Tourism

Image caption: View of the River Thames, Marlow.

Wycombe district's picturesque villages, historic towns, rural scenes and warm hospitality make it a great place to visit, explore and unwind in.

For those looking to escape to the countryside at the weekend, the district's beautiful walks and cosy pubs mean that a rural retreat is easily accessible. If you enjoy walking, the Ridgeway and River Thames footpaths will lead you through secluded valleys, nature reserves, woods and historic towns.

But it's not just the district's beautiful countryside that makes it a great place to visit and unwind in; there's also an exciting mix of shopping, sporting and cultural venues and events providing plenty of opportunities for people to get involved and be active.

Enjoy a day's sightseeing and shopping in unspoilt towns such as Marlow and Princes Risborough. Take time to explore the rich cultural and literary heritage and follow in the footsteps of writers such as John Milton, TS Elliot, Mary Shelley and Jerome K Jerome who have all taken inspiration from the area.

High Wycombe is a thriving market town for people who like the bustling atmosphere of a lively centre and the newly opened Eden, High Wycombe shopping area, has brought excellent shopping facilities and nightlife, including a range of cafes and restaurants. In addition, Wycombe Swan theatre presents audiences with the finest in local, national and international companies and performers.

Film makers and TV producers have also chosen the district as the ideal location for many classic movies and TV programmes including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Gosford Park and The Vicar of Dibley. Among other attractions in the district are the notorious Hellfire Caves at West Wycombe and the National Trust's Hughenden Manor, the home of the former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.

For further information about visiting or staying in the district, please visit the Visit Buckinghamshire website or email tourism_enquiries@wycombe.gov.uk.

Tourism plan for the Wycombe district

Councils are destination managers for the area they cover and so it is our job to manage the impact of visitors to the Wycombe District. This role involves:

• Promoting the economic prosperity of Wycombe district.
• Supporting local businesses.
• Enhancing the image of the area.
• Promoting Wycombe district as a tourism destination through "best fit" with brands and themes that raises the profile of the individual destinations to attract markets with the potential for growth.
• Promoting Wycombe district as a place to live, work and play.
• Attracting inward investment and maximising resources.
• Ensuring that the needs of today's customers are met in the provision of information and marketing through information technology.

To help us to achieve our aims, we have developed a tourism plan until 2011, which is available to download below.