were landscaped in the 18th century. The garden features a magnificent lake and various temples and follies. Tours of the house are possible on week days.

Films and TV programmes filmed in West Wycombe

West Wycombe Houseand Park have featured in 'The Duchess', 'Little Dorrit', 'What a Girl Wants', 'The Importance of Being Earnest' and 'An Ideal Husband'.

TV apppearances include 'Cranford' and 'Hex'.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Chilterns guide and the