Buckinghamshire

It’s often named as one of the best places to live in the UK but this postcard-worthy village – used by Tim Burton for the Jonny Depp horror film Sleepy Hollow – has a chilling secret befitting of one of the movies it’s been used in

It is a charming, quintessential English village that often gets the nod by experts as being one of the prettiest and best places to live in the country.

Hambleden, nestled in a valley in Buckinghamshire, has attracted film crews time and time again thanks to its stunning scenery and Olde English allure. The Telegraph has ranked it among England’s 30 most beautiful villages, most recently as 2022.

The stunning landscapes at Culden Faw Estate help its character, spanning a vast 3,500 acres of mature beech woods, parkland, and sweeping chalk valleys. The estate incorporates the village within its picturesque panorama, reports Surrey Live. Another place you can step inside is the quirky British village where Liam Gallagher and Tom Cruise have been spotted.

For those who appreciate the finer things in life, the Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery awaits, a proud recipient of the Travellers‘ Choice Award. Embark on an enchanting tour through the vineyards and seize the opportunity to sample a burgeoning array of wines.

Over at nearby Cliveden House, step into a world once inhabited by the elite and influential. Famed for its high-profile guests and notorious for centuries of salacious rumours and lavish celebrations, Cliveden has been a fixture since 1666.

What would a quaint country village be without its chic dining establishments frequented by celebrities? Nestled at the core of Hambleden lies The Stag and Huntsman, not your average gastropub but one that prides itself on “killer wallpaper” and also operates as a charming boutique hotel.

Hambleden, understandably, has been home to some big names. Deep Purple co-founder Jon Lord lived and died here, while 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Phil Vickery also spent some time as an inhabitant.

All that considered, it’s no wonder that sometimes visiting feels like stepping into a Midsomer Murders episode. The idyllic village has been used in a number of big productions for both television and cinema.

It has featured as the backdrop for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Into the Woods and Nanny McPhee Returns, and in TV series like Agatha Christie’s Poirot, and Amazon’s mini-series Good Omens with David Tennant. Most recently, Greys Anatomy stars Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams were seen in the village during the shooting of Disney’s Enchanted sequel, Disenchanted, which was released in 2022.

Among the big-name directors who picked it out as a potential filming location, Tim Burton is arguably the biggest. He chose Hambleden as the place to shoot Johnny Depp horror film Sleepy Hollow.

But this tiny village has a dark, dark secret that fits the tone of Burton’s creepy classic. Back in 1912, archaeologists discovered the skeletal remains of 97 newborn infants at the historical Yewden Villa.

The bones were rediscovered stored in cigarette tins within a storage room at Chiltern Archaeology in 2008, triggering debate over the cause of their deaths. In 2010, a researcher proposed that the ancient Roman villa might have operated as a brothel where residents and workers committed infanticide across a 50-year span.

Alternative theories suggest it housed a cult that carried out horrific and brutal operations on the infants. Whatever the truth of this awful discovery, Hambleden remains an ideal place for a day out in the countryside packed with intrigue, history and fairytale charm.

The town offers a bit of everything to those who still want to live within easy reach of the capital

Buckinghamshire is a popular choice for commuters, with many of its towns serving as homes to those who travel into London for work. The rise of remote working led to a significant migration away from the capital.

Despite its name, the London Underground extends well beyond the city limits, serving numerous towns outside London. One such Tube stop brings both tourists and commuters to the charming town of Amersham.

It’s no surprise that the town, popular with both groups, is frequently recognised as one of the best places to live in the country.

A brief tour around the town makes it easy to understand why. But a deeper exploration reveals even more reasons.

Nestled in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, Amersham is divided into the Old Town and Amersham-on-the-Hill. The Old Town boasts buildings that are 700 years old and, unsurprisingly, a rich history.

Expect to see quaint cottages and cobbled streets. It resembles a typical English village, complete with a 13th-century church and an abundance of pubs.

Old Amersham also offers boutiques, spas, historical sites and beautiful areas for walks and exploration. Meanwhile, Amersham-on-the-Hill is known for its modernity, featuring a lively high street and the Tube station.

While it may not be as picturesque, residents still enjoy tree-lined streets. Property guru Phil Spencer of Move IQ dubbed Amersham one of the top commuter towns for London.

