King's Head

The King's Head is set back from a corner of Aylesbury's busy market square and is reached through a narrow passage.

The market square was ringed by inns in medieval times but the King's Head is the only one of these to survive virtually intact.

The building has been an inn since the 15th century and before that is was the guesthouse of a monastery. It is a typical coaching inn with an archway wide enough to admit carriages. Through the arch is a large cobbled stable yard.

The King's Head's unusual feature is the great Tudor window of 20 lights. The bar was once the great hall of a medieval house and the large wooden-framed window with mullions and transoms contains fragments of 15th century glass.

The ancient glass includes heraldic emblems such as angels bearing shields on which are shown the arms of Prince Edward, killed at Tewksbury and Henry VI and his Queen, Margaret of Anjou. This rare glass and parts of the building date from about 1450. A section of wall has been exposed to show its wattle-and-daub construction.

The King's Head is now in the care of the National Trust but it is still run as a public house and is open at normal opening hours.