A major new exhibition is set to immerse visitors in early medieval Buckinghamshire. The SAXONS: Three lives. Three burial sites. Three extraordinary stories opens on March 28, 2026, at Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury, running until November 1, 2026.
The showcase explores the region’s Saxon past through three remarkable burial sites:
Taplow princely grave – featuring high-status objects including a gold-and-garnet belt buckle and bone gaming pieces on loan from the British Museum.
Warlord of Marlow – a military burial highlighting weaponry and personal items.
Wendover Saxon Cemetery – 122 graves unearthed during HS2 construction, with previously unseen finds such as a window urn incorporating Roman glass, possibly a family heirloom.
Visitors will gain insight into 7th–8th century life through artefacts ranging from jewellery and ceremonial objects to everyday personal belongings. Many pieces are being displayed together for the first time, thanks to collaborations with the British Museum, HS2’s post-excavation consortium Access+, and the museum’s own collection.
The exhibition is supported by funding from HS2’s Community & Environment Fund, the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund, and EKFB Construction. Opening day will feature reenactors, storytelling, and hands-on crafts, offering an interactive journey into Buckinghamshire’s Saxon heritage.
Sam Mason, CEO of Discover Bucks Museum, emphasized the scale of the experience: “It is incredibly exciting to be putting on this Saxon experience – and on a larger scale than we have ever done so before.”
This is a rare opportunity to explore high-status and everyday Saxon life through extraordinary objects and immersive storytelling.
