Buckley is situated just off junction 17 of the M4 making it easy to reach such places as Chippenham, Malmesbury, Swindon, Bath, South Wales as well as Reading and London. The historical riverside market town of Chippenham is one of the West Country’s most dynamic towns, with a population of over 40,000. Chippenham town centre is 5 miles from Buckley Barracks near the River Avon, with the Marlborough Downs to the east, the Cotswolds to the north and west and Salisbury Plain to the South.
Malmesbury is an ancient market town and is the oldest borough in England with its first Christian community being established in the mid 7th century. The first king of all England, King Athelstan, grandson of Alfred the Great, made Malmesbury his capital in AD925. Malmesbury also boasts having England's oldest hotel, the Old Bell which has been offering bed and board since 1220. The town is also famous for its abbey and the Abbey Gardens which dominates the centre of town and dates from about 1180. Most of the old buildings in Malmesbury remain, including the Abbey House, Abbey Mill and weavers cottages. There are a considerable number of pubs and the High Street has most types of shops and river walks along the banks of the Avon.
Chippenham, the name derived from the Saxon Cyppa and Hamme, has grown into a sizeable town, partly due to the location of the motorway. There is a large viaduct built to carry Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Great Western Railway across the town, and Chippenham was the last station on the line until Box Tunnel was built. Famous residents include Robert Peel, MP for Chippenham in 1812, who in 1829 set up the Metropolitan Police, the "Bobbies" or "Peelers". The River Avon runs past the town and there are walks along the river bank.
Buckley Barracks has a Mace (The Market Shop), restaurant (PAYD), bar, club, hairdresser and PRI located by the parade square on camp. The Community Centre is also within the barracks just past the quartering area of Anson Place. The range of facilities includes the HIVE, internet, fax-bluey, function room and bar. The centre is available to hire for private functions and is the focus for activities such as coffee mornings, meet and greets, mother and baby groups, toddler groups, drop in clinics, Pilates and occasional educational courses. There is a multi faith prayer room which is situated by Anson Place (opposite the MQ garages) and is open daily.