Winslow, Buckinghamshire

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Winslow is a market town and civil parish in north Buckinghamshire, England, with about 4,400 residents. It sits roughly 6 miles southeast of Buckingham and 7 miles southwest of Bletchley (Milton Keynes).

History and character
Winslow’s name likely means “Wine’s Burial Mound,” and it first appears in a royal charter of around 792–793 granted to St Albans Abbey. The Domesday Book records it as Weneslai. Ancient finds in the area include a Celtic copper torc and a late Roman silver drinking cup. In 1841 the town had a population of 1,333.

Landmarks and events
The town centre is dominated by Winslow Hall, along the main road into the town, a building with links to the past and design ties to Sir Christopher Wren for William Lowndes. The parish church, St Laurence’s, dates from about 1320. Other historic buildings include the Bell Hotel (from the late 16th century) and Keach’s Baptist Chapel (1695).

A traditional highlight is the Boxing Day meet of the Whaddon Chase fox hunt in Market Square, which attracts over 1,000 visitors. Each year there’s a beer festival in March and the Winslow Show, a large agricultural and gymkhana event, in August. Since 2012, Winslow Hall Opera has also been staged in the grounds of Winslow Hall.

Growth and transport
The Verney Road Estate has been expanded in several phases since the 2010s. The A413 road runs through Winslow, linking Buckingham and Aylesbury. The town used to have a railway station on the Varsity Line; under the East West Rail project a new station is planned on the town’s edge by late 2025, improving links to Milton Keynes Central and Oxford.

Cycling and buses
The Sustrans National Cycle Route 51 passes through Winslow, and a 5.6-mile shared-use path between Buckingham and Winslow was completed in 2017. Bus services connect Winslow with nearby towns, including Aylesbury and Buckingham, along with local community services.

Community and schools
Winslow Town Council has 12 members across four committees: Amenities, Development, Events, and Finances and General Purposes. The town hosts Furze Down School for children with special educational needs and Winslow Church of England School, a primary school with around 520 pupils. For secondary education, options include Sir Thomas Fremantle School in Winslow and schools in Buckingham, Wing, and Milton Keynes.

Media and sport
Local news comes from BBC South and ITV Meridian, with signals from Oxford. The Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser is the local newspaper, and local radio includes 3 Counties, Heart East, Greatest Hits Radio Bucks, Beds and Herts, plus 3Bs. The town has several sports clubs: Winslow United (football), Winslow Rugby Union Football Club, and Winslow Town Cricket Club.

Twin town
Winslow is twinned with Cours-la-Ville in France since 1980.