Bordering Greater London to the southeast, Buckinghamshire’s proximity to the capital made it a prime spot for the building of grand country estates – the grander the better, so as to impress any visiting dignitaries. The Prime Minister’s country home, Chequers, is located in a quiet corner of this leafy county, and there are many other fine examples to discover.
Waddesdon Manor, arguably Buckinghamshire’s most impressive country house, was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the late 19th century to entertain guests and show off his impressive collection of Old Masters, Gobelins tapestries and Sèvres porcelain.
A fairy-tale French château, complete with whimsical towers, turrets and external staircases, it was the perfect setting for extravagant parties, and Ferdinand’s hospitality was legendary, with glamorous guests and socialites descending for summer-weekend…