Welcome to The George & Dragon Hotel, in West Wycombe. Through a cobbled archway on West Wycombe High Street, you come to the entrance of a coaching inn built in the early 18th Century. As you walk in, it feels quite natural that people have been doing this for almost three centuries. The attentive service you receive from our staff, however, leaves you in no doubt that you are now in the present. Whether you hope for quick service for a business lunch or a more relaxed pace for dinner with friends, you will not be disappointed. On a fine day, you can sit in our large garden where there is a children's play area. If you are looking for a place to stay, why not book in as the whole hotel is steeped in history.
Set tight to the wonderful Chiltern Hills area, the entire village of West Wycombe is owned by the National Trust, who purchased it in 1929 when it was under threat of destruction. The village boasts several fine examples of historic buildings, with most dating from the 16th to 18th centuries. Leaflets outlining an architectural walking trail about the village are available from shops on the High Street.
West Wycombe Hill, above the town, is surmounted by an Iron Age hill fort, which shares space with a largely-13th century church. The church is topped with an enormous golden ball, large enough to hold 6 people. It was created by Sir Francis Dashwood of Hellfire Club fame as a meeting space. The interior of the church is remarkable; it was created to emulate an Egyptian temple with Corinthian columns, marble floors, and richly decorated ceilings and walls.
Nearby are the West Wycombe Caves, and the Dashwood Mausoleum. In the 1750s the caves were excavated from an old quarry by Sir Francis. A secret tunnel is rumoured to run between the hotel in West Wycombe to the caves. The fine landscape garden of the Dashwood Estate was created in the mid 18th century by Sir Francis Dashwood, founder of the Dilettanti Society and Hellfire Club. The mansion is among the most theatrical and Italianate in England. Lavishly decorated, it has featured in films and television series, including, Little Dorrit and The Duchess.
