WHERE TO EAT

Missenden Abbey

A 12th-century former Augustinian abbey at the end of a historic village high street, set in 10 acres of beautiful grounds. With 57 ensuite rooms, it’s ideally situated to explore the lovely Chiltern hills. London Road, Great Missenden HP16 0BD 01494 866811; missendenabbey.co.uk

The Crown Inn

Elizabethan Grade II listed coaching inn with period features including inglenook fires and a cobbled courtyard. Its interiors, including a four-posted bed, featured in Four Weddings and a Funeral and its restaurant, Hawkyns, is run by twice Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar

16 High Street, Old Amersham HP7 0DH 01494 721541; thecrownamersham.com

The Great House

A rural retreat close to the Thames. Bedrooms include nostalgic designs of mini-fridges and telephones, plus a good selection of old paperbacks. Thames Street, Sonning-onThames RG4 6UT 0118 969

2277; greathouseatsonning.co.uk

Rumsey’s

Retro ambience, light lunches and patisserie and chocolates made by hand on the premises (which you can watch). The chocolate-tasting board is a tempting reward after a brisk afternoon walk.

The Old Bank, 26 High Street, Wendover HP22 6EA

01296 625060; rumseys.co.uk/pages/ rumseys-wendover

The Waterside Inn

This unfussy French restaurant (Alain Roux is chef-patron) has held three Michelin stars for longer than anywhere else in Britain and has been running for more than 40 years. Fresh fish is a mainstay of the menu. Bookings three months in advance. Ferry Road, Bray SL6 2AT

01628 620691; waterside-inn.co.uk

The Vanilla Pod

T.S. Eliot lived in this elegant townhouse for three years. Now a small, stylish restaurant, the eponymous vanilla is available as a flavoured bread, in tea jelly on the gourmand menu or in the vanilla liqueur available separately.

31 West Street, Marlow SL7 2LS 01628 898101; thevanillapod.co.uk