Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial county located in South East England. It is abbreviated as Bucks and shares borders with Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east, and Hertfordshire to the east. Buckinghamshire is also known as Bucks.
One of the Home Counties, or the counties in England that surround Greater London, Buckinghamshire is one of those counties. Some of the most densely populated areas of the county can be found in the eastern and southeastern parts of Buckinghamshire County. These areas include the towns of High Wycombe, Amersham, Chesham, and the Chalfonts, all of which are located in the London commuter belt. Some of these areas are even served by the London Underground. The Metropolitan Green Belt places limits on the amount of development that may take place in this area. Milton Keynes, located in the northeast of the county, is the most populous community and the only city in Buckinghamshire. Together with the surrounding region, Milton Keynes is governed as a unitary authority by the Milton Keynes City Council, which is independent from the rest of Buckinghamshire. Buckinghamshire Council, which is also a unitary authority, is in charge of the management of the remaining portion of the county. Other significant communities include the county town of Aylesbury, which is located in the centre of the county, the former county town of Buckingham, which is located in the northwest of the county, Marlow, which is located in the south close to the Thames, and Princes Risborough, which is located in the west close to Oxford.
The south of the county is home to a significant portion of the Chiltern Hills, which are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and are frequented by Londoners who like hiking and riding bicycles. The native flint and red brick are often used in the construction of ancient structures in this region. Many parts of the county are quite prosperous, and like many areas around London, this has led to high housing costs. Several reports have identified the market town of Beaconsfield as having among the highest property prices outside of London. This is due to the fact that Beaconsfield is one of the most desirable places to live in the United Kingdom. The current Prime Minister makes his or her home in the nation at Chequers, which is a house and estate that is held by the government. The undulating landscape of the Vale of Aylesbury and the area surrounding the Great Ouse may be found in the northern part of the county. A portion of the southwestern border of the county is defined by the Thames. Pinewood Film Studios, Dorney rowing lake, and a portion of Silverstone racing track on the Northamptonshire border are examples of notable service facilities that may be found inside the county. Milton Keynes is home to the headquarters or substantial operations of a great number of national corporations. Agriculture is the most important industry after service industries, whereas heavy industry and quarrying are very uncommon.