The claim
Reached through a carriage arch off the Market Square, the King's Head keeps its cobbled courtyard, its stabling and a great hall where wattle and daub is left open to view. A window of 15th-century glass carries royal arms. The National Trust has held it since 1925; the Chiltern Brewery pours its own beer in the bar.
What the records show
The inn dates itself to 1455, and a document stands behind it. A conveyance of 18 December 1455, between the London wool merchant William Wandeford and Ralph Verney, names the newly built Kyngeshede along with a cellar, a shop and cottages. Historic England's Grade II* entry describes C15 to C17 fabric with a C15 left-hand gable, and the great hall is dated to the 1470s, so building and record agree within a generation. The National Trust has owned the inn since 1925 and the Chiltern Brewery runs the bar.
| Year | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1455 | Claimed founding | The pub |
| 1455 | First record of a drinking house here | Historic England |
What to look for inside
- A conveyance of December 1455 names the newly built Kyngeshede
- Given to the National Trust in 1925
- Brewery tap for the Chiltern Brewery
Visiting
King's Head is in Aylesbury, England, at Market Square, Aylesbury HP20 2RW. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1160205
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Head_Inn,_Aylesbury
- kingsheadaylesbury.co.uk/
- camra.org.uk/pubs/kings-head-aylesbury-115046
- www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol3/pp1-11
- ratings.food.gov.uk/business/370062
Know something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Sept 2026
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