Sociable, sporty and with more than 100 listed buildings in its historic market town centre, Olney is just 11 miles from Milton Keynes but could hardly feel more different to its 1960s New Town neighbour. Its Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian buildings are stuffed to the timbered beams with independent shops and cafés, while the Phonebox magazine gets delivered to every door, keeping everyone up to date on issues such as dropped kerbs, flooding and food larders. You can also get details of clubs, from Lego to senior citizens, and book everything from archaeology lectures to watercolour classes.
The Rugby Club May Ball is back next month, as is BOFF, the Big Olney Food Festival, a two-day foodie street party centred on Market Place, with an