Car Hire High Wycombe

Nestled in the heart of the countryside, driving around High Wycombe is an incredibly scenic experience. The Chiltern Hills – officially an Area of Outstanding National Beauty – are on the town’s doorstep, with patchwork fields and thick, green forests stretching as far you can see.

Despite this bucolic setting, the town sits at an intersection of major routes, making it easy to get around. The A4010 leads north out of the town, through the Chiltern Hills and onto Aylesbury and the Roald Dahl Museum. Southbound, the A404 is the major route, heading towards Windsor Castle which is about half an hour away.   

East to west, the M40 motorway provides fast and convenient access to a number of major English cities. London is just an hour’s drive east from High Wycombe via this route. In the opposite direction, Oxford, home to the world-renowned university, is around 40 minutes’ drive via the M40.

On UK motorways, the maximum speed limit is 70mph (112km/h). On rural roads it’s 60mph (96km/h) and in the centre of High Wycombe it drops to 30mph (48km/h). Look out for signs as the limit can change, for example around schools where you should slow to 20mph (32km/h).

There are plenty of car parks in the centre of High Wycombe. At most of them, you can choose to pay by card, cash or over the phone. There are also a number of free car parks further out of the centre, along with park and ride facilities. You can find an interactive map, addresses and opening times on the Wycombe District Council website.

A charming community in the county of Buckinghamshire, High Wycombe is surrounded by rolling green countryside. It’s the perfect place to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, whether you’re roaming the grounds of a local country manor or rowing along the River Wye.

Weighing the mayor

The Annual Mayor Making is a quirky local tradition, which has become a treasured event in High Wycombe’s community calendar. Local officials, including the mayor in all his finery, are invited to sit on the scales in front of the crowds.

Originally, the weigh-in was to keep tabs on mayors indulging at the expense of local taxpayers. Today, it’s a bit of theatrical fun if you’re in town for the event. Cheering and booing is still encouraged, and the whole event is taken with a pinch of salt.

Life on the Wye   

Walking around the centre of High Wycombe, there’s little trace of this being a riverside town. However, the River Wye has played a central role in the development of local business over the centuries. The river dips underneath the centre but remerges at The Rye park to the east – along with the Dyke river.

Pack a picnic and while away the afternoon on the banks or take to the water in a boat and row through the clear, tranquil waters. Hailing from the hills in the west, the Wye River is a rare, mineral-rich chalk river – one of only 200 in the world.

Into the Chiltern Hills

The Chiltern Hills are the epitome of bliss, and with car hire in High Wycombe, you’re just moments away. There are miles upon miles of country walks to explore, through forests, fields and lush, green valleys.

The Red Kite Walk is a popular choice. It’s around five miles long and starts conveniently close to High Wycombe. Majestic birds soar overhead and magical pathways wind through the ancient trees of the Bottom Wood.

Windmills are another treasured part of the acclaimed landscape, peppering the fields and valleys. Head to Cobstone Windmill on Oxford Road, just 20 minutes’ drive from High Wycombe. This black and white tower is so perfectly formed it could have been drawn by an illustrator. On the way home, you can head into the nearby village of Turville for a hearty British meal at one of the local inns.

Country manors  

Get the ultimate house envy at Hughenden Manor, a red-brick mansion surrounded by forests which raises the bar on country grandeur. This was the home of British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli and today the Victorian mansion is in the hands of the National Trust.

About 20 minutes’ drive out of High Wycombe is Cliveden, a palatial country mansion which feels like an English version of Versailles. Explore the gardens to discover elegant water features, mazes and carpets of colourful flowers.

The Hellfire Caves offer a more offbeat luxury experience. This underground labyrinth of banquet halls, private chambers, temples and candlelit passageways was created by the Hellfire Club, an 18^th-century society for the local elite. You can pay for a ticket on arrival – or book ahead for a spooky ghost tour, if you dare.

Car hire in High Wycombe allows you to enjoy all of these incredible activities and more. Reserve online now.