However, this charming town doesn’t come cheap. The average property in Amersham will set you back £750,000 – making some parts of London seem like a bargain.

But the ease of travel from London to Amersham makes it an ideal commuter spot for those Londoners seeking respite from the capital’s hustle and bustle. Amersham Underground station falls under Zone 9 on the network.

There are 18 stops between Amersham and King’s Cross, with the Metropolitan Line terminating at Aldgate. A 55-minute journey on the Metropolitan line will whisk you from Amersham to King’s Cross.

The service operates twice an hour, with the first train from Amersham to London departing at 5.30am and the last return leaving around midnight. And if you’ve had your fill of the Tube, you can opt to catch a train to Marylebone which takes a mere 32 minutes.

For those driving to Amersham, the M40 will get you there in just an hour.

OZZY Osbourne has been buried near bat boxes – and it feels “like Ozzy had the last laugh”, a family friend said.

The Black Sabbath legend, who died on July 22 at the age of 76, was laid to rest next to the lake in his Buckinghamshire home on Thursday.

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A family friend told the Mirror: “This was like a classic Ozzy move. The man loved humour and this sure would have tickled him pink knowing how close friends reacted to this bat situation.

“After all those decades caught up in this drama around bats and animal rights groups, here at his final resting place there are bespoke bat boxes to help encourage the animals thrive in the UK countryside.

“It has prompted quite a few laughs and funny ­reactions. It is just like Ozzy had the last laugh.”

They added that the bat boxes – installed in trees by the lake a few years ago – have brought moments of laughter to the grieving family.

One of the most controversial moments of the heavy metal singer’s career came in January 1982, when he famously bit the head off a bat on stage.

Something small and black landed near him on stage during a show at Des Moines’ Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

Believing it was a rubber toy, Ozzy picked it up and bit into it.

In his 2010 autobiography I Am Ozzy, he wrote: “Somebody threw a bat. I just thought it was a rubber bat. And I picked it up and put it in my mouth. I bit into it.

“Immediately, though, something felt wrong. Very wrong,” he added.

Ozzy said he deeply regretted the incident as he had to have daily rabies shots for months.

It remains unclear whether the bat was alive or dead – in a 2006 interview with the BBC, Ozzy described it as a “dead real bat”.

Buckinghamshire – home to many brown long-eared and pipistrelle bats – has recently taken steps to improve bat conservation.

On Thursday, an “incredibly emotional” funeral service was held for the rocker, a family friend told The Sun.

Tents were erected on the 250-acre grounds of the house Ozzy and Sharon bought in 1993, along with a stage where tributes were paid to the rocker.

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The home was decorated with pictures of Ozzy, and mourners were given a photograph of him to take home.

110 of the singer’s nearest and dearest attended, joining his wife Sharon and his children Jack, 39, Kelly, 40, Aimee, 41, and Louis, 50, his son from his first marriage to Thelma Riley.

Stars at the service included Ozzy’s Black Sabbath bandmates, Metallica’s James Hetfield, punk singer Yungblud and Sir Elton John.

Rock icon Marilyn Manson flew in from the US to attend, alongside Ozzy’s guitarist Zakk Wylde and Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor.

The family friend said: “Everyone at the service just wanted to support Sharon and the kids, it has been an awful time.

“Toasts were raised, memories were shared – it was a very fitting goodbye.

“Ozzy wanted his final place of rest to be at home and he is buried at a beautiful point on the lake.

“As well as the ‘Ozzy f***ing Osbourne’ wreath, which made people smile, there was another floral tribute which spelt out ‘Ozzy’ that was placed by the fountain on the lake.

“There was a stage where people including Yungblud, who grew very close to Ozzy in recent years, were set to pay tribute to him.

“The day was incredibly emotional. Pictures of Ozzy were dotted throughout the house and a photograph of him was given to everyone who attended to take home with them.”

Guests were sent a simple black invitation featuring a cross and the words: “In loving memory of Ozzy Osbourne.”

The road leading to the couple’s Buckinghamshire home near Gerrards Cross was closed from 1pm.

Mourners were transported from The Crowne Plaza and The Bull in Gerrards Cross to the house at 2pm, with the service starting at 3pm.

The day before, thousands of fans gathered in the streets of Birmingham to pay tribute to Ozzy.

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